Chapter 86: You Have Already Found the Answer

Time swiftly flew by, and before he knew it, Saturday had arrived. After wrapping up his work, Zhao Guoyang greeted Wang Youchang, saying he planned to visit the Xiangdong Machinery Factory to see if he could borrow their laser spot welder once again.

Originally, Director Mu had intended for Zhao Guoyang to visit Songjiang this week to get a sense of the market for laser spot welders. However, an investment of this scale couldn’t be made on a whim; due diligence was necessary. Any delay in production would be problematic.

With this in mind, Mu Aijun asked Zhao Guoyang to find some time in the next couple of days to visit the Xiangyang Machinery Factory and negotiate with them. If possible, even if it meant paying a rental fee, they could lease the machine for a day or even half a day to quickly finish this batch of frames.

Mu Aijun’s two-pronged approach was sound, and Zhao Guoyang wholeheartedly agreed. Coincidentally, Monkey's side had already received the spring steel sent by Boss Wang from Guangling City, and his small workshop was all set and waiting to begin production.

This being the first production of hair clips, Zhao Guoyang naturally wanted to oversee the process himself. Thus, he planned to use the opportunity of visiting Xiangyang Machinery Factory over the weekend to make a trip back to Jianghai County.

After explaining his plan, Wang Youchang, of course, did not object. He even wanted to have the factory’s driver, Xiao Feng, give Zhao Guoyang a ride, but was politely refused.

In truth, after their business trip to Yangcheng, Zhao Guoyang was already quite familiar with Xiao Feng. However, for now, Zhao Guoyang did not want too many people to know about the small workshop, so he tactfully declined the factory director’s kind offer.

Zhao Guoyang arrived at Xiangyang Machinery Factory around noon. After meeting Liao Jingsheng and Ning Xiaohong, he warmly invited them to lunch.

During the meal, when Liao Jingsheng heard that Zhao Guoyang had helped Hongda Machinery Factory secure a major order from the Sanyang Group, his face was filled with envy.

As for Zhao Guoyang’s later request to rent the laser spot welder for half a day, Liao Jingsheng agreed readily and firmly insisted that, for Zhao Guoyang’s sake, there was no need for any rental fee—just bring the frames over during the weekend.

It must be said, Liao Jingsheng was a forthright man, nothing like the usual directors of small township factories; he possessed the bearing and generosity of a true industrialist.

While they were drinking, Zhao Guoyang noticed a trace of worry in Director Liao’s brows and ventured to ask, “Director Liao, you seem to have something on your mind. Is there anything I can help with?”

After Zhao Guoyang spoke, Liao Jingsheng set down his cup, heaved a long sigh, and confessed, “To be honest, Brother Zhao, our Xiangyang Machinery Factory’s business has been getting worse and worse in the second half of this year…”

Once Liao Jingsheng opened up, he could not stop. In essence, it was the tide of the times. Xiangyang Machinery Factory was a small manufacturing enterprise, producing mainly agricultural tools like hoes, rakes, and sickles.

With the pace of reform and opening up accelerating, agricultural mechanization was also advancing rapidly. The market for traditional agricultural tools like hoes and rakes was shrinking drastically. Naturally, business for Xiangyang Machinery Factory had become hard to sustain.

Though Liao Jingsheng was bold and capable, and had long been planning for the factory’s transformation, he did not have a clear vision for the future of the machinery manufacturing industry, and thus could not find a viable path forward.

With the year’s end approaching and the prospect of hardship looming after the spring, Liao Jingsheng’s worries showed clearly on his face.

After listening to Liao Jingsheng’s outpouring, Zhao Guoyang sat quietly, deep in thought. Across the table, both Liao Jingsheng and Ning Xiaohong looked at him with a mix of hope and longing, wishing this university-educated young man could suggest a good idea for their factory.

After a while, Zhao Guoyang finally looked up. He pressed his knuckles together, cleared his throat, and said, “Director Liao, this problem is actually a predicament facing many machinery factories at present. Not only your Xiangyang Machinery Factory—last year alone, three or four small factories closed down in Ninghai City.”

“The reasons are basically the same: sluggish sales and outdated production technology…”

Every word Zhao Guoyang spoke struck a chord deep in Liao Jingsheng’s and Ning Xiaohong’s hearts. The master and apprentice exchanged helpless, bewildered glances.

Zhao Guoyang didn’t notice their expressions and continued, “Director Liao, you mentioned you’ve long wanted to transform the factory, which is the right approach. It’s just that you haven’t yet found the right direction, have you?”

Hearing this, Liao Jingsheng nodded repeatedly, looking at Zhao Guoyang with anticipation, hoping he could offer some guidance.

Zhao Guoyang spoke slowly, “Actually, although Xiangyang Machinery Factory isn’t large, thanks to your foresight, Director Liao, the factory’s technology and equipment are far ahead of others of similar size. So, in relative terms, transformation would not be as difficult.”

Liao Jingsheng, a little anxious, urged, “Brother Zhao, don’t keep us in suspense—just tell us what direction we could turn to!”

Zhao Guoyang grinned, “Actually, Director Liao, you’ve already found the answer yourself, only you haven’t considered it seriously.”

“Ah?” At this, Liao Jingsheng’s mouth fell open in surprise.

Ning Xiaohong, quicker to grasp his meaning, immediately said, “Guoyang, you must be talking about developing plastic parts and mold manufacturing, right?”

Only then did Liao Jingsheng realize. The last time Zhao Guoyang and Hua Guosheng had visited, he had indeed mentioned over dinner the profits of Xiangyu Mold Factory.

At the time, he brought up the example mainly out of admiration for the flexibility and efficiency of private entrepreneurs, never seriously considering entering that field himself.

After all, plastic parts and metalwork are two entirely different products, with significant differences in both process and manufacturing. If Xiangdong Machinery Factory were to invest in plastic mold-making equipment, it would require a staggering sum—enough to exhaust the entire assets of both Liao Jingsheng and the factory.

A lack of funds had restricted Liao Jingsheng’s vision, so he never considered that option.

Observing Liao Jingsheng’s disbelief, Zhao Guoyang explained, “Director Liao, didn’t you say at our last meal how much you admired Xiangyu Mold Factory’s advanced productivity and the profits each worker could generate? Actually, Xiangyang Machinery Factory has the same opportunity…”

“Ah? Brother Zhao, do you mean—?” Liao Jingsheng was no fool; as soon as he heard this, he began to understand.