That year the flowers bloomed 1981

Chapter 1505 Public Relations Manager
Factory Director Tan stayed in Beijing for three days, during which he repeatedly approached Ma Zhaoxian and Li Ye seeking cooperation, expressing surprising persistence and sincerity. However, he was ultimately politely rejected by both of them.

Of course, the two sides didn't break off relations, because Li Ye's reasons for refusing were very valid and practical.

【Your Weixian diesel engines belong to Jicheng Heavy Truck, so our separate cooperation agreement doesn't comply with relevant regulations!】

Of course we trust Director Tan's character and reputation, but your Weixian Diesel Engine Factory is, after all, a state-owned enterprise.

Factory Director Tan really doesn't have the slightest temper.

Because what Ma Zhaoxian said made a lot of sense. Weixian Diesel Engine is a state-owned enterprise belonging to Jicheng Heavy Truck. What if Jicheng Heavy Truck disagrees after we sign the contract with you?
To put it bluntly, what if we start working with you, and then you get transferred the very next day?
In particular, the "transfer" is a very common occurrence in mainland China.

The top leader made grand promises to the workers, urging them to work tirelessly. They toiled like oxen and horses for several years, only to find out when it came time to settle bonuses that he had been promoted and transferred.

If the new boss says "I'll let bygones be bygones," you should all be grateful. Otherwise, he'll dig up any mistakes you made, like drinking an extra cup of water at work one day.

Who can you complain to about this? Who can you seek justice from?
So all your words, Director Tan, are useless. We can only believe you if Jicheng Heavy Truck vouches for you.

Director Tan even started sucking on his teeth.

[I already said you would win, and now you want me to go back to Jicheng Heavy Truck? If I get Jicheng Heavy Truck's endorsement, will you be willing to cooperate with me?]

Of course not! It would be a miracle if Li Ye agreed to cooperate with the terms offered by Jicheng Heavy Truck!
. . . . . . . . .

Three days after Director Tan left, Jicheng Heavy Truck sent people to Jingnan Group for a “warm” meeting with Ma Zhaoxian.

It was called a meeting because they considered this visit to be very "formal," and sent a deputy general manager named Fan Hongqi to lead the team. After the meeting, they put on a very high-handed attitude.

Li Ye had some doubts in his mind, wondering if the other party had come to visit Jingnan Group or to provide guidance.

The reason for using the word "enthusiastic" is that the female manager surnamed Jiao who accompanied them was also very enthusiastic when communicating with Ma Zhaoxian, Li Ye, and others.

It's fair to say that if it weren't for Manager Jiao acting as a "glue" during the negotiations between the two parties, the first day of the visit to Jicheng Heavy Truck would have ended in discord.

Because after the group from Jicheng arrived at Jingnan Group, they were also accompanied by Li Ye to visit the No. 1 factory, and then they also ate in the No. 1 factory's small canteen.

However, Li Ye was used to entertaining guests in the small canteen, but Fan, the deputy general manager of Jicheng, was not. From the moment he sat down at the table, he said he "wouldn't drink alcohol," and his face, while not exactly dark, certainly wasn't pleasant to look at.

Li Ye's face immediately fell.

Don't even mention that Fan Hongqi is only half a rank higher than Li Ye, and they're not even from the same unit. Even when Minister Xue and others from the ministry came down to inspect, they praised the food in the small canteen. And you're complaining about it to me?
Are you trying to put on airs?
When Manager Jiao saw that Li Ye's expression had changed, he immediately picked up his wine glass and said with a smile, "Deputy General Manager Li, I heard before I came that you are from Qingshui and I am from the provincial capital. Our two families are only forty miles apart, so we are practically fellow townsmen!"
As the saying goes, "When fellow villagers meet, their eyes well up with tears," but today, seeing Mr. Li, I feel only joy and can't shed a tear. So, I apologize and offer you a toast.

"No, no, no, you..."

Seeing the woman, who was older than him, raise her glass to toast him, Li Ye quickly tried to stop her, but before he could finish his sentence, she had already finished her drink and revealed the bottom of her glass.

"I'm just expressing my apology, Mr. Li, please feel free to do as you please." Li Ye was somewhat amused and exasperated.

"I'll drink it all, you can drink as you like." If this kind of toast were between men, it might just be considered respect. But when a seemingly weak woman does this to a grown man, it's definitely a provocation.

"Hehe, actually I can't cry, so I'll punish myself with a drink!"

Li Ye had a high alcohol tolerance, so he naturally wouldn't care about a glass of wine. However, he had already become more wary of Manager Jiao.

In his previous life, Li Ye had heard that if you bring a woman with good social skills when you go to discuss something, it will be easier for both parties to have a harmonious discussion. Even if the matter cannot be resolved, it can also avoid a lot of awkwardness during the discussion.

This is similar to how, when playing games, if you have a girl who is humble, unpretentious, and has high emotional intelligence, your gaming experience will be multiplied.

Even in the 1970s and 80s, when men and women were more reserved and different from each other, there was a saying that "men and women working together makes the work easier."

Therefore, in certain environments, women always have special advantages, especially some men in their fifties and sixties who always feel that men should take care of women, which in turn fuels this phenomenon.

However, these days there are very few women who can be open-minded, especially girls in their late teens and early twenties. They are very resistant to this, and even if they are not resistant, they cannot be open-minded.

Even though a TV series called "Public Relations Lady" was released in mainland China in 1989, which gave some positive reviews to this type of situation, many girls were still unwilling to take advantage of this "advantage".

Therefore, only women like Manager Jiao, who are older and have experienced hardships, can make the choice that is most beneficial to themselves.

Of course, there are always exceptions. In 91, a certain Haha in Hangzhou was officially renamed and established. However, it was quickly listed as an unqualified product by the Nanjing Food and Hygiene Administration and was ordered to stop selling, and was about to face bankruptcy.

At this critical moment, it was a woman in her early twenties who stepped forward to turn the tide.

In an era before temporary residence permits were abolished, she led a group to Beijing to lobby for official approval, ultimately obtaining a life-saving permit. This lobbying effort was made after the Nanjing authorities had already issued a formal document, and the difficulties and inside story behind it are truly shrouded in mystery and difficult to explain.

Therefore, Li Ye never looked down on this "advantage" too much. After all, it was a personal choice, and it was a way to make the best use of resources.

Besides, there's a rule in the world that "existence is its own justification," so even if you, Li Ye, oppose or despise it, it's useless! So just mind your own business.

This is like the "yoga pants" of decades later. Li Ye doesn't object to how others wear them, and even encourages it. But if Li Ye's daughter dares to wear these things and show off on the street, Li Ye will break her legs.

Seeing that Li Ye was drinking with gusto, Manager Jiao immediately picked up the bottle and filled Li Ye's glass, then raised his glass again.

Li Ye couldn't help but sigh, silently complaining to himself.

[I knew it! None of the women at the dinner table are easy to deal with.]

(End of this chapter)