Chapter 219: Empty-handed Foreigners
“It’s only February, shouldn’t the Spring Canton Fair be held in April or May?” Although Yin Qianfeng has never participated in the Canton Fair, he knows from reading newspapers all year round that this is the country’s most important import and export fair every year. It can be said that the country’s foreign exchange earnings mainly rely on this fair:

“Besides, our commune can’t just go there whenever it wants. Let’s put it this way, not to mention me, even if the county magistrate wanted to risk his dignity to run a errand for the Zhongping Brigade, he wouldn’t know where to kowtow.”

Every year, some companies in Bingyang participate in the Canton Fair, but the county, the prefectural committee, and the prefectural-level city have no say in which company can participate and which cannot. It can even be said that the province has no say at all. It is directly decided by the foreign trade corporations affiliated to the state departments. How much price to set, how to trade, and how much foreign exchange to earn have nothing to do with the local governments. The local governments can only watch helplessly and cannot even get a share of the action.

There is no way around it. The companies in Bingyang participating in the Canton Fair are all heavy industries, mainly steel. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the local government has had no autonomy over this important resource.

On the contrary, it doesn’t matter whether the factory itself is under the responsibility of a national ministry or a local government. In the end, foreign trade orders are the ones that make money for the factory and the workers.

However, local governments have always been somewhat dissatisfied with the fact that they have no decision-making power over enterprises within their jurisdiction. This is especially true in industrial towns like Yaoshan, where many heavy industrial enterprises within their jurisdiction have almost become countries within a country.

Why was it that when the Yaoshan Prefectural Committee held a meeting to talk about reform and opening up and promote the development of rural sideline industries, the representatives of workers from state-owned enterprises dared to confront the Prefectural Committee leaders, and even Xie Hushan, a farmer, dared to talk back, but the Prefectural Committee leaders did not dare to say a word?

Even the leaders of the Yaoshan Prefectural Committee felt that they had no right to manage others, and they did not have the courage to fight back when being scolded, so they could not afford to offend the factory.

It was okay for Xie Hushan, a farmer, to curse in the street; the workers dared not do anything to him. But if the district committee cursed the workers’ representatives, they would immediately go to the ministries in Yanjing to file a complaint, accusing them of hindering the country’s industrial development, and the entire district committee team might be in trouble.

“I understand. Our brigade’s steel mill and pipe factory want to participate in the Canton Fair, but there is no way. The major steel mills across the country can fight each other, so how can it be the turn of our brigade’s local workshops to get involved? Just watching the big steel mills fighting from a distance will easily get affected.” Xie Hushan heard Yin Qianfeng say that not everyone can go to the Canton Fair, and said:

“But in the past two years since the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee, we have set up an import and export joint venture for each province. For light industry and chemical industry, each province’s import and export branch can form a delegation to participate in the Canton Fair under the leadership of the ministry’s import and export company. Calendars are considered light industry, right? We are the only company in Yaoshan that produces calendars. Can’t we strive for a quota?”

Yin Qianfeng sighed, “Politics is in command, understand? It doesn’t matter what you produce. There are so many participating companies across the country, and the exhibition area is so small. Is it just about the product? I saw in the newspaper that if a company signs up to participate in the exhibition, it has to compete with the factory leader’s resume. The director of the brigade offset printing factory is now Xiao Yang in name only. How can Xiao Yang compare his qualifications with those senior industrial people? Even if you put Han Laogou in the title of factory director, you can’t compare with him. Any of them will be honored.”

“Han Hongzhen is the factory director. She also has the honor of being a county female model worker and a March 8th Red Flag Bearer. Can anyone compare to her?” Xie Hushan took out a stack of letter paper from the drawer and handed it to Yin Qianfeng:
“This is what Old Yang asked his reporter buddy from the Bingyang Newspaper to help Han Hongzhen compile… It records her experience of reform and opening up. You see, she is a widow who started a sideline business with her mother-in-law. First they went to the market, then they made bricks, and they were in charge of the steel rolling mill. This year, they took over the offset printing factory. Because Yang Limin, my second uncle, and conservatives like me all thought that the scale of last year should be maintained, she was fearless and taught herself foreign languages. She was going to attend the Canton Fair with a calendar… I was thinking about the Canton Fair last year. All the exhibitors in our province are monks. It is impossible for them to brag about men. But if this matter is blown up, we can definitely get one through the county women’s federation, the city women’s federation, and the provincial women’s federation.”

China is a vast country with abundant resources and too many factories everywhere. As a result, participating in the Canton Fair has become so competitive that it is outrageous. It is not only about competing on products, but also on the factory’s reputation, the resume and honors of the factory manager.

Zhongping Offset Printing Factory is the first manufacturer in Yaoshan to produce calendars. It is difficult to get a target from the province because the province does not look at product quality. The country is a planned economy and who knows whether a rural workshop like you really has good quality or relies on connections to attract business.

Maybe a certain porcelain factory in Yaoshan only needs to introduce that its factory director is a veteran revolutionary of such and such year, who started working in such and such year and has won honorary titles such as National Model Worker and National Outstanding Worker Representative, and this indicator is the same as that of the porcelain factory.

After all, they have work experience and the honorary titles are not fake. Judging from their resumes alone, the quality of the other party’s factory is obviously more guaranteed. After all, the Canton Fair is mainly about doing business with foreigners, and it cannot tarnish China’s image.

Those who are unsure of the quality of their products would rather not be allowed to participate than allow foreigners to be cheated and damage China’s image.

“You know what, your approach is really promising. You… are really thoughtful.” Yin Qianfeng was flipping through the manuscript, and his eyes lit up when he heard Xie Hushan say that they should try to get the support of the Women’s Federation.

Although men and women are equal in China, Yin Qianfeng has never heard of a factory in Yaoshan District where women are in charge. If the Provincial Women’s Federation needs to create a model, this report is a good example. Xie Hushan, Yang Limin, and Han Laogou were all portrayed as conservatives, misers who are satisfied with making a little money, while Han Hongzhen was portrayed as an open-minded woman who taught herself foreign languages, saw the Canton Fair in the newspaper, and was determined to sell her products abroad to earn foreign exchange for the country.

The Provincial Women’s Federation may seldom express its opinions under normal circumstances, but if it speaks out, it means it involves women’s issues. Even if the provincial leaders do not agree with gender equality, they have to pretend to take it seriously. A Canton Fair quota should be given.

“But there are so many connections…” Yin Qianfeng said uncertainly after reading the manuscript: “I can only hand this manuscript to the county party committee leaders. The county must be strongly supporting Zhongping now, but I can’t guarantee whether it can go to the city and what the city’s attitude is. After all, you caused a lot of trouble in the city before the New Year. I think the city will have a headache when they hear the word Zhongping. There is another question… Although the offset printing factory belongs to your team, Xiao Yang, the factory director, is arranged by the county. Will the county agree to Xiao Yang handing over the factory director?”

“The offset printing factory has changed its name to the light industrial processing factory. The offset printing factory under the light industrial factory is under the management of Han Hongzhen. As long as Lao Yang is not transferred away, the light industrial factory and the subordinate garment factory will still be under the management of Lao Yang.”

Yin Qianfeng looked confused: “Where did this garment factory appear?”

“Let’s make a deal. Today is today. No one else can leak the news. The whole thing is like this. The calendar is a stepping stone. Didn’t the offset printing factory that Lao Yang is in charge of change its name? It is now called Zhongping Light Industrial Processing Factory. Calendars are of course light industry, but so is clothing. As long as the calendars pass the quota, we can mix in private goods. Han Lao Er is undercover in Hong Kong Island and has figured out the business of clothing. Second-hand sewing machine heads for clothing can be bought at any time. The main thing is that he doesn’t understand foreign languages ​​and doesn’t know who the clothes are sold to. He just knows that they are foreigners.” Xie Hushan said to Yin Qianfeng with sparkling eyes like a charlatan:
“This business is definitely profitable and can solve the employment problems of many women, but we can’t open a factory first, because if we can’t negotiate business, the investment cost will be too high. We must first participate in the Canton Fair to fool the stupid foreigners to sign orders, get deposits, and then build a factory.”

Yin Qianfeng sobered up in an instant, half lifted his butt off the stool, and prepared to get up and say goodbye: “Well…you guys eat first, I just remembered that there seems to be a document in the office that I forgot to sign, you guys eat, don’t wait for me…”

“The unified planning fund has to be paid.” Han Laogou sat in his seat, sipping his food and wine with relish.

Yin Qianfeng turned his head to look at Han Laogou and shouted, “Han Laogou, you… do you know what this kid is talking about? Ah! You dare to drink any alcohol! Do you still have any shame? Do you still have any consciousness as a revolutionary?”

“What should we do if we can’t collect the unified funds? I heard that several brigades are eyeing the Zhongping Brigade. If Zhongping pays, they will pay.” Han Laogou held the wine glass and muttered to himself.

Yin Qianfeng sat back in his seat, and his expression changed from righteous words to one of deep sorrow:

“Comrade Han Chengsong, your brigade is asking me to help fool the leaders above. You have nothing, but you insist on attending the Canton Fair. It’s okay if no deal is signed, but if the business is signed, the county and city leaders will definitely be concerned and come down to investigate as soon as possible. But when they find out that there is nothing, who will they blame?”

“I’ll take responsibility if anything happens!” Han Laogou patted his chest at this time.

“You are such a shameless bastard!” Yin Qianfeng cursed angrily when he heard Han Laogou’s words:
“You’re talking nonsense! You have lost your conscience! You are a brigade cadre, what’s the use of your leadership to punish you? You are fired today and elected again tomorrow, ups and downs are just like a monk taking a bath! They must be here to punish me, I said that the people of Zhongping treat their guests but the food is not good, what’s the matter, the country can’t accommodate you anymore, you are trying to get money from foreigners for nothing?”

Han Laogou said calmly, “I don’t think there’s any problem. If the deal fails, the country won’t suffer any loss. If it succeeds, the country can earn money from the foreigners and it won’t suffer any loss. As long as the enemy spies don’t tell the foreigners the truth, the foreigners won’t know anything. Anyway, we’ll just deliver the clothes to them in due time. Besides, Cheng Gui’s second son has figured out the clothing manufacturing business in Hong Kong Island, and the brigade has done the math several times. If it doesn’t make money, why run it?”

“Is that a money-making thing? If the news leaks out, Zhongping will be exposed abroad, and the whole country will scold us. Good fellow, we have nothing and dare to participate in the Canton Fair to cheat foreign friends’ money! It’s obvious that your calendar is a cover! And if you are punished, it must be the commune first! You have nothing wrong. The state will take action because of the problem of the commune cadres, not you, a bunch of unruly people! I won’t do it! No matter what report you write, the commune will never sign it! If you have the guts, go and run to the door yourself!” Yin Qianfeng said firmly:
“I can’t work my whole life without ever leaving the country or meeting any foreigners, and then end up being accused of being a government official who has damaged the country’s reputation and fooled foreigners!”

(End of this chapter)