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

At this moment, Qin Jianguo hesitated.

For scrap steel, $500 a ton is definitely a high price. Many finished steel products are not even worth that much. When our Indian customers came to buy steel pipes, it was only $300 a ton.

Right now, they have more than enough scrap metal; they can't possibly use it all. Why don't they sell a batch?

No, Xiao Chuan is in charge of this factory now, we have to wait until he comes back!

Thinking of this, Qin Jianguo smiled and said, "Mr. Ishino Yutaka, I'm very sorry, but my son brought back that batch of steel, so I have no authority to make that decision."

"Director Qin, the factory is yours, how could you not have the right to make decisions? Mr. Ishino Hiroaki has a lot of work to do, it's your good fortune that he took the time to come to Yang Factory. I heard you came from Shougang, you should know how big Kobe Steel is, right? They are a Fortune 500 company! The leader in the steel industry!"

After the translator finished speaking, he glanced at his watch again: "Mr. Ishino Hiromichi only has half an hour. If you don't decide quickly, he'll be leaving!"

Qin Jianguo hesitated. He knew, of course, what kind of entity Kobe Steel was. Unlike that Indian guy from last time, Kobe Steel was a true industry leader. Offending them would make things difficult in the future. As for cooperation…

No, we have to wait for Xiaochuan to come back!

"I'm sorry, if Mr. Ishino Hiromichi is busy, you can leave first. Ogawa brought back those scrap metals, and only he can make the decision."

Qin Chuan nodded in satisfaction. His father was quite clever; it seemed he could rest assured even when he wasn't around.

"Ahem, Dad, what's wrong?"

Qin Chuan stopped eavesdropping and went inside.

"Xiao Chuan, you're finally back!" Qin Jianguo breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Qin Chuan with kind eyes.

Qin Chuan looked into the room, where a short man in a suit sat in the main seat, slowly and methodically drinking tea. Beside him stood a translator who was bowing and scraping, with the same manner as when the Indian man came last time.

At this moment, Ishino Yutaka's gaze also turned to the doorway: "You're Qin Chuan? Did you get this batch of scrap metal?"

“That’s right, Mr. Ishino Hiromichi, what brings you, a great master, to our humble Laiyang Steel Plant?” Qin Chuan replied in fluent Japanese before the translator could answer.

Hiroaki Ishino, section chief of the equipment department of Kobe Steel's ironmaking industry, is a technically skilled individual whose greatest contribution is the invention of the direct reduction ironmaking process, a boon to small and medium-sized steel mills.

At the same time, he also likes to come to the East to promote their steelmaking equipment. This time, he must have heard that he had brought back a treasure, so he came here on a special occasion.

When China first opened its doors, top-quality products from the island nation entered the East, cultivating a group of loyal customers. Even in 2020, some people still believe that driving a naturally aspirated Lexus is the wisest choice, as it can be passed down for three generations. Meanwhile, the German luxury brands (BBA) had already entered the turbocharged era, with significantly higher power output than Lexus.

Island nation products are mythologized, and everyone thinks that island nation technology is so advanced, but in reality, it's just so-so.

Kobe Steel is a bull? It's just a bull in terms of data. If there's not enough data, they just modify it. It's that simple.

Is the shipbuilding industry of island nations impressive? They're building liquefied gas carriers using outdated aluminum alloy MOSS tanks, while we in the East have long been using thin-film Invar steel! Although island nations have built amphibious assault ships, which are touted as quasi-aircraft carriers, they can at most operate vertical takeoff and landing fighter jets, and are still far behind our Type 003 aircraft carrier.

No matter how good the steel is from an island nation, it can't withstand the impact of the deck steel used to stop carrier-based aircraft from landing!

So, they came for the advanced deck steel, which costs $500 a ton, and they want to take it away?

"Mr. Ishino only heard that you were recycling second-hand steel from abroad and was worried that you might run out of funds and eventually break down, so he came to help you." The translator said from the side, "You should be very understanding of Mr. Ishino's good intentions."

"Huh? Didn't you just say you were passing by? Now it's become a special trip? And you even came specifically to ask for AK-27 steel."

Qin Chuan looked at the translator curiously: "Are you Mr. Ishino's translator or his secretary? Are you Chinese or Japanese? Or do you have the appearance of a Chinese person but the heart of an islander?"

The translator's face turned red.

When Ishino Hirotoshi heard Qin Chuan mention AK-27 steel, his hand, which was casually holding a teacup, trembled slightly.

I originally thought these people wouldn't know the value of a product and would sell it to me if I raised the price a little. I never expected them to be so knowledgeable!

Since that's the case, we can't keep pretending anymore.

“Yes, we came here for this batch of steel.” Ishino Yutaka stood up and bowed respectfully to Qin Chuan: “Please take good care of us!”

Ishino Hiroshi's actions startled the translator. As a translator in the foreign affairs department, he had accompanied Ishino Hiroshi on business trips more than once. Even when facing a large steel plant like Shougang, Ishino Hiroshi was always aloof and superior. Even when meeting high-ranking government officials, he never bowed so formally.

"Now that Mr. Ishino is being so respectful, you should be able to feel his sincerity, right?" the translator continued. "You originally bought those steel as scrap metal anyway. You'd definitely make a profit if you sold them for $500 a ton, so stop dawdling."

Respectfully?

The Japanese should bow and apologize as they please, but it's just a simple ceremony. After that, they'll do whatever they want again. That's what the so-called spirit of bowing and apology looks like.

Qin Chuan smiled and said, "Since Mr. Ishino is so sincere, then we will be frank with you. It's three thousand US dollars per ton. Take it all if you want."

what?

“Three thousand dollars a ton? You idiot…” The translator got impatient and shouted in Chinese. If he hadn’t shouted, Qin Jianguo and the others would have had no idea what Qin Chuan was saying to the other party in his broken Chinese.

The other party initially offered only $500 per ton, which almost resulted in a loss! Qin Chuan demanded $3,000 per ton, which was the real price.

Hmph, those little devils are wicked!

"Baka!" Ishino Yutaka rolled his eyes at the translator. "Pan Yang, please don't interrupt our conversation. We don't need you anymore!"

Pan Yang immediately shut up.

Ishino Yutaka then looked at Qin Chuan: "Mr. Qin, the price of three thousand US dollars per ton is too expensive. We are sincerely interested in buying. How about one thousand US dollars per ton?"

“Three thousand, not a penny less.” Qin Chuan shook his head: “Moreover, we must buy at least three thousand tons.”

If the other party only wants 30 to 50 tons, then it's only a few dollars! The minimum order is 3,000 tons!

“Mr. Qin, it’s $1,000 per ton. We’ll also give you the world’s most advanced direct reduction ironmaking technology, which is perfect for a small steel mill like yours. Are you familiar with the direct reduction ironmaking process?” Ishino Hirotoshi asked intently.