Chapter 179 Accountability! So you think our country has so much money...
Chapter 179 Accountability
Deputy Director Yuan of the Foreign Investment Leading Group and others hurried over. Through the glass of the conference room, they saw that both the Xuan Country managers and the foreign personnel were as quiet as a chicken.
What made them so quiet was the person who sat firmly in the main seat and gave these people the cold shoulder without mercy.
"...Did five years just pass by in the blink of an eye?
During this period, didn't any of you notice that the market is changing rapidly and the models originally planned are no longer suitable?
Why was this problem discovered only after the investment contract was signed and the production line was ready?
Who will answer me?
Or was the model you originally planned just a cover? Did you not care whether it could be put into production or not?
The translation team behind Yan Jiuru was in a dilemma.
If this kind of question were translated, I wonder if the foreign party would get angry and leave?
They chose their words hesitantly, but Yan Jiuru turned his head and glanced at them.
Although he didn't say anything, everyone in the translation team understood what he meant: Translate it according to my words, or get out now!
Although these professionals appear to be very low-key, they are always respected. Even the senior leaders are polite to them.
However, ahem, just today, they were repeatedly pointed out that their choice of words did not express his meaning clearly. It seemed reasonable, but it did not accurately express his meaning at all.
Internal company meetings are not diplomatic occasions after all, so there is no need to be too subtle.
The team leader gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, let's follow!"
It seems like no one would hurt others.
Director Yan put so much pressure on the translation team that they had no choice but to scold the foreign party.
John et al. . . . . .
Just spread your hands and shrugged.
It seems that there is indeed a problem.
But, at the time, this matter had nothing to do with us.
It was another group of people, but that’s not right. It was several other groups of people who participated in the negotiations.
None of their foreign staff have participated in this.
Can't answer!
Oh, they can report back.
Yan Jiuru didn't expect any answers from them. One reason was that he was really confused by these questions, and the other was that he wanted to suppress the other party's arrogance.
Sure enough, after his attack, the other party was left speechless.
***
The people from Xuan State were feeling complacent, thinking they had won, but they didn't expect that the next moment, Director Yan would point his gun at them.
"Who can tell me, the total investment of this factory is 50 million US dollars, what percentage of the funds is contributed by our country?" Yan Jiuru asked without a trace of anger.
Immediately, several people from Xuan Country responded: "I know, our country invested 30 million US dollars."
"Among them, there's $8 million in cash!"
"Yes, the rest is the conversion of factory buildings and land."
Yan Jiuru said "Oh" lightly, "Then of the 200,000 yuan investment in the bathroom renovation, at least 120,000 yuan is our money. Is this bathroom state and collective property?
"Workers wantonly destroyed state property, and you just stood by and watched? Or did any of you participate?"
Destroying state property?
There was a thunderclap in the ears of the Xuan State management present.
Yes, it seems, maybe, indeed, the bathroom is also considered collective and national property, after all, it is so expensive to build.
Now that I put it that way, it seems to be true...
Some pretended to scratch their heads, while others held the information in front of their faces and bowed their heads.
Mr. Bai was also embarrassed and just flipped through the documents, his head lowered even more than John's.
Yan Jiuru did not let them go.
Keep spraying.
***
"You, and you,"
Yan Jiuru nodded at the two groups of people and said, "That's really great.
Putting aside other things, since you knew the originally planned model was eliminated when the production line was in place, why didn't you think about developing something else?"
Xuan State has something to say about this.
A chief technical engineer said, "Director Yan, that's not true. Our technical research and development department submitted two new models, but they always rejected them for reasons like unqualified.
You know, developing a new model takes more than a year or two. We worked overtime and came up with two, but they were both rejected. How could we have time to develop another new model...?
"What's the reason for the denial?"
The chief engineer said, "It doesn't meet their country's standards. There are over 200 points of failure alone. There's no way to change it."
Yan Jiuru glanced at Johnny, the foreign chief engineer, and said, "Since it doesn't meet the standards, then they must have data on their standards. What's the difference between yours and the standards? Do you have any specific data?"
Xuanguo's chief technical engineer suddenly looked up and said, "There is a standard for this, provided by the foreign party.
The areas where we failed to meet the standards varied in size. The larger the gaps, the more significant they were. But there were also areas where we failed to meet the standards by only a small margin, with over twenty points missing the mark.
He gestured with his hand to indicate the distance.
"Have you found the reason for the gap?"
"Ah?" The chief engineer and Mr. Bai were both confused.
Yan Jiuru snorted lightly and knocked on the table, saying, "Since the gap indicators are all there, why don't you find the cause? Is it the materials, the manufacturing process, or both? How can we narrow the gap?"
Could it be that all you think about is toilets?"
I'm just short of calling them stupid.
“Why does our country spend so much money to establish joint ventures?
Isn’t it just to introduce each other’s technology?
Is the only way to introduce technology the other party providing detailed drawings?
Since the other party has provided process standards and the chief engineer's assistance, why not seize such a good opportunity?
"Achieving the standard under his guidance is also learning the technique, don't you know that?"
Mr. Bai and others lowered their heads even lower.
They had indeed been eyeing the other party's complete set of drawings, as this was stipulated in the original contract. However, the other party had been dragging their feet with various excuses and refused to hand them over in full, only squeezing them out one by one, and they were led astray.
I thought that only by getting all the other party's drawings could I really introduce the technology, but I didn't think about learning what I could first. . . . .
Tsk tsk
This brain is not smart at all.
Yan Jiuru didn't look down on them. If they went to his factory to apply for a job, they would definitely not make it past the second round!
***
Yan Jiuru scolded everyone here so hard that no one dared to look up, and then turned to the outsiders who were watching the fun.
John, Johnny, Thomas and the others were startled and instinctively wanted to find something to do.
Yan Jiuru snorted coldly: "Mr. John came late, so I won't ask him for now.
So, Mr. Johnny, the CKD parts have been stranded in Hong Kong since the middle of last year until now.
In the past year or so, besides waiting and arguing, haven't you done anything constructive?"
"Also, at the beginning of last year, you knew that the originally planned model was eliminated from the market, but you came up with the idea of CKD kit assembly? Then your salary package is really good."
"And Mr. John, General Manager, aren't you angry about not being able to import CKD parts? Then let me explain why we didn't issue you a license."
Now everyone present raised their heads and looked at Yan Jiuru.
Director Yan glanced at them calmly and asked, "Chief Accountant Wang, what is the average annual disposable income of a dual-income family in Yancheng?"
As the chief accountant sent by the old Yanjing Automobile Factory, Wang Kuiliang still pays close attention to the relevant information from the National Bureau of Statistics every year.
He immediately said, "If I remember correctly, the annual disposable income for a dual-income family should be around 2,000 yuan."
"very good."
Yan Jiuru continued, “The basic model of your 4140 off-road vehicle is priced at 153,000 yuan, and the deluxe version is 300,000 yuan.
So please help me calculate how long it would take for a dual-income family to buy a basic 4140 SUV?
This one...
Wang Kuiliang licked his lower lip, but had to answer: "Around 1975."
John and others started calculating on paper as soon as the translator said the first math problem. Before they could list the equations, the translator had already given the answer.
They continued with the second problem.
As a result, the 150-year answer left them looking at each other in confusion.
This is far worse than what they can do in the United States where they can save money for half a year and buy a four-door SUV.
***
Yan Jiuru knocked on the table. "How is it? Do you have an idea?"
"Mr. John, you're currently assembling 20 units a month. Where are they going?"
John: I know the answer to this question.
He straightened his back. "As far as I know, your country's government agencies are the main customer group."
Yan Jiuru smiled dangerously: "Do you think our country has so much money to keep buying such expensive cars?
Didn't the joint venture contract you signed stipulate that our government must buy all the units, regardless of how many were assembled?
This one...
John looked at Johnny, who was in charge of the import of spare parts.
Johnny frowned: "There's no such clause in the contract."
"That's right. If we don't have any, why do you keep saying you need to import so many spare parts and assemble 20,000 cars in three years?
"Excuse me, are you planning to export to your domestic market? Or somewhere else?"
What this means is that our country has no intention of buying your products.
Who are you planning to sell it to?
Or do you have a lot of money and don’t care if it gathers dust in the warehouse?
John couldn't sit still anymore. He stood up and walked around twice in annoyance, asking his assistant to find the original contract for him.
This is important.
***
It would be much easier for them to see the original documents than it would be for Xuan Country.
Within ten minutes, the English contract was faxed over from the United States.
A group of people lay there and searched carefully one by one.
Yan Jiuru also took the opportunity to read the original English version.
The joint venture contract originally included a lot of content, and what they sent over this time was only a part of the terms involved, which was also 7 pages.
As a result, no terms are guaranteed to be sold.
In other words, if the government does not place an order one day, or places fewer orders, the 4140 car will face a situation where the number of cars assembled will be in backlog.
The consequences are much more serious than the current situation where separate parts cannot be imported.
At least no money has been spent yet. If it is really assembled, the hundreds of millions of dollars will just be piled up in the warehouse and gathering dust.
By then, no matter John, Johnny, Thomas or anyone else, nothing will end well.
The foreign personnel immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
They were even a little glad that the spare parts were not imported.
***
John wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked Yan Jiuru, "Dear Director Yan, are you really not going to place an order?"
Yan Jiuru glanced at him and said firmly: "You now have two options. One is to disband. I won't say anything about this. Just follow the disbandment clause in the contract.
If you continue, then you must develop new models suitable for the Xuanguo market;
Either find a way to increase the localization rate of the 4140, or within three years, the price of the base model of the 4140 must drop to less than 70,000 yuan. Otherwise, I guarantee there won’t be a single institutional order.”
Thomas couldn't sit still any longer. He stood up and said, "Yan, you know, the best domestic parts here break down within five years. I can't promise such quality."
Yan Jiuru was not polite either, "Dear Thomas, what efforts have you made in this regard?
You are the chief engineer, you can't just find fault, right?
Your salary is for you to guide these technicians to improve their abilities and quality, not to just go around with a ruler and say something is unqualified. That would be too easy for you to make money."
After that, he gave John a cold look.
Is this what you call 'management'?
Thomas was confused and felt like he was back in his student days when he was yelled at by his teacher.
He even felt like a piece of chalk would hit him in the next moment...
Whoever Yan Jiuru looked at immediately lowered his head. No one present dared to question him and said that it would be useless if the institutions did not place orders.
***
The people outside the door also held their breath, but perhaps because they were too nervous, they accidentally made noises.
"Click~" Although it was very small, it was particularly clear in the silence.
Yan Jiuru said to the outside: "If you can avoid the first day, can you avoid the fifteenth?"
Well, haha, several team members including the deputy team leader walked into the office awkwardly.
After some official greetings, they sat down again.
Yan Jiuru extended his hand towards Deputy Team Leader Yuan.
The secretary outside the door was suppressed by Director Yan's aura, and now he hurriedly took out a stack of documents from a file bag and handed it over.
This is a copy of the original contract. Yan Jiuru flipped through it quickly, and no one spoke during the process.
The atmosphere is a bit depressing.
Ten minutes was more unbearable than an hour.
***
Yan Jiuru's first shot was directed at Deputy Team Leader Yuan:
"As far as I know, the purpose of establishing the foreign investment working group is to better introduce foreign capital and technology, so as to accelerate the upgrading of our old industries and create more benefits.
So, Deputy Group Leader Yuan, what's going on here? This working group is only concerned with the head and not the butt.
He pointed at Mr. Bai and said, "The joint venture factory encountered problems in its operations. They couldn't make decisions on their own and had no recourse. Our general manager wrote over a hundred letters, but not a single department or organization stepped forward to coordinate or resolve the issue for them!
why is that? "
Deputy Team Leader Yuan was also confused.
“Our leading group is only responsible for the initial introduction of the project. Once the project is implemented, it is the responsibility of the local government and relevant departments to deal with specific issues.
If he is the manager, he is actually the manager of your department."
Yan Jiuru nodded, "Okay, I won't go into the details of why I haven't received any relevant letters in the past month since I took office. Now, why do foreign parties have the illusion that we will buy everything no matter how much is assembled or how expensive it is?
Did we mislead them? Or did we make promises verbally?
"Absolutely not."
Deputy Team Leader Yuan quickly clarified, "We absolutely have not said or hinted at anything. Each car costs over 100,000 yuan, and our various organizations are simply gritting their teeth and buying it."
"While claiming they don't have enough foreign currency, they still insist on spending hundreds of thousands or even three hundred thousand yuan on imported CKD cars.
Tsk tsk, is this a shortage of foreign exchange or an overabundance? Why can't I tell the difference? Deputy Team Leader Yuan, can you explain it to me?
Deputy Team Leader Yuan: Ahhhh, it’s none of my business.
I didn't buy it, and I don't drive it.
“This, this…”
He raised his eyes quietly and saw Director Yan with a little smile in his eyes, as if to say, "Make a story, make it up well, let me see how you make it up."
Little brat!
He simply threw up his hands and said, "This is not our business."
As expected, it works just like that. It’s so simple and easy to use!
***
Yan Jiuru didn't expect him to really answer.
Instead, he said to everyone, "The current joint venture is like a poor boy with only his bones left marrying a wealthy lady with a luxurious dowry.
After getting married, the eldest lady disliked the poor boy because he ate poorly, dressed poorly, and had no regard for hygiene. Even if she paid for it, he was unwilling to take a bath and wash his feet.
The poor boy's family all despised the eldest daughter's extravagant lifestyle. Not only did she eat and dress so lavishly, but she also had to flush the toilet after using it, wasting good fertilizer."
"Two people who dislike each other finally managed to have a child, but it turns out that the grandmother doesn't love him, and the grandfather doesn't love him. They can't bear the consequences of their life."
"My husband's family turned a blind eye and let us do whatever we wanted. After all, the child has been born and will take our surname. If my parents-in-law don't agree, we can just divorce them. They don't want a child from a poor boy anyway."
The translation team is translating very hard, but they are still trying hard to translate the original meaning.
The people from Xuan Kingdom couldn't hold back their laughter, their heads lowered and their shoulders shaking.
Yan Jiuru finally knocked on the table and said, "I just want to ask, why did you want to get married in the first place?"
Deputy Team Leader Yuan recalled what his superiors had said with a smile: "We are good at revolution, but we lack experience in running a business and market operations.
Comrade Yan is a capable person. A few years ago, he was the first person to earn hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign exchange on his own.”
Then, Deputy Team Leader Yuan waved his hand towards Yan Jiuru and said, "So, we will just bring in the talents. If we don't understand the management, we won't interfere. As for how they can live a good life, that's all up to you, the Foreign Investment Enterprise Management Department."
Yan Jiuru: …
As expected, he is thick-skinned and has one trick up his sleeve.
Of course, he is not someone who can be easily fooled.
"Then it's better not to let me know which unit down there has the most money..."
Deputy Team Leader Yuan has a toothache, and this is asking him to offend someone.
But it is time to go ahead, and it is the leader who finally shows up.
"Okay, anyway, next year's budget has just been released, so it can still be adjusted. It's much easier to adjust it downward than upward."
General Manager Bai and others, as well as John and others who heard the translation, were stunned. . . . .
No, isn't it really making things worse by blocking our order in person?
You really still want us to divorce, right?
Actually, it’s not impossible to have a good talk.
***
John looked at the schedule, chatted with a few people from the foreign side for a while, and said to Yan Jiuru: "Dear Director Yan, please give us a week. We need to re-evaluate."
Mr. Bai and others also said, "Let's hold a meeting, and the union will have a good talk with the workers."
Yan Jiuru stared at the two groups of people and said after a while, "Both oxen are strong, but each is pulling its own harness, so they can't plow the field."
"After a week, if there is no good rectification plan, cutting losses in time is the best option."
John knew it wasn't a threat.
But Director Yan really thinks so.
The competition in the parent company in the United States is also very fierce. He finally got the position of expatriate general manager. If he really breaks up the company, he will be worse off than Roberts who was squeezed out.
John and Mr. Bai's eyes met unexpectedly, and they both understood the meaning in each other's eyes: This group cannot be separated!
It doesn’t matter where the workers work, but the management is cutting off their own path by breaking up the company.
To be precise, even if he returned to his original unit, he would not be entrusted with any important tasks.
Both sides have to start facing reality and figure out how to resolve the current dilemma.
Yan Jiuru got hold of the more than 100 letters of appeal written by Mr. Bai and began to pursue accountability.
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