Siheyuan, Shazhu: I have both parents in this life

Chapter 406 Give a peach, receive a cherry in return

He Shining's full moon celebration was a grand affair, with ten tables set up in the He family courtyard in Nanluoguxiang.

He Yuzhu held his eldest grandson, his face beaming with undisguised joy, but before long, a familiar warmth spread across his chest.

"Well, here we go again." He handed the child to Xiaoman beside him, both amused and exasperated. "This kid, does he have a grudge against me?"

Xiaoman quickly took the child from him and glared at him: "I told you not to hold him, go and change your clothes."

Old Fang sat to the side cracking sunflower seeds, chuckling as he chimed in, "Zhu Zi, not to be rude, but you have a strong aura of menace about you, and the child is sensitive to it."

As they were talking, He Yuyan came out of the house. He reached out and took He Shining in his arms. The little guy was quiet and well-behaved in his arms.

"It's okay if Fifth Grandpa holds him?" He Yuzhu raised an eyebrow and gently poked his grandson's chubby cheek. "You little rascal, you only ever bully your grandpa, don't you?"

"Hahahaha." Everyone in the room laughed.

Many guests attended the full moon celebration.

Old Fang, Old Zhao and his family, Chen Baoguo and his family, Wu Qianli and his wife, Mei Sheng and his wife, Xu Damao and his family, and Xu Xiaohui.

Xiong Jie and a few others sent gifts through intermediaries, saying that they couldn't come because of military matters.

Many of them were meeting for the first time, but they quickly became acquainted, and the conversations mostly revolved around He Yuzhu or the Yellow River Group.

The banquet was very lavish, ordered directly from He Daqing's restaurant, and the guests and hosts enjoyed themselves immensely.

After the full moon celebration, He Yuzhu didn't let everyone leave. Since they had come all this way, he had to show them around.

During the break, He Yuzhu asked Xu Damao, "How are the preparations for the Tianjin branch going?"

"The location has been chosen; it's in the development zone. The first batch of machine tools shipped from the Federal Reserve just arrived at the port yesterday, and several factories have already come to inquire about them."

"The technical data is stored separately. If the buyer wants it, just tell them. We can do it for free, but in exchange for shares."

"Understood." Xu Damao nodded. "But brother, that set of power plant data is a bit too hot to handle."

"Keep that one, there's no rush."

"There's something else. I can't keep running back and forth to the person in charge here."

"You and Xiaohui don't have any men under your command?"

“Xiao Hui’s subordinates are not capable of handling such a big task. We need to choose someone else. I have looked around my subordinates, but I’m afraid they are not up to the task.”

"Let me ask Yuxin. You've been leading this team for so long, but it's all been for nothing."

"Brother, you're wronging me. Look at what you brought back. These are things that ordinary people can handle!"

"Alright, I don't mean to blame you. You just hold on for now. Once the person is chosen, go back and keep a close eye on the communications and electronics department for me."

"it is good."

He Yuzhu put a lot of thought into the matter of becoming the head of the Tianjin branch.

While it's convenient to use your own people, as the business expands, it inevitably becomes strained, and it's necessary to introduce some fresh blood, especially those with some backing, who can make things easier in certain areas.

After careful consideration, he spoke with all the people he had connections with, and they could recommend people to him.

Unexpectedly, the first person to take a picture was Zhou Baige.

"Big brother!"

Who did you recommend to me first?

“My eldest brother’s second son, Zhou Lei, is determined to change careers, and his family can’t persuade him otherwise.”

"Don't professionals usually get job placements? What level is he?"

"He's just a deputy battalion commander."

"Isn't that similar to Yu Yan?"

“The military is different. They haven’t changed their system, so they can’t transfer to a unit like Yu Yan’s. That’s why the kid doesn’t want to do it anymore.”

"He's not much younger than you, is he?"

"Yes, we grew up together."

"Your dad and brother agree?"

"I've been beaten up several times, there's nothing I can do."

"Then bring him over so I can meet him."

"it is good."

To He Yuzhu's surprise, Zhou Lei didn't come alone; he brought someone with him. Upon meeting him, Zhou Lei greeted him, "Hello, Uncle He. My name is Wu Yang, and my father is Wu Qianli."

This completely baffled He Yuzhu. "Who did you say your father is?"

"Wu Qianli!"

"You little brat, does your dad know you're here?" He Yuzhu got up, grabbed the boy's ear, and kicked him twice in the butt.

"Uncle He, Uncle He, don't hit him, don't hit him!"

"Being hit to you is too lenient. That kid better tell the truth. Does your dad know?"

"I don't know." The kid kept giving Zhou Lei meaningful glances as he spoke, and Zhou Lei didn't dare to move.

He Yuzhu kicked him a few more times before letting him go, then ordered the two boys to stand at attention and dialed Wu Qianli's number.

"Old Wu, it's me!"

"Zhu Zi, what's up?"

“Your Wu Yang is with me.”

"Wu Yang, isn't he in the army? How did he end up with you?"

"Ask him yourself." He Yuzhu said, beckoning to Wu Yang. The boy hesitated and didn't want to come over, so He Yuzhu got up to slap him before the boy finally came over.

"dad!"

"You went to Beijing? What were you doing there?"

Zhou Lei gave a rough explanation, and Wu Qianli handed the phone to He Yuzhu, saying, "Zhuzi, this brat is in your hands. If he doesn't listen, beat him to death, just leave him alive!"

He Yuzhu hung up the phone and looked at the two young men standing straight in front of him, their eyes revealing a cleverness. He felt both annoyed and amused.

He sat back down in his chair and looked Zhou Lei and Wu Yang up and down.

Zhou Lei was taller, with darker skin and a more composed gaze; Wu Yang, on the other hand, was more unruly, and although he had been beaten up, there was still a hint of stubborn defiance on his lips.

"Tell me, what did you do in the army? What are your special skills? Don't give me any nonsense." He Yuzhu picked up his teacup.

Zhou Lei spoke first, his voice loud and clear: "Reporting to Uncle He! I have served in a reconnaissance company for ten years, and have been a squad leader, platoon leader, company commander, and now I am a deputy battalion commander. I have been awarded a second-class merit once."

Wu Yang continued, "Uncle He, I served in a reconnaissance company for nine years, as a squad leader, platoon leader, and company commander. My current position is company commander, and I have been awarded a second-class merit. I felt that following the routine in the army was boring, so I wanted to come out and try something new."

He Yuzhu's heart skipped a beat; wasn't this just a copy of a certain TV series?

"So you two are in cahoots."

"Yes," the two replied.

He Yuzhu put down his teacup. "Do you know what my company does?"

"My aunt told me," Zhou Lei rambled on and on.

"And then, if you were in charge, how would you do it?"

Zhou Lei reluctantly shared his thoughts, highlighting his natural advantages: his comrades-in-arms, childhood friends from the compound, and his relationships with his grandfather and father.

Wu Yang added that he was actually in a similar situation, except that their networks of relationships were different.

He Yuzhu told the two boys to go back and wait for news. Then he asked someone about the boys' situation and learned that they had been sent to the army because they were too troublesome outside and didn't behave when they went to the countryside. They were also troublemakers in the army, but they hadn't done anything too outrageous.

After considering it for a while and talking to the two young men, He Yuzhu felt that these two were unlikely to make much of a difference in the military, but they had a decent business sense. In the end, he hired both of them.

Ultimately, it was decided that Zhou Lei and Wu Yang would first learn from Li Chengru, with their positions tentatively set as deputy managers of the Tianjin branch. Li Chengru would arrange their specific responsibilities based on the actual situation.

The two were obedient and went to Tianjin to report for duty the next day.

When Li Chengru received a call from He Yuzhu, he was initially a little worried to hear that two "young masters" had been sent to be his deputies, fearing that they were just there to gain experience and cause trouble.

However, after getting to know them for a few days, he discovered that although the two boys were wild, they were quick-witted and hardworking. Their execution and coordination skills, which they had developed in the military, actually became an advantage when dealing with local relationships and running around various procedures.

In particular, the personal networks that the two brought with them did solve many practical difficulties, so Li Chengru felt relieved and began to let them handle some specific matters.

The Tianjin branch's main business is to process the industrial equipment and technical data transported back from the north, while also expanding the Yellow River Group's market in the Bohai Rim region.

Zhou Lei and Wu Yang worked together quite well, with Zhou Lei handling external affairs, liaising with various buyers and local departments, and Wu Yang handling internal affairs, assisting Li Chengru in streamlining internal management and the conversion of technical data.

After expanding its production capacity, Huanghe Communications finally managed to keep up with market demand, and its market share in the domestic market steadily increased. It also began to export to Southeast Asia.

International brands such as Motorola are feeling increasing pressure as market competition intensifies.

After initial growing pains and adjustments, several research institutes and factories under "Yellow River High-Tech" have gradually gotten back on track. On this day, He Yuzhu was at home playing with his grandson He Shining. The little guy could already giggle and especially liked being lifted up high by He Yuzhu, seemingly forgetting the "meeting gift" he received at the baby's one-month celebration.

The phone rang, and Xiaoman answered it. After listening for a few minutes, she covered the receiver and said to He Yuzhu, "Brother Zhu, it's Yaozu on the phone. He sounds a bit anxious."

He Yuzhu handed his grandson to Xiaoman, walked over and took the phone: "Yaozu, what's up?"

“Dad, something’s happened! Several of our main distributors in Southeast Asia have told us at the same time that they received anonymous threatening letters warning them that they will face ‘serious consequences’ if they continue to distribute our products.”

Furthermore, a cooperative factory we had just finalized an agreement with in Europe suddenly and unilaterally terminated the contract, citing "notification from relevant parties regarding the risk of technology licensing."

He Yuzhu's eyes narrowed slightly: "Have you found out who's behind this?"

"The clues all point to certain official backgrounds; they are trying to encircle and suppress us in overseas markets."

“As expected.” He Yuzhu was not surprised. “Our rise has threatened the interests of too many people. Tell the person in charge of overseas markets to stabilize the existing channels and not to panic. At the same time, activate the backup plan and speed up the search for new contract manufacturers in Europe. If necessary, we can appropriately concede some profits. In addition, have the legal department prepare to deal with possible patent lawsuits. They will definitely make a fuss about that.”

"Yes, I'll arrange it right away."

"Remember, the more critical the moment, the more we must remain calm. Our foundation lies in the mainland and Hong Kong. As long as our base is solid, the storms outside are nothing more than a minor ailment."

"understood."

"Come back and visit your son when you have time, he's so much fun."

"Dad, is that how you talk about your eldest grandson?"

"What, you're not satisfied?"

"No, no, I'm hanging up."

He Yuzhu put down the phone, and Xiaoman came over with the child in her arms: "Is Yaozu in trouble?"

"Hmm, someone's getting restless." He Yuzhu turned around and took his grandson. The little guy squirmed in his arms but didn't cry. "Looks like our phones are selling too well, and someone's getting jealous."

"Is it serious?"

"It's not a big deal for now. We can find new overseas markets if we lose them, as long as we keep our domestic foundation stable."

Just then, Old Fang's strong voice came from outside the door: "Zhu Zi! Are you home?"

He Yuzhu shook his head helplessly and handed the child back to Xiaoman: "The debt collectors are here again."

As soon as Lao Fang came in, he said, "Hey Zhu Zi, when exactly will that thing arrive? They're pressuring us hard over there!"

"Uncle Fang, do you think you're going to the market to buy groceries?" He Yuzhu poured him a cup of hot tea. "Such a big thing, traveling across the ocean, it'll take some time."

"But how long has it been?"

"It's only been a month or two, and we'll have to avoid being seen on the road, so let's just wait and see," He Yuzhu said with a smile. "But I've prepared this for you first."

He took a file folder from his study: "These are some technical documents; you can take a look at them first."

Old Fang took the document bag, weighed it in his hand, and finally smiled: "That's more like it. By the way, they approved a piece of land for you in Tianjin, and all the formalities are done."

"Land? I didn't want any land!"

"Didn't you open a company over there? It was approved for your company."

"what?"

"What do you mean 'huh'? This is just a condition for exchange."

“This isn’t equivalent. How come they’re not planning to pay a single penny?” He Yuzhu shook his head.

"Hehe, you know, that amount of money is too big, we can't afford it. The one in Tianjin is just the first batch, there will be more later."

"Alright, but don't just give me the wrong directions."

"What, Tianjin isn't good enough?"

He Yuzhu thought about the development of Tianjin in his previous life, shook his head and said, "It really isn't good. The southern coastal areas are better."

"Alright, I got it. I'll talk to them."

After seeing Lao Fang off, He Yuzhu made a phone call to the Tianjin branch.

Zhou Lei answered the phone. "They've approved a piece of land for us in Tianjin. The three of you can go take a look."

"Land, what land?"

"I don't know either. You can tell me after you go and check it out."

"it is good."

Two days later, a call came from Tianjin, and it was still Zhou Lei speaking.

"Uncle He, we've already inspected the newly approved land. The location is excellent, and it's quite large. Moreover, the land includes the warehouse we're currently renting. Uncle He, what are our plans for the future?"

"Don't rush the planning, let's get the paperwork done first."

"It's already being processed, and we should be able to get the land certificate soon."

"Okay, you guys focus on the trade first, don't worry about the rest for now."

"understood."

One day, He Yuzhu put down the phone and shook his head and laughed at Xiaoman, who had just entered the study: "That girl Suxin ran into a brick wall when she asked Zhou Lei and Wu Yang for equipment discounts, so she came to me to complain."

Xiaoman sat down opposite him, picked up the warm water on the table and took a sip: "What happened? Those two boys dared to block her?"

"Judging from that, it seems that Wu Yang is holding a grudge against Su Xin for what happened when they were kids, and he hasn't been doing her any favors in official matters."

"So what are you going to do about it?"

"Let's find out the situation first. Public matters are public matters, and private matters are private matters; they cannot be mixed up. Factory 541 has just undergone a transformation and its funds are indeed tight. If the conditions are right, it would be acceptable to provide some support in terms of payment cycles, but the transfer of core technologies and the price of equipment cannot be arbitrarily determined."

He picked up the phone again and dialed the Tianjin branch.

Zhou Lei answered the phone, but He Yuzhu asked Wu Yang to take the call.

"Uncle He!" Zhou Lei handed the phone to Wu Yang.

"You and Zhou Lei are really inseparable, aren't you? You're together every day?"

"No, you're just calling at the right time. What can I do for you?"

"Suxin just called me and said that the equipment purchase negotiations with you didn't go well?"

There was a pause on the other end of the phone, followed by Wu Yang's slightly helpless voice: "Uncle He, Factory Director Mei did come. She wants those two special axle production lines that we just brought back from the north, as well as the related technology package, but she hopes we can transfer them at cost price, or offset them with a share of the profits from future products. This is not in accordance with company regulations, and Wu Yang and I did not agree."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Uncle He! Don't listen to Sister Mei's complaints! She's trying to get something for nothing! So many people are watching those two production lines. If she's given to her at cost price, what will the other customers think? Besides, where would she get the money for profit sharing in her factory right now?"

Zhou Lei seemed to push Wu Yang away slightly, then spoke into the microphone, "Uncle He, it's not that we don't support our brother company, but business rules can't be broken. Besides, Wu Yang..."

"What's up with him?"

"He mentioned the payment terms to Director Mei, and his tone was probably a bit harsh. He said something like, 'You never held back when I was a kid.' Director Mei's expression immediately turned sour."

He Yuzhu almost laughed in anger: "That brat! He can't distinguish between public and private matters. I'll deal with him later."

He pondered for a moment and said to Zhou Lei, "In principle, the production line and technology package will not be discounted. However, considering their actual difficulties, they can be allowed to pay in installments, with a lower down payment and extended payment period. You can determine the specifics based on the risk assessment and submit a proposal to me. Tell Wu Yang that if he dares to let personal feelings interfere again, he should be sent back to the army!"

"Understood, Uncle He. We'll come up with a plan as soon as possible."

"Uncle, I'm listening to everything. This isn't fair!" Wu Yang shouted on the other end of the phone.

"You're being fair to them, they're all companies within the same group, and you're still acting like this."

"I understand, I will apologize to Sister Mei."

"Alright, that's your problem, you handle it yourself."

After hanging up the phone, Xiaoman looked at him: "Can Suxin accept this approach?"

“Whether we accept it or not, this is the bottom line,” He Yuzhu said. “Transformation comes at a price; we can’t always think about taking advantage of personal relationships. Huanghe is not a charity, and we also have to be responsible to our other partners and shareholders. Letting her follow market rules may not be a bad thing for her and for the future development of Factory 541.”

A few days later, Mei Suxin called again.

"Uncle He, we've looked into the installment payment plan and it's acceptable. We're prepared to cut two non-urgent infrastructure projects and concentrate our funds to ensure the production line is up and running as soon as possible. It's just that the technical guidance fee..."

He Yuzhu said, "The technical guidance fee can be reduced in part as a form of support from the group for your transformation period. But Suxin, you must remember that the market only recognizes strength and rules. If Factory 541 wants to truly stand up, it must adapt to these rules."

Mei Suxin nodded solemnly: "I understand, Uncle He. I've been in the system for too long, and my mindset hasn't changed yet. This has taught me a lesson."

"I've already scolded Wu Yang, don't take it to heart."

Mentioning Wu Yang, Mei Suxin smiled and said, "That rascal wasn't wrong. It's right to handle official business strictly. I misunderstood before."

"It's good that you understand. In the future, you will be going out to compete with others. The group can't always have the most advanced technology. You will have to rely on yourselves."

"I understand, I won't do it again."

"That's good."

(End of this chapter)