Return to 88: Starting from Marrying My Sister-in-law

The lights in the top-floor conference room seemed to soften a bit after the preliminary framework agreement was signed.

Lu Yang closed the far-reaching "Strategic Symbiosis Framework Agreement" and looked up at Zhang Ruimin, whose eyes were piercing.

Lu Yang's face was full of enthusiasm, "President Zhang, leave the details to the staff. It's rare for you to come all the way south and bring such a generous gift."

Lu Yang stood up, his tone leaving no room for refusal, "You must do me the honor of coming to my home for a small gathering tonight. I have already arranged a simple banquet at the villa, firstly to welcome you and to introduce you to some friends from Pengcheng and the South. Haier is a flagship company in the North, and it should also get to know more friends from the South. In the future, the home appliance chain business needs more like-minded people."

Zhang Ruimin came here with the sincerity of seeking in-depth cooperation, and Lu Yang's initiative in inviting him and the goodwill he showed were exactly what he wanted.

He laughed heartily, his accent thick with SD: "Mr. Lu's hospitality is too much for me to refuse! It's perfect to see what kind of person Mr. Lu is in real life, the one who can make Soros suffer in Hong Kong."

As night fell, Lu Yang's seaside villa, located halfway up a mountain in Pengcheng, was brightly lit and dazzling.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows lies a dazzling cityscape at night and a tranquil bay, while inside, it's a scene of clinking glasses and elegantly dressed people.

The meticulously prepared banquet brought together some of the most influential figures in the business community of Nanhua Kingdom.

As the host, Lu Yang personally made the introductions.

He patted Zhang Ruimin's arm lightly, his voice clearly reaching the ears of every important guest: "Ladies and gentlemen, this is Zhang Ruimin, the backbone of our national manufacturing industry and the helmsman of the Haier Brothers Group! Haier Brothers, a prestigious name, will also be our Century Electrical Plaza's strongest ally from now on!"

"Mr. Zhang, I've long admired your name! I am Mu Qizhong!" Mu Qizhong, who was slender but had a commanding presence, raised his glass first, his voice booming like a bell.

"Little prodigy, Xiao Jun, it's a pleasure to meet President Zhang." Xiao Jun smiled and nodded.

Mr. Liu from Shenzhen Investment Holdings Co., Ltd. also stepped forward with a wine glass in hand, beaming: "Mr. Zhang, we at Shenzhen Investment Holdings have been paying close attention to Haier's expansion in several southern provinces and look forward to the possibility of deeper cooperation in the future."

……

Zhang Ruimin remained neither humble nor arrogant, exchanging pleasantries with everyone.

His pragmatic and tough style, combined with the shrewdness and sophistication of a southern businessman, created a wonderful collision and fusion in the atmosphere of the banquet.

After several rounds of toasts, the conversation gradually deepened, and the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

Halfway through the banquet, the guests and hosts were enjoying themselves immensely.

In a relatively quiet corner of the terrace, Lu Yang, Zhang Ruimin, Mu Qizhong, Xiao Jun, General Manager Liu, and others sat around a table, their conversation shifting from the macro-level business landscape to more down-to-earth market insights.

Zhang Ruimin took a sip of red wine, put down the glass, and said with a sigh, "Speaking of which, before this trip south, I went to the rural areas of Southwest China for research. I saw that the lives of many farmers have indeed improved a lot, and they have bought washing machines for their homes. But there is a very interesting phenomenon."

He paused, successfully capturing everyone's attention, "I noticed that many of the villagers' washing machine drain pipes were always clogged with mud. At first, I thought it was a machine problem, but after asking around, I learned that the villagers cheerfully said, 'Mr. Zhang, our washing machines are very useful! We not only use them to wash clothes, but also to wash sweet potatoes!'"

Everyone was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter.

Mu Qizhong slapped his thigh: "Haha, the farmers are so honest! They make the most of everything!"

Zhang Ruimin laughed too, but his smile held a businessman's shrewdness: "After laughing, I thought, isn't there a demand we haven't grasped hidden here? Since this washing machine can wash sweet potatoes, it means it has this 'potential.' So, could we design a machine that can not only wash clothes but also better clean agricultural products like sweet potatoes and potatoes? Isn't this a new market gap? If I hadn't been in a hurry to come to Pengcheng to talk to President Lu about cooperation, I would probably be in Qingdao right now, urging the guys in the R&D department to quickly start this 'sweet potato washing machine' project!" "Pfft..." Lu Yang, who had been listening quietly, couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"President Lu?" Zhang Ruimin and the others looked at him.

Lu Yang waved his hand, unable to suppress a laugh: "President Zhang, your discovery is very interesting! However, your research direction could actually be a little more 'simple and direct'."

He picked up a napkin and casually sketched a diagram. "There's no need for major structural changes. You see, ordinary washing machines have thin drain pipes, which easily clog when washing sweet potatoes. So, in the design phase, we'll add a switchable, thicker drain pipe interface! For washing clothes, use the thinner pipe to ensure washing results; for washing sweet potatoes and potatoes with mud, switch to the thicker pipe mode for unobstructed flow! Wouldn't that solve the problem perfectly? The cost increase is negligible, but the functionality is greatly expanded."

Zhang Ruimin stared at the simple drawing Lu Yang had made, and his eyes suddenly lit up, as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun!

He slammed his hand on the table, his SD accent brimming with excitement: "Brilliant! Mr. Lu! Your mind works so fast! You hit the nail on the head! This idea is brilliant! No way, this idea is worth a fortune, I have to get Haier to pay you for consulting!"

Lu Yang quickly shook his head with a smile, his expression sincere: "Mr. Zhang, you flatter me! We're all in the same boat now. Once the details of the agreement are finalized, I'll be a shareholder with a say in Haier. It's only natural for a shareholder to offer ideas to their own company, isn't it?"

He paused, as if a new idea had opened his mind, and continued, "Actually, following this line of thought, the market potential is huge! For example, to address the need of herders in snowy areas to churn butter, we could develop a 'butter-churning washing machine'; to address the inconvenience of cleaning crayfish in coastal areas, we could create a 'crayfish-washing washing machine'! These specialized models may seem niche, but as long as they address the essential needs of specific groups, sales and reputation will be very impressive. If we do this well, Haier's position as the 'number one washing machine brand' will be truly rock solid!"

Zhang Ruimin was deeply moved and exclaimed repeatedly, "Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! President Lu, your words are more valuable than ten years of study! This trip to Shenzhen was worth it! Absolutely worth it!"

However, just as Zhang Ruimin was immersed in the excitement brought by the multi-functional washing machine, Lu Yang's smile faded slightly, and his voice became calm, carrying a profound meaning that transcended the joyous occasion before him.

He raised his glass, his gaze sweeping over every business tycoon present, finally settling on Zhang Ruimin:
"Mr. Zhang, everyone, these product innovations are certainly powerful tools for expanding the market and a testament to the down-to-earth wisdom of Chinese entrepreneurs. But please forgive my bluntness, these are ultimately 'techniques,' 'minor tricks' that add icing on the cake."

The atmosphere on the terrace seemed to freeze slightly as Lu Yang's words took a turn.

The dazzling crystal lights reflected in his deep eyes, gleaming with an undeniable and resolute light.

"The true 'path' lies in core technologies, which are vital national assets! The home appliance manufacturing industry has a long way to go and a heavy responsibility. We cannot be satisfied with merely functional cleverness; we must also be wary of falling into the trap of formalism and technological hollowing out."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word carried immense weight, striking a chord in everyone's hearts: "Mr. Zhang, I sincerely hope that after you return this time and secure the funding, and with the added profits from these new product categories, you can truly focus on leading the Haier team to invest all resources and every penny into the deep waters of core technology research and development!"

Lu Yang stood up, as if issuing a call to an era: "What is the goal?"
It's not about fancy features, but about creating a washing machine with 100% domestically made parts, from screws to chips!

Then, starting with washing machines, we'll move on to conquering 100% domestically produced refrigerators! 100% domestically produced air conditioners! 100% domestically produced color TVs!
When Haier can proudly announce that every component of our white goods bears the mark of "Made in China" and embodies the wisdom and hard work of Chinese engineers...

At that time, the Haier Brothers will not only be a successful enterprise, but will become a banner of national industrial self-reliance, a truly deserving world-class great enterprise!

Lu Yang's words were very emotional.

But it's also true, because the Haier Brothers in their previous life went astray with formalism and hollowed-out technology. The "sweet potato washing machine," "butter-making washing machine," and "lobster washing machine" that Lu Yang just mentioned are personalized products that the Haier Brothers will launch one after another in the next few years. They were also jokingly called the rising stars of the washing machine "innovation" world by the domestic media. In just a few years, they established their position as the number one washing machine seller in China.

But what happens in the end?

Until 2008, China had become the world's largest home appliance manufacturing base, yet no single white goods company could manufacture a 100% domestically produced color TV, refrigerator, or air conditioner entirely from scratch. (End of Chapter)