This shows just how influential this thing is in China.

Moreover, the key point is that after receiving the money, this person really didn't think about running away. He stayed obediently in Beijing.

By 1988, many people had already left the area.

One or two is fine, ten or twenty isn't a big deal either. But you can't keep running around like that. Anyone would find that unbearable.

Moreover, not only did they run away, they also took some things with them.

That's why I want to know how Wang Shouren managed to keep people here.

Zhao Wuliang then arrived at the door with his gifts.

Normally, Zhao Wuliang would just stroll over. He might bring a roast duck or a roast goose, and Wang Shouren would provide some wine and rice. The group could then enjoy a meal, chat, and have some fun.

Things are different now.

Carrying a gift signifies that you have a favor to ask.

Therefore, Wang Shouren's question was not very polite.

"Hey, don't be so petty. You've built such a big business, it's normal for people to be watching you. Besides, they need a leader over there too."

Wang Shouren smiled and shook his head: "Judging from your appearance, you've come here as a persuader?"

“No, that’s not it.” Zhao Wuliang shook his head.

The events of 1985 were not as simple as they appeared on the surface.

Wang Shouren sensed a conspiracy. Therefore, he put his domestic sales on hold, and aside from Xu Weiwei opening branch stores in other regions, all other plans were temporarily shelved. To say that the 1980s were a good time to do business was an understatement; the crime of "speculation and profiteering" still exists today.

In the span of 85 years, tens of thousands of people were arrested.

According to Wang Shouren's thinking, if this business really wanted to continue, it would be fine to make further plans in the late 1990s.

At this point in time, it's really just about finding something for Xu Weiwei to do.

This woman is incredibly stubborn, even more so than Lou Xiao'e.

In addition, the incident in 1985 was ostensibly because he was mistaken for a bullet.

In reality, both forces behind the scientific community want to know what he's really thinking.

As mentioned before, one side consists of "compradors" and the other side consists of "independent scientific research".

Logically, Wang Shouren's side should be included in the category of "independent scientific research." But why are both sides trying to scheme against him?

It's simply a matter of "need".

The "compradors" wanted to show those in power the extent of Wang Shouren's influence, suggesting it might even represent a capitalist revival. In simpler terms, they wanted to sow discord. This is understandable, as Wang Shouren was a staunch advocate of "independent research." He distrusted any technology acquired from abroad.

Unless, of course, the underlying mechanisms of these technologies are made public to him without reservation.

So why should "independent scientific research" be messed around with by "compradors"?

This is actually quite easy to understand.

Because they needed a leader, and although Wang Shouren stood on the side of "independent scientific research," he never got involved in these matters. Therefore, they also wanted to give Wang Shouren a push. The incident with Xu Jiaguo was one such instance, and the one in 1985 was another.

Wang Shouren immediately shrank back without hesitation because he smelled the aroma.

The outcome of participating in the struggle is unlikely to be pleasant; it's better to run away than to fight.

Since that incident, he has basically never shown his face again, and he rarely even goes to the Ministry of Industry. He simply roams slowly in his own little world.

"That's good. Have some tea." Wang Shouren poured him a cup of tea, took a sip himself, and said, "In this weather, drinking tea has a special flavor."

Zhao Wuliang wasn't in a hurry. He put down his things, took a sip, and said, "If you ask me, you did the right thing. You've already extricated yourself from that vortex, so you shouldn't go back and get involved in those things."

Wang Shouren smiled but didn't reply.

In China, the real wave of layoffs didn't arrive until the late 1980s and early 1990s. Before that, those who went into business were either from influential families or were street urchins who couldn't find anything else to do. The number of these people wasn't huge, but it wasn't small either. The competition wasn't too fierce. And then there were those like him, who had the potential to reach the highest levels of government and had actually run away on their own.

Back then, countless people secretly cursed him as an "idiot."

Wang Shouren knew his own situation well. In his previous life, he wasn't a high-ranking official; he was just a businessman. It was already quite an achievement to help the entire country through business. As for politics, he truly lacked the ability.

Let me explain a very simple principle.

The higher-ups clearly know about some of the internal affairs of the factory, so why don't they come up with a policy to fire those slackers?

This is something many people can't understand: a secure job, a secure job, is it really that important?

From a businessman's perspective, all of these guys should be fired.

However, from the perspective of a Party member, expulsion would be a sign of incompetence. Why? Because communism is not just empty rhetoric. It means ensuring everyone has food to eat and work to do. While perfection is impossible, we must strive towards that goal. This is from a conceptual standpoint.

From a practical standpoint, if dismissals were actually possible, it would create widespread anxiety. Would subordinates use their power to seek personal gain? These are all difficult questions to answer.

The decision to adopt a policy should not be based on interests, but on whether it can maintain stability.

The current method is the most stable one. The "iron rice bowl" of a job must remain ironclad, unless the factory suffers losses year after year, to the point that even the higher-ups can't support it anymore. Otherwise, the iron rice bowl will continue to be ironclad.

In business, all you need to consider is profit.

When you enter politics, you have to consider a lot more, including human nature, interests, stability, and so on, all sorts of entanglements.

This is why Wang Shouren ran away as soon as the time came; he really didn't think he was cut out for it and didn't have the patience to keep messing around.

"The older you get, the more composed you become," Zhao Wuliang said with a laugh.

He couldn't see Wang Shouren clearly even before he left China.

A prodigy, an absolute prodigy.

The 21-year-old told him to go to the US and observe how things develop there, and what patents in the technology sector were all about. At first, he didn't really take Wang Shouren's words to heart. But when he actually went to the US, he was so bored that he decided to take a look.