That year the flowers bloomed 1981

Chapter 1375 You Should Go Down the Mountain

On May 13th, Teacher Ke's prediction came true.

Li Ye only suspended the Kamas project for a week, but some people got really anxious.

Ma Zhaoxian called Li Ye over and said half-jokingly, "I just received a notice from above that people from Southwest Heavy Truck are coming to visit and discuss cooperation."

"Ha~"

Li Ye chuckled softly, then said vaguely, "Let him visit! He can see what he's supposed to see, but he shouldn't. As for cooperation, someone at my level doesn't have the authority to say anything!"

Although when he was at Teacher Ke's house, his father-in-law, Wen Qingsheng, told Li Ye, "If you don't want to, no one can take it away," Li Ye was not so arrogant in front of Ma Zhaoxian.

After all, Teacher Ke had already reminded Li Ye that he should learn how to interact with people.

Although Ma Zhaoxian was one of his close associates, he still believed in only speaking three-tenths of what he knew to others, and couldn't just speak recklessly and openly.

However, Ma Zhaoxian looked at Li Ye and shook his head, saying, "No, it's up to you. If it weren't up to you, KamAS's equipment and data wouldn't have been delivered to our light vehicle company on the day they returned to China."
"Our company is practically one of the weakest in the automotive industry. This whole thing is thanks to you; otherwise, there wouldn't have been any joint venture."

"."

Li Ye smiled, somewhat surprised and somewhat apologetic.

Because he spoke vaguely, Ma Zhaoxian was almost ready to open his heart to him.

Since starting work, Ma Zhaoxian has always been Li Ye's "immediate boss". Although he is usually stern and doesn't smile much, he has always taken good care of Li Ye and acted as his "protector". Now that Li Ye is being vague, isn't that a bit too distant?
Li Ye laughed and said, "Uncle Ma? We now produce more than 100,000 cars a year, and 200,000 is just around the corner. How come we're so lacking in prestige?"

Ma Zhaoxian leaned forward and lowered his voice, saying, "Li Ye, all these years you've focused on technology and management in our company, but you haven't paid any attention to other things at all."
This level of recognition isn't just about your achievements; it also depends on your other abilities. Think about it: Southwest Heavy Truck's annual production is less than one-tenth of ours, yet they're ranked a level higher.
Look at the people who come from those big car factories, how successful they become! And where do the people who leave our light vehicle company go?

"If you don't believe me, you can ask Zheng Qiang, who was transferred from Jilin Motors, what kind of talented people are in his unit?"

Ma Zhaoxian's words were truly insightful.

Despite the successive achievements of the light automobile company in recent years, with production and efficiency reaching new heights year after year, it is still an "outsider" in the automotive industry, largely ignored by everyone.

Otherwise, why was the loan being withheld from the higher authorities when the factory director was in office, even though he couldn't afford to pay the bank interest?

But look at companies like Southwest Heavy Truck. Over the past twenty years, they've swallowed up countless R&D funds, piling them up one after another, yet they still thrive in the end.
No matter what good projects there are, they are indispensable, and generation after generation of senior executives have never lacked opportunities for promotion, which has eventually formed a huge network of relationships.

This is similar to doctoral students decades later. Some "geniuses" might create numerous problems with a single project, but in the end, they'd still be assigned to high-quality projects that were likely to yield results.
Even if those humble cattle and horses soar to the heavens, they can only find gold in those garbage projects, desperately trying to turn a pile of garbage into dazzling achievements.

With the help of Teacher Ke and Wen Qingsheng, Li Ye didn't fall into the latter's situation, but that didn't stop those geniuses from developing their ingrained ways of thinking.

You, Li Ye, have projects, funds, and technology. Great, let's cooperate, share the profits, and everyone benefits.

But this time, they were wrong. Ma Zhaoxian asked Li Ye with a flickering look in his eyes, "Li Ye, do you know that in the past two months, they have already used up too much of their resources and are now in a difficult situation? I guess they didn't expect you to be so tough at first. But what should we do next? Does President Wen have any guidance?"

"."

Li Ye finally understood why Ma Zhaoxian had opened up to him so completely; it turned out that he was also feeling a bit guilty and wanted to ask Wen Qingsheng for his opinion on the matter.

After a moment's thought, Li Ye realized that the opponent he was facing this time might be even more formidable than himself.

Does Li Ye have connections?
That must be it.

But others may not think so, because he is a "son-in-law" and Wen Qingsheng has a son. So how much of the Wen family's resources and support can Li Ye get?

If Li Ye can only get one-third or even one-quarter, then anyone with a bit of connections will dare to challenge him.

The road to success is narrower and narrower; you'll never get ahead unless you push others down.

If you see someone with connections and want to avoid them, you'll only end up going down a ditch.

Actually, Teacher Ke and Wen Qingsheng had already said something similar to Li Ye that night, but they didn't mention Ma Zhaoxian's "merits". Now Ma Zhaoxian is reminding Li Ye that he "has worked hard even if he has no merits"!

Although Li Ye's branch factory has expanded over the years, adding a remarkable achievement to Ma Zhaoxian's resume, what does Ma Zhaoxian mean by saying, "You've been working on technology and management at the company all these years"?
You, Li Ye, have been working for almost six years, and you've been doing practical work and achieving results under my protection, Ma Zhaoxian. You're still in the beginner's village!

Now, Li Ye, you are like a sect's prodigy who has cultivated within the mountain gate for many years; it's time for you to descend the mountain and compete with the prodigies of other sects in the world.

So, have Wen Qingsheng and Ke Zhiyu prepared enough protective treasures for you? Have they arranged for protectors for you?
If you fail in the battle, will you land safely?

Seeing Ma Zhaoxian's somewhat anxious eyes, Li Ye smiled and said, "After I came back, I did talk to my dad, but we didn't go into that much detail. However, he told me not to worry, that what's meant to be ours will not be taken away by anyone."

"Bang~"

Ma Zhaoxian was probably a bit agitated, and he even slammed his hand on the table: "They definitely can't take it. Do you think I don't know that? You spent money and effort to finally get this project back from the Soviet Union, why should they just let it go to them for nothing? Just wait until tomorrow and you'll see how I deal with them."

Once Ma Zhaoxian felt more confident, he became more assertive.

After saying those angry words, Ma Zhaoxian asked Li Ye, "By the way, how's the design patent for your 'Beijing Light' minivan coming along? Some people from the ministry are coming down to visit tomorrow. If you think it should be kept secret, we won't let them see it."

Li Ye smiled faintly and said, "The patent application will be submitted today, and even if they read it, they won't actually be able to learn it."

Ma Zhaoxian was immediately surprised and asked, "Are you so confident?"

(End of this chapter)