novelonline Chapter 1342 Two Stubborn Guys Clash
Chapter 1342 Two Stubborn Guys Clash
Chapter 1342 Two Stubborn Guys Clash
A month later, after several rounds of meetings and discussions, the ministry officially approved the equipment import plan from US-based Loda Chemical, which Song Yunhui had strongly advocated. This approval document also required Han Zegang to fully assist Song Yunhui in initiating formal negotiations with Loda.
During the initial technical exchange phase, communication between the two parties proceeded smoothly. Luoda's technical personnel demonstrated excellent professional skills, providing thorough feedback on the technical details raised by Song Yunhui's team. Han Zegang also leveraged his expertise, actively participating in equipment selection and technical parameter alignment. Ma Baoping undertook a significant amount of external coordination work. Everything seemed to be progressing well, and department leaders inquired about the progress multiple times.
However, just before the technical specifications for the core equipment were to be finalized and signed, the American company, Loda, suddenly vanished without a trace.
At first, Song Yunhui thought that Luo Da was just testing their patience: "It's an old trick of the Americans. They're about to sign the contract, so they're deliberately keeping us waiting. They just want to raise their price and ask for more money. Stay calm and ignore them. The more anxious we are, the more enthusiastic they will be."
Two more days passed, and Luoda still hadn't given any substantial response. Song Yunhui realized he couldn't wait passively any longer.
"Deputy Director Han, Director Ma," Song Yunhui stood up. "We need to go to the Luoda headquarters to inquire about the situation. Waiting like this isn't a solution."
Han Zegang didn't say anything, but simply picked up his briefcase and followed. Ma Baoping adjusted his glasses, sighed slightly, and also stood up.
Upon arriving at the luxurious office building of Luoda's headquarters, the receptionist politely invited Song Yunhui and his party into a spacious and bright meeting room. Tea and coffee were quickly served, and the receptionist said with a polite smile, "Please wait a moment, our manager will be here shortly."
The wait lasted nearly three hours. The coffee on the table went from scalding hot to lukewarm to ice cold, and was refilled again and again, the cup emptied and refilled.
They asked repeatedly along the way, and the answer was always "the person in charge is in a meeting" or "they'll be there soon."
The three of them were alone in the large reception room. The hustle and bustle of the city outside the window seemed to be separated by a layer of glass, becoming distant and unreal.
Han Zegang's face grew increasingly grim, almost as if it could drip water. He tried to get up and leave several times, but Song Yunhui stopped him with a look each time.
Song Yunhui's ominous premonition grew stronger. After waiting for nearly four hours, when the receptionist refilled his coffee, he stood up, picked up the internal phone in the meeting room, dialed the front desk, and spoke in fluent English.
"Hello, I am Song Yunhui, the chief technical officer of the Donghai Chemical Project. We have been waiting for more than four hours. If this is how Luoda treats important partners, I need to remind you that my team has an obligation to keep all media friends who are following this matter informed of the progress of this cooperation, especially the way you received us today. We have recorded the entire process. Please immediately tell your person in charge that I will give him one last five minutes."
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a moment.
Five minutes later, the door to the meeting room was pushed open. The person who entered was not the negotiating representative they had previously met, but a company vice president-level manager.
"I'm very sorry, Mr. Song, Mr. Han, Mr. Ma, for keeping you waiting." The vice president expressed his apology in a formulaic manner: "Regarding the previous cooperation, our headquarters has conducted very careful internal discussions and a comprehensive regulatory compliance assessment... Based on the latest and mandatory embargo regulations, the key equipment and technology required for your project are beyond what we can currently legally provide. It is with great regret that we have to terminate this transaction."
He spoke quickly, his gaze sweeping over the three of them without lingering.
"An embargo?!" Han Zegang jumped up from the sofa, his voice rising eight octaves: "What embargo? Why didn't you mention this when we were negotiating? We've already finalized the technical specifications! And now you're telling us about an embargo?"
Loda's vice president simply shrugged, looking somewhat helpless: "The previous assessment failed to cover all possibilities. Due to regulatory restrictions, there's nothing we can do."
After saying that, he didn't offer any further explanation, as if he had only announced a decision, and hurriedly left the meeting room.
Back in their hotel room, the oppressive atmosphere seemed to freeze. Han Ze slammed his briefcase to the floor, his chest heaving: "Damn it! These Americans! Are they playing us? Why didn't they do this sooner?! They've wasted so much of our time and energy! We should have just gone to the Japanese!"
Ma Baoping, who had been silent all along, slumped heavily into the sofa, took off his glasses, and wearily rubbed his temples: "What's the point of saying all this now? Does that embargo only apply to Americans? Do you think Hitachi, Mitsubishi, and those European companies can circumvent Western bans and sell to you?"
"That list doesn't just trap the United States; it traps almost all Western countries capable of manufacturing these advanced devices! Even with money, they can't buy them—that's the reality!"
Han Zegang silently lit a cigarette. The rising smoke drifted out in front of him.
Song Yunhui took a deep breath, walked to the window, and looked at the brightly lit yet utterly unfamiliar city nightscape. After a moment, he took out his notebook, sat back down at the table, and opened the documents.
Now that things had come to this, frustration and anger wouldn't solve anything. He had to immediately draft a report to truthfully and clearly convey to the ministry leadership the heavy and chilling result that "Loda unilaterally terminated cooperation due to the embargo," along with Ma Baoping's assessment.
When the news reached China, the ministry convened several emergency meetings. After the initial shock, disappointment, and anger, the immense pressure coalesced into a resolute determination to move forward.
Senior leaders personally approved the plan: "Immediately activate the second plan! Fully promote the domestic equipment integration and replacement plan proposed by Comrade Song Yunhui!"
The meeting confirmed that Song Yunhui would be in charge of the plan.
"Comrade Song's technical skills are the most outstanding among the younger generation. He also proposed this plan, and he is leading the effort to integrate resources. The entire department is giving his full support! Time is of the essence, so let's get started immediately!"
Stepping out of the ministry's imposing building, a gust of cold wind swept over him. Looking at the distant winter sky, Song Yunhui vividly recalled his conversation with Qin Hao two months prior in the canteen of the Donghai Haoran International Industrial Park—at that time, Qin Hao had directly pointed out the risks of the embargo and explicitly suggested preparing domestic alternatives.
"Brother-in-law...you're so incredibly insightful..."
Upon returning to China, Song Yunhui and his team immediately embarked on a whirlwind nationwide research trip, accompanied by key technical personnel. Their footprints covered major large-scale chemical equipment manufacturers across the country, including Jinzhou Petrochemical Machinery Plant, Hujiang Pressure Vessel Plant, Northwest Heavy Equipment Group, and Southern Precision Casting Plant.
During the in-depth technical exchanges, one phenomenon caught Song Yunhui's special attention.
At a technical seminar at Jinzhou Petrochemical Machinery Plant, the plant's deputy director in charge of technology frankly stated when discussing process challenges: "Chief Engineer Song, to be honest, a few years ago our plant had outdated equipment, backward technology, and low morale among the workers. It was Haoran International that continuously placed high-standard export orders with us over the years, forcing us to introduce new equipment, improve processes, and learn management. They really didn't show any mercy! If we didn't do well, they would return the goods and impose fines. But we persevered, and now we have the confidence to sit here with you and discuss the manufacturing plan for high-end equipment like the Donghai project."
The chief engineer accompanying him nodded in agreement and added, "More than 70% of the factory's technical backbone were honed through orders from Haoran International."
These words deeply moved Song Yunhui. He had never realized so clearly that Qin Hao had not only solved the foreign exchange problem for a particular project, but also, through Haoran's global business, had genuinely driven and improved the technology and management level of a large number of key domestic manufacturing enterprises, accumulating a valuable industrial foundation and talent pool for today's domestic substitution solutions. This influence was profound and far-reaching.
For three whole months, there was no concept of weekends or holidays. Arguments, communication, and revisions took place in meeting rooms; on-site inspections were conducted in the factory workshops, test data was collected, and blueprints were modified; countless all-night meetings, hotel rooms piled high with documents, and densely packed technical notes...
Han Zegang also set aside all prejudices and devoted his profound technical expertise to optimizing the localization plan without reservation, striving for perfection in every technical detail. Through this sincere collaboration, the final "Donghai Chemical Phase I Major Equipment Localization Substitution Plan and Implementation Outline," a culmination of countless technical personnel's hard work, received formal approval from the Ministry!
After the project officially started operating, Song Yunhui, as the chief technical officer, became even busier. That day, after just finishing a coordination meeting regarding equipment ordering cycles, Fang Ping, a key technical member, hurriedly caught up with him in the corridor, carrying a document.
"Chief Engineer Song, there's an emergency!" Fang Ping, his face visibly anxious, handed Song Yunhui a summary of purchase orders: "I've found some problems with the list that the Equipment Department and the Purchasing Department just compiled."
Song Yunhui stopped and took the document: "What's wrong? Get to the point."
Fang Ping flipped directly to the back of the list and pointed to a few items: "Here, the key valve core of the precision control valve group, the high-precision flow meter sensor, and the special flange seal required for the A-003 reactor... These seven or eight non-core but technically demanding components, according to our current understanding, cannot be made by domestic manufacturers."
Song Yunhui's heart sank. This completely deviated from their previously envisioned path of "complete localization." He quickly scanned the list of equipment items marked in red by Fang Ping as "recommended for import."
"Are these devices... on the embargo list?" Song Yunhui asked in a low voice, still clinging to a sliver of hope.
Fang Ping shook his head with absolute certainty: "I've checked the embargo list three times, and the intelligence department of the ministry has also confirmed it. These are all ordinary industrial equipment, not on the list. It's just that we... don't have any foreign exchange right now!"
"Foreign exchange?" Song Yunhui was taken aback, then immediately realized! When the plan was initially submitted for approval, in order to highlight the advantages of domestic production and emphasize the savings in foreign exchange, their budget report did not include any application for foreign exchange quotas for equipment imports! The one million US dollars required for these dozens of "miscellaneous" pieces of equipment had now become a fatal bottleneck hindering the project's further progress!
Song Yunhui's brows furrowed instantly: "Can't we find a single domestic manufacturer that can do this? Even one that needs time to improve?"
Fang Ping smiled wryly: "Chief Engineer Song, we can't afford to waste time. Improving technology isn't something that can be done overnight. Even if we pay the manufacturers to tackle the problems, we can't guarantee the results or the timeline. Although these parts are scattered, making them is extremely costly and risky. From the perspective of the overall project schedule and comprehensive cost control, importing is the optimal solution."
Faced with reality, Song Yunhui fell silent. He stared at the list, and after a few seconds made a decision: "I understand. You contact reliable overseas suppliers and get them to provide detailed technical data and formal quotations to prepare for procurement. As for the foreign exchange... I'll figure out a way to handle that. Hurry up, the project deadline can't be delayed."
"Understood! Chief Engineer Song, I'll keep a close eye on it!" Fang Ping immediately replied, grabbing the documents and quickly leaving. He knew Song Yunhui's relationship with Haoran International; he should be able to find a way to get the money.
Upon returning to his office, Song Yunhui immediately dialed the number of Liu Ming, the executive vice president of Haoran International's Donghai branch.
Song Yunhui explained the situation concisely and clearly, hoping that Haoran International Donghai Branch could help with the advance payment, and that subsequent projects could be settled in the form of products or other means.
"Hey! Is that all?" Vice President Liu's voice on the other end of the phone was very relaxed: "One million US dollars? No problem! Leave it to me!"
"Then I'll have to trouble Vice President Liu." Song Yunhui put down the phone and breathed a slight sigh of relief.
……
Meanwhile, at the entrance of the Donghai High-tech Industrial Park, Ren Xia'er dragged his suitcase out of the taxi, looking at the more vibrant park in front of him, a sense of emotion swept through his heart.
Six months ago, when she left here to participate in intensive closed training at the Shanghai headquarters, she was just an ordinary branch office finance manager. The six months of "devil training" enabled her to devour a massive amount of professional books, and she managed to climb from the bottom of the class to third place in the final assessment.
During this period, the Shanghai branch did express its intention to keep her, but for some reason, the transfer process ultimately failed. Ren Xia'er was somewhat surprised, but did not investigate further.
To Ren Xia'er's surprise, upon her return, she was promoted directly from finance to financial director, a real leap that meant she had officially become a senior manager at the Donghai branch.
Her new identity naturally attracted attention. Those colleagues in the branch office who had previously secretly wanted to see her fail now looked somewhat awkward when they faced her.
Just a few days after taking office, while she was buried in mountains of reports and monthly analysis reports, there was a knock on her office door.
"Please come in." Ren Xia'er didn't even look up.
The door opened, and Vice President Liu walked in with a friendly smile: "Director Ren, busy?"
Ren Xia'er immediately stood up: "Hello, Vice President Liu, please have a seat. Shall I get you some water?"
"No need to trouble yourself." Vice President Liu waved his hand and got straight to the point: "Director Ren is so busy, so I'll get to the point. It's like this, I have a rather urgent expense request that I submitted to you, but it's getting stuck. This expense is indeed quite special, so could you make an exception and get it approved?"
After reviewing the application form, Ren Xia'er frowned slightly: "Vice President Liu, it's not that I don't want to approve it. According to the head office's foreign exchange management regulations, any single foreign currency payment application or the cumulative application for the same matter exceeding US$100,000 must be approved in writing by the head office's vice president in charge or above, and filed with the head office's finance department before payment can be made. This application exceeds the limit, so we need to go through the head office's approval process first."
Vice President Liu took a few steps closer, lowered his voice, and tried to plead: "I know that. But this isn't a normal situation, is it? It's about advancing funds for the Donghai Chemical project. Our General Manager Lei's brother-in-law is in charge there. You don't know, when Jingzhou Chemical imported equipment, our head office advanced 20 million US dollars and it took two years to break even! This is just a mere million... Rules are rules, but people are flexible, right? Director Ren, could you please make an exception?"
Ren Xiaer raised his head, his eyes calm and firm, leaving no room for compromise: "I'm sorry, Vice President Liu. Rules are rules. Company regulations must be followed. This expense has not been approved by the head office, so I really cannot sign it. If you insist on immediate payment, then I can only trouble you to ask President Lei to personally sign and approve it. Once I see his approval document, I will execute it immediately."
During her training in Shanghai, a highly experienced senior colleague advised her based on his own experience: when faced with violations, the only way to protect yourself is to "leave a record".
Vice President Liu's face instantly turned ugly. He glared angrily at Ren Xia'er, said nothing more, grabbed the returned application form, and turned to leave the office without a word.
Furious, Vice President Liu returned to his office and called Song Yunhui to explain the situation, expressing strong dissatisfaction with Ren Xiaer's "rigidity" and "lack of flexibility."
Song Yunhui listened on the phone but didn't take it too seriously. He figured a mere million dollars wouldn't be difficult to resolve by negotiating it himself, and there was no need to trouble his brother-in-law Qin Hao with such a small matter.
"Director Ren, hello, this is Song Yunhui. Regarding the foreign exchange payment that your company needs to advance for the Donghai project, the situation is very urgent..." Song Yunhui tried his best to make his tone gentle and friendly, and patiently explained the urgent needs of the project and the importance of these equipment.
Ren Xia'er's voice on the other end of the phone was very polite, but her attitude was unusually firm: "Hello, Chief Engineer Song. I understand the situation. However, this payment process violates company regulations. Without approval from the head office, I cannot sign it. Please understand."
Song Yunhui felt both surprised and troubled. The young financial director in front of him didn't give him any face at all.
Left with no other option, he picked up his phone and dialed Qin Hao's international number in the United States, briefly explaining the situation and hoping his brother-in-law could put in a good word for him.
Qin Hao's voice came from the other end of the phone: "Ahem, Xiao Hui, Director Ren is just following the rules. Um... I have some urgent business to attend to here, you talk to her properly... I'll hang up now."
After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao snapped his fingers.
Having finally given these two a chance to interact, I won't join in the fun.
Hearing the busy tone on the phone, Song Yunhui had no choice but to continue negotiating with Ren Xiaer.
Thus, an interesting scene unfolded at Haoran International's Donghai branch: whenever Song Yunhui had free time, he would come to block Ren Xiaoer's door, but no matter how much he pleaded, Ren Xiaoer would not budge.
The two stubborn individuals are now completely at odds.