The surrounding area was inhabited by people from the Shengxia Garment Factory. When they saw Youyou selling toys at her stall, they all came over to take a look. When they saw He Yuxiang there, they secretly inquired, "Yuxiang, is something wrong with the factory manager? If he needs money, the whole factory can raise some."
"No, it's my brother who wants to experience what it's like to run a street stall."
"Oh, that's good."
Most of the people who came to join in the fun bought a toy to take home.
Youyou quickly emptied a box of toys.
He dragged his suitcase home again.
He was alone in his room, quietly counting his money.
Pingping felt uneasy while eating breakfast, so she quietly went to his room, opened the door a crack, and saw him counting money little by little. She said guiltily, "I'm sorry, I was a bit harsh. Please don't be angry. We'll look for Dad and Sister Xiaoyu together from now on."
Youyou turned her head and saw the guilt in her sister's eyes. Instantly, she stopped being upset and tossed the money at her: "I made seven yuan and three jiao! Isn't that amazing?"
Pingping nodded emphatically, and fearing that a nod wouldn't express her sincerity enough, she gave two thumbs up: "Awesome!"
Youyou's face lit up with a big smile: "We can talk to Sister Xiaoyu for eleven minutes now!"
Seeing him smile, Pingping finally felt relieved: "Okay, we'll go to the neighborhood office to make the call after school this afternoon."
Chen Qing, with a steamed bun in his mouth, walked by and said, "My two ancestors, I'm going to work."
The two siblings, Youyou and Pingping, waved to her obediently, like two adorable lucky cats.
Chen Qing smiled, then stepped forward and kissed the two siblings on the cheek. "Let's go."
*
Chen Qing didn't go to the factory today; he went directly to a meeting by car.
As a representative of the reform pioneers, and now promoted to the level of a department-level cadre, she is required to participate in major provincial meetings.
Today's meeting is a joint meeting for light and heavy industries.
Upon seeing Chen Qing, Shen Yaopeng said sourly, "Oh, Director Chen."
Chen Qing: "Oh, Director Shen."
Shen Yaopeng looked at her, his eyes practically red with jealousy.
Back then, he built the Linhai Machinery Factory into such a large enterprise. Apart from the research institute, the factory itself remained a high-ranking official's office. But Chen Qing directly transformed a small garment factory into a large factory under the central government. How could he not be jealous?!
Inside the meeting room, the two sides of the long table were clearly defined.
On one side are the heads of heavy industry systems such as steel, machinery, and chemicals, who are mostly male leaders like Shen Yaopeng, who are highly experienced and have a tough style.
On the other side are representatives of light industries such as textiles, food, and daily chemicals.
There were only two women in the entire room.
One heavy industry.
One light industry.
The meeting was chaired by the director of the State Planning Commission.
The meeting focused on discussing the province's industrial layout and resource coordination for the second half of the year.
When the topic turned to foreign exchange retention and use, Shen Yaopeng disregarded his long-standing friendship with Chen Qing and prepared to launch an attack: "Let me say a few words."
Chen Qing leaned back and began to listen to his long-winded speech.
Shen Yaopeng cleared his throat and said, "Foreign exchange is hard currency, and it should be spent wisely. For our heavy industry, introducing key equipment and upgrading production lines is to solidify the foundation of the country's industry and strengthen its core. The foreign exchange earnings of some industries are obvious to all and deserve recognition. However, in the final analysis, it is about making quick money and liquid money. If the core of our province's industry is not strong, we cannot win even if we have liquid money. I suggest that the foreign exchange quota should be given priority to ensure the technological upgrading and import substitution of heavy industry. This is the long-term solution."
He defined heavy industry as the skeleton and light industry's foreign exchange earnings as liquid money. Although he did not belittle them, the distinction in priorities was self-evident.
Several leaders from the light industry system exchanged glances, and finally all looked at Chen Qing.
It was obvious that Shen Yaopeng was targeting Chen Qing.
Chen Qing understood that Shen Yaopeng's attack wasn't directed at her personally, but rather an inevitable clash before resource allocation: "Director Shen's analogy of 'muscles and bones' and 'living money' is quite interesting, but for muscles and bones to be strong, don't they also need nutrition? Otherwise, if you're all hard bones and just keep training, are you trying to become a skeleton soldier who can lift weights?"
Shen Yaopeng's face darkened.
Can't this person read the context when they speak?
This is a well-known representative from various industries across the province. Couldn't she have said something a little more sophisticated? Why did she have to be so crude?!
Several people at the conference table were chuckling to themselves with their heads down.
The director of the State Planning Commission coughed lightly: "Use polite language."
Chen Qing: "Yes, I'm young and don't know any better. I'll be more careful in the future."
Everyone: "..."
Was she showing off, or was she just being boastful?
Chen Qing continued, "Our Shengxia Factory's foreign exchange earnings last year are clearly stated in the report and are obvious to all."
The foreign exchange we earn is directly converted into increased production efficiency and savings in raw materials, which in itself is an effective use of resources.
More importantly, our clothing is sold to the international market, workers' incomes have increased, and family housing has been built.
Only when workers have cash in their hands will they buy bicycles, sewing machines, and radios, and in the future, they will buy televisions and refrigerators.
Aren't these all products of heavy industry?
Light industry invigorates the market and boosts people's consumption power, enabling heavy industry's equipment and durable consumer goods to truly find a market and realize their value.
Therefore, I have never believed that light industry is merely icing on the cake.
On the contrary, we are the key spark to ignite the domestic demand cycle.
Cadres in the light industry system began taking notes.
Those in heavy industry frowned. According to Chen Qing, those in light industry had worked hard and made great contributions, so should resources be allocated to them?
Chen Qing is definitely here to ask for resources.
Otherwise, why would she come here?
Do you inhale secondhand smoke?
Or is it just a bunch of old men?
Sorry, she doesn't have that fetish.
Chen Qing seized the opportunity to push forward her words: "As a family, our light and heavy industries are by no means in opposition, but rather in a mutually reinforcing cycle. Of course, the country's foreign exchange reserves should be guaranteed for key and fundamental industries, but it should also support those industries that can generate foreign exchange efficiently and transform it into technological upgrades and market demand drivers. Only in this way can we form a healthy pattern of using light industries to support heavy industries and heavy industries to promote light industries. This is my humble opinion, and I ask the leaders to consider it."
As soon as she finished speaking, a brief silence fell over the conference room.
The leaders exchanged glances, and the director of the planning commission tapped his pen on the paper, seemingly lost in thought.
On Shen Yaopeng's side, the hushed conversation intensified.
A deputy director in charge of steel next to Shen Yaopeng shook his head: "Director Shen, her slogan of using light funds to support heavy industries sounds good, but in the end, the foreign exchange flowing into her hands is real—buying equipment and issuing bonuses. Who knows when it will actually benefit us? We can't let her succeed!"
Shen Yaopeng frowned deeply and lowered his voice: "We can't confront her head-on. She's too eloquent, and her theories are so convincing; she's difficult to deal with." (End of Chapter)
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