"We need to go back and study this matter."
"You two don't have to worry too much. The leaders are determined to make changes. These minor issues can be discussed in meetings. Using you as a pilot program is not out of the question."
"They say they want to use Shenzhen as a pilot, and we in Beijing, as the capital, can't fall behind. A complete reform involves too much. However, starting the reform with our department stores and supply and marketing cooperatives isn't impossible."
Li Yong wasn't as sensitive. Department stores and supply and marketing cooperatives weren't for welfare. It was just that their profits were previously tied to state-owned factories. Now, they were shifting to cooperation with private entities, but the profits still went into the national treasury.
While Director Lou and Director Wang might have seen the risks of cooperating with private businesses, Li Yong saw the potential for private entities and the state to profit together.
The nation and its people prospering together—this was the true path to a strong nation.
"Uncle Li, there's no rush for this. If Director Lou and Director Wang don't want to make money from me, I'll pass this profit on to the people. Others sell for six hundred, I'll sell for five hundred. Others sell for seven hundred and fifty, I'll sell for six hundred and fifty. Others sell for nine hundred, I'll sell for eight hundred. Zhenhua will offer benefits to the people."
Chen Yang declared with confidence, a grand sweep of his hand. Low profit margins and high volume, engaging in price wars—this was something state-owned enterprises couldn't compete with. His production lines were all from Hong Kong, naturally making them cheaper than what state-owned enterprises bought from European and American countries.
Price wars were the true secret weapon to capturing market share. Once market share was secured, and other competing companies were crushed, Zhenhua would essentially control the market.
However, Chen Yang wouldn't do that. Doing so would stifle state-owned enterprises, leaving only himself. In the future, he wouldn't be able to withstand the onslaught of foreign enterprises. This was sharing risk.
But when facing companies like Panasonic trying to grab market share in the future, he would strike. When it came to price wars, Chinese people were the ancestors of the Japanese.
In his previous life, no one had dealt with them. In this life, Chen Yang would take action.
"Chen Yang, you'll disrupt the market. If we really sell at these prices, all the television factories in Beijing will go bankrupt."
"The current television factories are investing heavily to upgrade their production lines, and the initial investment is too large. Therefore, at this price, it's already difficult for them to make a profit."
"If you offer this price and they are forced to lower theirs, those factories will definitely go bankrupt, and we workers will all be laid off."
Director Lou became even more restless when he heard Chen Yang talk about lowering prices. Although Chen Yang was offering benefits to the people, this kind of benefit could truly harm a large number of factories.
Especially the few television manufacturing plants in Beijing. If they were to engage in a price war, they certainly wouldn't be able to afford the expensive upfront costs of upgrading their production lines.
After all, these factories weren't like Chen Yang, who could obtain foreign exchange through his distilleries and then buy production lines. If anything went wrong, they had painstakingly acquired precious foreign exchange from the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade or directly from subordinate ministries.
After obtaining this foreign exchange, the factories needed to create value to repay the nation. The country was still very poor, unable to provide foreign exchange to factories without limits. The country also needed to recoup costs and then continue to support other factories.
"Director Lou, I'm just saying. If we were to actually do this, it would be self-defeating. We're talking amongst ourselves. Our own brands are like brothers. I won't engage in a bloody fight with them in the marketplace."
"When those foreign companies want to come and seize our product market, I won't be polite."
"I also hope that our state-owned enterprises will continue to strengthen their own capabilities. Our country needs to develop. The reform and opening up to introduce foreign investment is inevitable. In the future of economic globalization, without certain strength, we will not be able to withstand market shocks."
"This is not just my personal concern, but a major issue for our entire nation and its ethnic enterprises. Many systemic issues within state-owned enterprises mean it's difficult for them to cope with such crises."
"There's nothing I can do to change that, so I can only remind Uncle Li in advance."
In the future waves of reform, the bankruptcy of many weak state-owned enterprises was inevitable. Under the rolling wheels of history, some had to become dust beneath those wheels.
"We are aware of this matter. Without opening up, it's hard to find development opportunities. But if we open up, we fear the foreigners will seize the achievements we've painstakingly built, one by one."
"This is a very difficult problem. It's not just you and me who are worried; the leaders are also worried. That's why we are only gradually opening up now."
"Partial opening up means lower trial-and-error costs. If we make a mistake, we can correct it promptly. It's easy to correct mistakes in one region. But if the entire country makes a mistake, it becomes impossible to change."
Chen Yang quickly interjected. Hearing his words, Li Yong nodded repeatedly. This young man, though not old, was exceptionally astute. What he was saying was precisely what the leaders were thinking.
"These matters are not for us to consider for now. Let's wait for the leaders' decision. Minister Li, the two of us are the vanguards of the ministry. If we are asked to pilot the reform in our department stores and supply and marketing cooperatives, Old Wang and I have no objections."
"I believe that any decision made by the leaders is carefully considered. We are always working for the people and for the fate of the entire nation to make the right decisions. To be a vanguard for the nation's economic development and institutional reform is our honor."
Director Lou and Director Wang were practically ready to sign a military order. This spirit deeply moved Chen Yang.
He had the perspective of God, but for these people who lived in this era, especially after having experienced so much turmoil, making these decisions was incredibly difficult.
If they took one wrong step, they would surely become sinners, drowned in the people's scorn. People of this era still valued their reputation very highly; some even valued reputation above their own lives.
"Relax. This is just the beginning. If the country wants to develop, how can it not take some serious action?"
"What you are worried about now, in ten or twenty years, when you look back, you will find it was just a minor issue."
"What we truly need to be wary of is poverty and backwardness. Backwardness leads to being beaten. Only when our economic strength is strong can we have more money to improve the people's living environment."
"Only when our country is prosperous and our people are wealthy can we spend more money to build our nation, build our army, and consolidate our national defense."
"The era of 'millet plus rifles' is over. Without powerful equipment, no matter how fearless our soldiers are, they will still struggle to resist the enemy's advanced weapons." - Sudan Novel Network
Chen Yang's words were powerful and resounding, striking Director Lou and Director Wang with great impact. Following the US President's visit to China and the leaders' overseas visits, many domestic leaders realized how developed other countries were and how vast the gap was between us and them.
Development was urgent; otherwise, we would truly fall far behind others, becoming utterly incomparable.