In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 210 A factory that builds helicopters and bombers is making cars? The Hafei Hongguang could be launched ahead of schedule!

Head of External Relations Section!
Are those older, smiling leaders behind them really the factory director, secretary, and chief engineer?

What a fuss!

Xie Wei felt that he had experienced all sorts of grand events in his previous life, but at this moment, he realized that what he once thought was "extraordinary hospitality" was nothing compared to what he was seeing now.

Although Factory 122's administrative level was not as high as Harbin Institute of Technology, it was only one level lower.

Just because you bought an airplane?
If Xie Wei at this moment really thought that he was being treated with extraordinary hospitality by Factory 122 simply because he bought an airplane, then he would have truly wasted his second chance at life.

"Section Chief Chen, what's this?"

Xie Wei felt it was best to make things clear, since he knew nothing and didn't know anyone on the other side.

That damned Yuan Zhenyue didn't reveal a single piece of information to me.

I'm going to reveal it now, where did they come from to Factory 122 like this?
"Comrade Xie Wei, your Principal Li has always praised your contributions to the school, especially the school-enterprise cooperation office... The development of your school's school-enterprise cooperation office in the past two years is evident to all. Now that we have a cooperative relationship, the factory also hopes to receive some of your development suggestions..."

As Chen Rongjie hesitated to answer, a gray-haired cadre stepped forward and smiled at Xie Wei.

When Xie Wei was puzzled by the other person's identity, he immediately smiled and introduced himself: "I am Huo Guoqiang, the director of Factory 122."

He then pointed to the two people behind him, "This is Secretary Lin Tao...this is Chief Engineer Liu Jianyun..."

Huo Guoqiang personally introduced the factory's leaders and cadres to Xie Wei.

Chen Rongjie, the head of the external relations department, was immediately marginalized.

Left with no other option, Xie Wei could only awkwardly shake hands with each of them.

"Let's go take a look at the plane we prepared for your school. Although the Y-11 is a light transport aircraft, it's slow and its carrying capacity isn't very strong, but it's still quite good as a means of transportation..."

After exchanging pleasantries, Huo Guoqiang personally led Xie Wei into the factory area.

"Director Huo, what do you mean by cooperation?"

Despite being greeted by an exceptionally large and luxurious lineup, Xie Wei remained composed and grasped the key points from their words.

cooperate!

As for the claim that Factory 122 wanted his development advice, he didn't believe it.

Although Factory 122 does not currently produce helicopters, it still produces bombers and other aircraft. In addition, it was one of the earliest units in China to convert military equipment to civilian use. Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG) was very well-known in the 1980s and 1990s.

"Regarding the cooperation on technology transfer! You are an advisor to the university-enterprise cooperation office, responsible for the transfer of the office's project results. Our factory has already reached an agreement with Principal Li on this matter..."

Huo Guoqiang frowned as he looked at Xie Wei.

Xie Wei was stunned.

What the hell!
Is this another mess that Old Man Li left for himself?
Why didn't Yuan Zhenyue tell me anything on the way here?
Seeing Xie Wei's gaze directed at him, Yuan Zhenyue hurriedly shook his head, his face full of helplessness, indicating that he didn't know either.

Although he was Li Rui's assistant principal, he was often not present when Principal Li was out drinking with leaders from other units.

"Regarding vehicles..."

"vehicle?"

Xie Wei was stunned again. "For technical cooperation related to vehicles, you should contact the relevant person in charge of vehicle engineering."

"Isn't external cooperation the responsibility of your school-enterprise cooperation office? Principal Li emphasized to us before that the school established the school-enterprise cooperation office in order to transfer the school's technological achievements. If we bypass the school-enterprise cooperation office, it will be difficult for the school to manage in the future."

Huo Guoqiang's words made Xie Wei realize once again that Old Man Li's arrangements before he left were not so simple.

Xie Wei walked and pondered, while Huo Guoqiang beside him did not urge him, but simply observed the young man whom Li Rui praised highly.

Although they knew about Xie Wei's achievements at school, they still lacked confidence in him—Factory 122 was in a very difficult situation.

The vast majority of production tasks were cut; research and development tasks also lost their funding.

The Y-11 was developed, but there were no orders.

Ask your superiors for projects and funding?

More critical projects, such as fighter jets and large and medium-sized military transport aircraft, are still in the queue.

Xie Wei did indeed make the Harbin Institute of Technology's school-enterprise office's business very successful, generating tens of millions of yuan in profit every year. Once Factory 122 can also generate that much funding, why would it need funding from higher authorities?
They can also raise funds directly for related technology research and development.

Moreover, Li Rui also promised that the school's related aircraft technology development process and prototype production would be handed over to Factory 122.

Otherwise, why would they care so much about a young man like Xie Wei?

Soon, the group arrived at the final assembly workshop.

A silver-white Y-11 transport aircraft, with a propeller engine mounted on each side of its fuselage, sat quietly on the runway outside the final assembly workshop.

The name "Harbin Institute of Technology" is printed on both sides of the fuselage.

"The development of the Y-11 was mandated by the Third Ministry of Machinery Industry to be a multi-purpose small transport aircraft designed for use in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, geology, and transportation, with a particular focus on meeting the requirements of agricultural and forestry operations. It was intended to replace the Y-5, which had an excessively large airframe and takeoff weight, lacked flexibility, was not very economical, and had relatively low safety..."

As Xie Wei stared intently at the Y-11, Chief Engineer Liu Jianyun personally introduced the factory's latest achievement to him.

"Maximum speed 220 km/h, maximum range 965 km, maximum takeoff weight 3500 kg, maximum payload 940 kg... Uses Piston-6A nine-cylinder radial piston engine, maximum power 285 horsepower..."

Xie Wei knew all the data that Liu Jianyun mentioned.

The largest orders for the Y-11 are actually from geological exploration and agricultural and forestry departments.

Using the Y-11, which can only carry 12 people, to transport passengers is truly a choice made out of necessity.

"Subsequent maintenance and upkeep?"

"The factory will cover all the costs, including providing the pilots. However, the pilots aren't here today... When you normally use it, you can take off directly from the factory's airport. Or you can take off from your school's airport. This plane has a short takeoff distance, and Xida University, which is right outside your school, can also meet the takeoff requirements."

"Forget it then."

Xie Wei immediately shook his head.

The wood is beautiful in the forest, and the wind will destroy it.

Old man Li Rui bought a plane specifically for the school-enterprise office, which was actually just to make things convenient for Xie Wei, and this was bound to be criticized.

It takes off and lands on the street in front of the school...

"Aren't you going up to take a look?"

"No, let's talk business."

Xie Wei was very curious about what agreement Li Rui had reached with the people from Factory 122 that made their higher-ups treat him so well.

Vehicle collaboration?

The school has vehicle engineering and even tank technology, but Xie Wei had never had any connection with them before.

"...That's the situation...At the time, Principal Li believed that our factory had a very good manufacturing foundation and could fully utilize our mechanical manufacturing capabilities to produce cars...He said that the cars produced would be designed by the school..."

Hey!
Xie Wei almost swore.

In short, the old man rambled on and on, then made Xie Wei, who knew nothing about it, take responsibility.

What else could it be but utter nonsense?
"Xie Wei, what type of car do you think we should get into? Principal Li said it's best to ask for your opinion on this."

"Yes, we originally just built airplanes..."

"The factory has a very good foundation; as long as you have the technology, you can quickly translate it into practical applications..."

The leaders of 122 kept emphasizing the factory's advantages to Xie Wei.

Xie Wei cursed Li Rui inwardly, thinking that the old man had caused him trouble even after leaving. He had initially wanted to refuse, but then he thought about how, for the next few decades, not only would foreign planes fly in the skies, but the roads would be filled with either imported or joint-venture cars. The automotive industry, in the 21st century, had become a national strategy.

Whether it's the technological foundation of Factory 122 or the design capabilities of Harbin Institute of Technology, they are far superior to that factory that started as a military automobile repair factory and, almost ten years later, started making cars by hand. They can no longer afford to argue with Li Rui.

My brain raced, thinking about the market demands of this day and age.

He immediately blurted out, "We can get the van first!"

"???"

A van?
The leaders of Factory 122 were completely bewildered.

They're really not good at dealing with cars.

If I had to say which would be more suitable, it would probably be a motorcycle.

After all, helicopter and light transport aircraft engines, with some modifications, are quite reliable for making motorcycles.

I haven't really researched other cars.

"A van that can carry both cargo and passengers! This type of vehicle doesn't need to have a large load capacity, doesn't require a high-performance power system, and has a relatively simple chassis design..."

Xie Wei began to introduce the current domestic market demand to everyone.

Nowadays, the number of cars in the country is not large. For the economy to develop, the flow of goods between different regions must be facilitated first.

"For passenger cars, there are well-established and powerful companies like FAW; as for large trucks, there's no need to mention them, as there are quite a few trucks produced domestically... The most marketable type is the minivan, which can carry both cargo and passengers... It has low technical difficulty and low production costs, with the cost of manufacturing a single vehicle being only a few thousand yuan..."

The more Xie Wei talked, the more reasonable he felt the plan was.

In the 1980s, when there were very few vehicles on the roads or in cities across China, Xie Wei knew better than anyone the huge market potential of a low-priced van that could carry cargo and passengers.

Even decades later, the Wuling Hongguang will still be a legendary car!
Once schools have the relevant technical foundation in automotive design, they can prepare to change course and make preparations for new energy vehicles in advance: hydrogen power and the like can be sold as technology, used as a smokescreen; electric vehicles are the future!

By planning decades in advance, the technology can be fully secured in advance.

Oil truck?

Domestically, we cannot compete with internationally, which has been established for over a century.

They are making early investments in new energy vehicles.

The more Xie Wei thought about it, the more feasible the plan seemed, and a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

"..."

The leaders of Factory 122 were even more puzzled by the smile on Xie Wei's face.

"Xie Wei, your suggestion is correct. There are few vehicles in the country, and there must be a huge market for vehicles that can carry both people and goods... But we are an aircraft manufacturing plant..."

"The design and research work will be handled by our school's vehicle engineering department..."

Xie Wei didn't even think about it.

For vehicle engineering-related majors to develop, they need projects, right?

With a project in place, research on the relevant technologies can be funded.

"What about the funding?"

Huo Guoqiang stared intently at Xie Wei and brought up the topic they least wanted to discuss.

Funding!

If they had money, would they have all the leaders of a large company spending time with a young guy like Xie Wei?

They really don't treat their cadres like cadres!
Xie Wei glanced around at the leaders of Factory 122 and sighed silently. "Our school will handle the design and technology development, while your company will be responsible for production. We'll split the profits 50/50. How about that?"

A 50/50 split is the worst possible deal Xie Wei can accept.

"Won't they pay usage fees for the technology anymore?"

Lin Tao asked Xie Wei with concern.

Clearly, he was aware of Harbin Institute of Technology's (HIT) external cooperation plan.

"That won't be necessary, but the sales will be handled by our school-enterprise cooperation office!"

No one objected to Xie Wei's proposal.

For the leaders of large state-owned factories, sales became the most troublesome thing when there were no more state-planned orders.

Anyway, the profits are split 50/50!

The two sides discussed many details of the cooperation and formed a written draft. It wasn't until after 7 p.m., after having a sumptuous dinner at the 122 Factory Guesthouse canteen, that Xie Wei and Yuan Zhenyue set off on their way back to school.

"Consultant Xie, is it feasible for us to get into the car business?"

After arriving at Factory 122, Yuan Zhenyue practically became invisible.

During the dinner, if Xie Wei hadn't refused to drink from the beginning, the two of them definitely wouldn't have been able to go home that night.

Let's get into cars!
They were clearly there to see the airplane the school had bought.

"Remove that 'ma' part! It's not that difficult. Our school's vehicle engineering program can even build tanks!"

Xie Wei said irritably.

At this moment, he was certain that Zhang Mingqiu, Liu Debao, and the others were cut from the same cloth as Li Rui!
What's the point of talking about developing automobile projects if, in the end, it's just about building up technical reserves for tanks, which have already been pushed to the edge of production?
Tanks or cars, which has higher technical requirements?
Fortunately, Zhang Mingqiu and Liu Debao kept their distance. If Xie Wei hadn't known Li Rui's personality, he would have really thought the old man was trying to gain political capital for Xie Wei's advancement.

I got back to school after 10 p.m.

Xie Wei did not return to the program-controlled switchboard project office in the Civil Engineering Building, nor did he return to his dormitory. After Wang Zheng said that he was going to prepare and try to allocate the supplies to Turpan by tomorrow, he directly asked the driver to take him to the school office building.

The lights were still on in Zhang Mingqiu's office.

When Xie Wei arrived, Zhang Mingqiu and Liu Debao were drinking and discussing something while eating peanuts on their desks.

"Xie Wei? You're only getting back now?"

Upon seeing Xie Wei appear at the door, Liu Debao glanced at Zhang Mingqiu.

"How are the talks with Factory 122 going?"

Zhang Mingqiu asked eagerly.

"It's alright. But the school needs to provide some funding..."

Xie Wei was too lazy to beat around the bush with the two of them.

The school-enterprise cooperation office currently doesn't have the funds unless Wang Zheng and Luo Cheng sign a contract with the Rongcheng Post and Telecommunications Bureau, and the money from there comes in.

"The funding for the school-enterprise cooperation office is self-raised..."

Zhang Mingqiu was unhappy.

Are we spending the school's money on school-enterprise cooperation projects?

This doesn't work.

The key issue is that the school is currently short of funds!

"If you don't have money, you shouldn't get involved in automotive projects..."

Xie Wei looked at the two of them calmly.

(End of this chapter)