Reborn during the early days of China’s reform and opening, the narrator finds himself in the 1980s countryside. In this setting, the past is still a cold reference, yet it is also a fresh start....
"That's not what I meant. What I meant is that there's still a huge gap between our country's current steel production and that of foreign countries, especially in areas with special applications. We're very interested in many of the products listed on your paper."
If Comrade Jiang said he was interested in these products, Wan Feng would still be a little skeptical, but it was different when Comrade Jiang said he had a strong interest.
These people have been speaking in the system for years and their speech has a certain flavor of clichés. Usually, the difference of one word can make a world of difference in meaning.
"What kind of products do you need?"
"We need AB series ship steel with a yield strength ranging from 390-1175 MPa. We want all kinds, as much as we can get."
"Comrade Jiang, how many varieties of this 'yield' series of steel from 390 to 1175 are there?"
"There are hundreds of varieties put together."
Wan Feng took a breath of cold air. Are there so many?
"It would be difficult to get all these varieties here, and it might even attract the attention of Soviet intelligence agencies."
This is indeed a problem.
"Then let's study it and introduce some key ones."
"That would be better, but I can't promise I can get it. I might have to go there again."
The last time Wan Feng went there, there was one thing he hadn't agreed upon, which was the tractor issue, so he still had to go to Gongqingcheng.
"Eat, eat, don't stop."
When the dishes were first served, the three comrades were a little reserved and embarrassed to eat. After all, this table of food and wine would cost at least fifty or sixty yuan.
This was not the banquet they imagined.
Now that we're familiar with each other, I feel comfortable picking up my chopsticks.