Chapter 282 – Building cars behind closed doors

“Manager Zhao, Manager Mei is back.”

“Oh? How was the negotiation? Bing city Government should agree to our conditions, right?” Manager Zhao asked while enjoying his tea.

“Errrr…. Manager Zhao, Manager Mei does not look right. I think he might have encountered some problems with the negotiation.”

“What? What problems? Where is Mei Fangwu? Ask him to come in now!”

First Automobile Works, China’s largest Automobile manufacturer. They did not even succeed to takeover 2 small factories in Bing City?

Impossible. The conditions they offered to Bing City were quite attractive, and those 2 factories were close to shutting down. Bing City wanted more money? Bing City Government should not be taking such risks.

“Manager Zhao. I had let you down. I had let First Automobile Works down. The negotiations failed.” Mei Fangwu sighed and said.

“Failed? Why? The price is not right? Didn’t I tell you to be more flexible?” Manager Zhao was furious. Even if the negotiations failed, you should not be returning so soon. You should stay there and try again.

“Manager Zhao, we have no more chances. Bing City will start their own automobile project!”

“What? Bing City is going to manufacture their own automobiles? Are they crazy?!” Manager Zhao was shocked. Bing City was located so near to Ji City and are they trying to compete with First Automobile Works?

Where did they get the confidence to compete with First Automobile Works? This will be competing with China’s largest automobile manufacturer.

“Manager Zhao, you know about Bing City’s Machinery Company? The one that sells motorcycles? That is the company that will be starting an automobile project. I heard that they had bought production lines and technologies from the Soviet Union. They are clearing a piece of land to build the factory.”

“A motorcycle company trying to build cars? Humph! Even with the Soviet Union technologies, what cars can they produce? Cars are more complex than motorcycles. Furthermore, did they analyze the automobile market? They are setting up an automobile factory on impulse. Then we shall stop all negotiations with Bing City and wait until their automobile factory shut down. They will come begging us to take over that factory!” Manager Zhao banged the desk, spilling some tea. A proposal was wet by the tea.

……

“Everybody, be quiet. Let me say something. Some people laughed at us when they knew we will be manufacturing cars. There are also people who said that we had bought outdated automobile technologies and we can only build cars behind closed doors. Even if we can produce cars, no one will want to buy. But I am telling all of you to ignore all these voices. All of you do not need to worry. We have hired the best designers and engineers. We also have sufficient funds. Our Songjiang Cars will be the most popular car in China!”

Li Mingde was on the stage talking to the workers of the Machinery Company. He was trying to persuade the workers to voluntarily transfer to the new automobile factory.

This new factory was located in the western part of Bing City, and it was very rural/ Although they will be getting the same salary, the workers were not willing to go there. They had heard that the Machinery Company and the motorcycle factory employees will be getting a raise soon. Even if they will be getting the same salaries now, what about the future?

They were worried that if the automobile factory fails, they would not be getting their current position when they were transferred back. Every workshop had different pay scales and bonuses. The motorcycles and farming machinery sales were the highest in China. Also, how can their cars compete with First Automobile Works?

Li Mingde was embarrassed when one no said anything. He turned and looked at some workers he had spoken to before. Immediately that person stepped forward and shouted: “Manager Li, I am willing to go to the automobile factory.”

“Manager Li, I am also willing to go to the new factory. I believe that with your leadership, we can definitely win First Automobile Works!”

“I am willing to go too. This is for the country. We must get back the automobile market share from those Japanese. We will work hard and manufacture our own cars!”

……

Feng Yu was watching from the side. These people were getting out of hand. They started talking about patriotism and other nonsenses. But it seems that this was more effective than the speech from Li Mingde. Some workers were willing to go to the new factory.

However, the number of workers were not enough. Now, China’s economy was still not doing well. Many state-owned enterprises were undergoing restructuring, and there were many cities with many unemployed workers. Bing City was different. In Bing City, there were lots of jobs available but not enough workers!

In Feng Yu’s previous life, Bing city workers at the Aviation Factory, motor Factory, Machinery Company and other state-owned enterprises were working for 1 day and resting for 2 days.

Now, it was different. All the factories were operating at full capacity. Many of the products from the light industries were exported to the Soviet Union by Feng Yu. In the past, workers from the bigger factories will have to retire before their children could take over that opening. Now, their children do not need to wait. They were employed straight away. Even those retired workers were re-employed by the factories to cope with the increasing demand.

Zhang Ruiqiang had wanted Feng Yu to hire Bing City residents first. But now, the problem was there was no one from Bing City willing to take up the offer. The ones who were willing to take up the jobs were either the genuine retirees, and they would not be able to cope with the tough workload or those without any experiences.

Now, most of the factories were mostly half automated, and those without experiences were different from the ones who grew up in the factories hostels. The factories were their playground, and even if they met some work-related issues, they could go home and ask their parents.

These outsiders were different. Their mentors might not be willing to teach them everything and their parents would not be able to teach them. It was more difficult to train these people.

Seems like Feng Yu could only try to poach experienced workers from other state-owned factories. There were too few workers that want to be transferred to the new factory. Hmmm…… First Automobile Works seems to have a lot of early retired workers.

Feng Yu suddenly remembered that First Automobile Works also had the same system. Once the workers were at a certain age, they will let their children take over their position. It was the same system as Bing City.

Some of those retired experienced workers were transferred to other factories, and some had come to Bing City to look for work. They might not be qualified for other jobs, and their salaries will not be high. But for the new automobile factory, they will be more than qualified.

Li Mingde was about to tell Feng Yu that there were not enough workers willing to be transferred on their own accord. He wants to discuss with Feng Yu if they should shift some of the workers by force. They cannot delay the operations of the new factory.

Feng Yu smiled and patted Li Mingde’s shoulders: “Manager Li, what do you think if we go somewhere near to the First Automobile Works’ factory to recruit workers?”

“Recruitment near First Automobile Works? Who are we recruiting?”

“Those workers who had retired early. As long as they were not forced to retire, we can employ them.”

Li Mingde’s eyes widen. This will be a slap to First Automobile Works. You will be competing with them for the automobile market, and now you want to hold recruitment talks on their doorsteps? Are you not afraid of them beating you up?

“Manager Feng, do we really need to do this?” Li Mingde swallowed his saliva and asked.

“Of course. Didn’t they say that we are building cars behind closed doors? Fine. Then we will use their workers to build cars. If they want, they can re-employed all those retired workers back. We will do this!”