Great Power Industry: You're a private company building an aircraft carrier?

“If it were island nations buying, it would cost at least five billion US dollars. However, we are friendly nations with South Korea, separated only by a narrow strip of water. The price is only 40%, two billion US dollars!” Qin Chuan said. “This is an absolute low price. If you go to other suppliers, not to mention the price, they simply won’t sell!”

They had their eyes on the rolling mills from the island nation, but who would have thought that the islanders would ask for an exorbitant price? Even if they went to other steel mills, the price probably wouldn't be cheaper, or they might simply refuse to sell!

It goes without saying which to choose: selling eggs or selling the hens that lay them.

Only Easterners are willing to sell! The price has dropped from five billion to two billion US dollars. Although it's far from their expected price, in the eyes of Easterners, it's an absolute bargain!

So... grit your teeth and accept it? After all, there's no better option!

“Boss, this price is too low!” Just then, Antonina spoke up: “This rolling mill production line in our factory cost 1.8 billion! Everyone works day and night, and with this kind of hard work, 200 million is not enough. If we export it, it will cost at least 4 billion!”

Qin Chuan thought to himself, "Antonina is really competent as a secretary. She's definitely one of the best graduates at Yanzi School! She's so good at reading people."

"Yes, we spent 1.8 billion. If we had sold it to the islanders, it would have been worth at least 5 billion. But now, it's the South Koreans who are coming! How can that be the same? We've been friendly neighbors since ancient times, while the islanders have been robbers since ancient times! Humph, Xu Fu shouldn't have taken 500 boys and girls with him back then!"

"Engineer Qin, your cost is only 1.8 billion?" Zheng Zhuhuan took a deep breath.

"Yes, this is still based on the premise that we use second-hand scrap steel. But don't worry, since we promised 2 billion, we will absolutely not raise the price. Even if the project exceeds the budget during manufacturing, we will bear the cost ourselves!"

"Engineer Qin, why are you being so polite?"

There are no fathers and sons in the business world, let alone people from two countries. Qin Chuan keeps calling us friendly neighbors, but we only established diplomatic relations last year!

Therefore, Zheng Zhuhuan would not believe that Qin Chuan had this purpose.

Qin Chuan smiled and said, "Of course, it's to crush Japanese manufacturing. If all of Asia has Japanese manufacturing, will other countries have a good life?"

These words struck a chord with Jung Soo-hwan.

The people of South Korea also have this idea in mind!

Back then, the island nation was defeated and surrendered. It was extremely poor and the country was devastated. And then what happened? It was caught up in the Korean War!

With the US involved, island nations become the rear base, providing logistical support!

As a result, the island nation's industry has re-developed! It's been growing at a rate of over 10% every year!

Chips manufactured in island nations have thoroughly outperformed Intel, forcing Intel, which started with memory chips, to abandon its memory business and focus solely on processor manufacturing.

Cars produced in island nations are being dumped in the United States, causing serious dissatisfaction among American automakers!

With you guys being so strong, have you left any way for others to survive?

It was under these circumstances that the United States supported South Korea's chip industry, ultimately succeeding in crippling the island nation's chip manufacturing business.

The same applies to basic steel. This island nation has four rolling mills with a width of more than five meters. Does that leave no room for steel companies from other countries to compete?

"Our Laiyang Steel Plant has insufficient capacity and can only supply the domestic market. It would be good enough if we could just stop the island nation's steel companies from dumping steel into our country. The overseas market will still have to be handed over to you South Korea. You must seize the island nation's steel market. If we cooperate, we can try to crush them, and the remaining market will all be ours!"

This ideal is somewhat lofty, but it sounds more credible: when you can't beat a giant, the other competitors will join forces.

"Okay, two billion dollars, we'll buy it!"

Although he doesn't know how to explain things to his superiors when he gets back, Jung Soo-hwan has already accepted it.

Dongguo Steel had no choice but to side with Dongfang and Laiyang Steel Plant! For a long time to come, we will all work towards the same goal; we are comrades now!

The word "comrade," except in that specific historical context when it was used by Taiwanese people to describe men and women in order to deliberately disgust the mainland, is otherwise perfectly acceptable.

Especially in the Three-Body world, when the old lady shouted "Comrades!", everyone was willing to go through fire and water for this commander!

How do these people in South Korea feel right now?

Qin Chuan didn't know either. Regardless of whether they agreed with his ideas or not, they would have to spend two billion US dollars to buy the rolling mill production line from him!

Two billion US dollars!

If this had happened in the 1980s, it would have been an astronomical figure!

Back when Camel came to buy the Dongfeng-3, the country's total foreign exchange reserves were only two billion. When we received Camel's order for 3.5 billion US dollars, our hands were trembling with excitement.

Over the years, with continuous economic development, foreign exchange reserves have also been rising.

In 1990 it was only $11 billion, by 1993 it was $212 billion, in 1994 it more than doubled to $516 billion, and by 1996 it had doubled again to more than $100 billion!

Now, Laiyang Factory has brought in two billion US dollars in foreign exchange for the country. What a tremendous achievement that is!

After Luo Guangrong brought the South Koreans over, he quietly remained a bystander, listening to Qin Chuan boast.

Now, his face was flushed, his heart was racing, and he couldn't wait to call back. "Our metallurgical industry isn't about losing money. We can make money, and we can make a lot of money!"

"By the way, I hope you won't reveal our cooperation to the Japanese." Qin Chuan said, remembering something.

If they start talking, their charade will be exposed!

"Of course, those islanders are so despicable, how could we possibly..."

"Brother Chuan, Brother Chuan!" Just then, Li Jianshe rushed over.

"What happened? Why are you making such a fuss?"

"Brother Chuan..."

Seeing Li Jianshe looking at Zheng Zhuhuan and the others, Qin Chuan said, "Dongguo Steel is our friend, so just say what you have to say."

Zheng Zhuhuan and the others had different expressions. This Engineer Qin is really a good friend. He really treats us like friends!

“Someone from Kobe Steel in the island nation has arrived; it’s that same Ishino Hiromichi.”

Qin Chuan's expression immediately changed: "He's here? He must be here to order our rolling mill! Mr. Zheng, you need to go through the back door. You can't meet with the Kobe Steel people, otherwise..."

Jung Soo-hwan nodded: "We really can't meet with them! We'll invite them to visit after our rolling mill is installed, and then explain that the rolling mill was ordered from the East. We'll see their expressions then, and then we'll leave!"

"Excuse me, everyone. Talia, please see them out!"

In Qin Chuan's hands, Antonina's job was to greet and see off guests, which was her forte.

Once the two sides separated, Qin Chuan smiled and said, "Jianshe, your assist was no less impressive than Antonina's. You're getting better and better at recognizing opportunities!"

"No, Brother Chuan, the Japanese have really come!"