Reborn in 2005, starting with repairing mobile phones

Lin Dong leaned back in his seat, looking out the window at the dazzling yet restless night view of Dongguan, and calmly instructed, "Ah Hao, you can't just look at the price when you look at things."

First, the bank auction process is lengthy and unpredictable, potentially dragging on for months, or even resulting in someone else snatching the deal. Our time is more valuable than the hundreds of thousands we could save.

Secondly, if we forcibly acquire a factory through auction, the equipment may be destroyed, and customers may be lost. We'll end up with an empty shell and a mess, and the cost of rebuilding will be even greater.

He paused, then continued, "In this situation, by spending a little more money, we've acquired a system that's still functioning, skilled workers readily available, and... an 'old factory manager' who can temporarily stabilize the situation but is already in shackles."

Everyone has their value at a certain stage. Zhao Dezhu's greatest value now is to ensure a smooth transition, and... personally give us a perfect reason to "replace him."

Zheng Hao seemed thoughtful, but there was still some confusion in his eyes: "But what if he starts to outwardly comply but inwardly defy me and resort to tricks tomorrow?"

"That would be best."

Lin Dong's lips curled into a very faint smile. "Those 'impossible' targets and that broad clause I gave him were prepared for him. Tomorrow, just watch."

The next day, at nine o'clock in the morning, at Jingcheng Mold Factory.

A slightly worn banner hung at the factory gate that read "Welcome the new leader to visit and provide guidance." Zhao Dezhu, along with several managers and team leaders, waited at the gate early, their faces plastered with enthusiastic but perfunctory smiles.

Lin Dong's car arrived on time, and only he and Ahao got out.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Lin Dong immediately requested to visit the workshop to see the latest batch of precision structural parts samples produced for other customers, and inquired whether the factory's existing equipment and processes could meet the required precision and yield rate based on the design draft he provided.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dezhu immediately understood.

As expected of a young person, they come here and immediately try to do something difficult!

He looked troubled and rubbed his hands together, saying, "President Lin, it's not that I don't want to do it. Your requirements for that design drawing are... too high!"

The yield rate would be low just from the curved processing and surface treatment of that metal frame; the cost would at least double!

In my experience, we should use a proven solution; it's low-cost, efficient, and the client approves of it…”

As he spoke, he observed Lin Dong's expression. Seeing that Lin Dong was just listening quietly without making any move, he felt even more smug: See? When it comes to specific production and technology, you fall silent, don't you? You still have to listen to your teacher, don't you?

Zheng Hao, who was listening from the side, was furious and wanted to retort, but was stopped by a slight look from Lin Dong.

Lin Dong neither refuted nor agreed, but simply walked around the workshop again in silence, asking a few trivial questions.

Then he said to Zhao Dezhu, "Director Zhao, you go ahead and prepare a detailed production feasibility report and cost accounting for me according to your plan. We'll talk about it later."

After saying that, he took Ah Hao and left the factory directly.

Watching Lin Dong slink away, Zhao Dezhu was overjoyed. He turned around and boasted to the few trusted confidants who had gathered around him.

"See? All talk and no action, but when it comes to real work, you chicken out! From now on, we'll be the ones deciding how the factory operates! All of you better pull yourselves together and work hard, or you'll be treated unfairly!"

"That's right, that's right, Director Zhao is truly skilled!"

"What do young people know about production? We need you to steer the ship!"

Several lackeys quickly echoed his sentiments, showering him with flattery.

Outside the factory, on the vehicle.

Gripping the steering wheel, Zheng Hao couldn't help but say again, "Brother Dong, he's obviously just fooling us! He didn't take your words seriously at all!"

"No rush."

Lin Dong closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. "Let him perform for a little longer."

He took out his phone and dialed Uncle Cai's number, his tone calm and clear: "Manager Wang, please help me investigate something. In the Shenzhen and Dongguan area, at the precision manufacturing departments or core suppliers of major manufacturers like Nokia, Motorola, and Foxconn."

In the past six months, have any senior production management talents been ostracized or dismissed due to differences in ideology, internal struggles, or factory relocation? Ideally, they should understand mobile phone structural components and have practical experience in factory construction or innovation.

You need to be high-ranking, highly capable, and it's okay if you have a stubborn temper.

I need a preliminary list and background information within an hour.

"Understood, Mr. Lin! I'll check right away!" Uncle Cai perked up on the other end of the phone.

After hanging up the phone, Lin Dong kept his eyes closed, as if he had just given a trivial instruction.

Ah-hao looked at Lin Dong's calm profile through the rearview mirror. Although he still had doubts and anxiety in his heart, he stopped talking and just drove the car more steadily.

Time passed slowly, and the street scenes of Dongguan outside the car window flowed by.

About forty minutes later, Lin Dong's phone vibrated.

Uncle Cai called. His voice was filled with excitement: "President Lin, we've screened them according to your requirements, and there are three that meet the criteria."

The information will be sent to your email address shortly.

The most suitable one is Li Guohui, 36 years old, a tech fanatic, and a well-known "die-hard" in Shenzhen's precision machining circle.

Previously, I was the technical director at a factory that made metal casings for Motorola, and I couldn't tolerate the slightest imperfection.

Last year, Li Guohui had a major falling out with his boss over a batch of imported Japanese aluminum. His boss insisted on using a batch of materials that were 30% more expensive but had top-quality control, while the boss refused, deeming it too expensive. Li Guohui was effectively sidelined and resigned in anger earlier this year.

"In the following six months, I switched to three different factories, all for similar reasons: they couldn't control costs and had too many demands."

Now I'm working as a nominal technical consultant at Yongxin, another small mold factory in Chang'an Town, Dongguan. In reality... I heard I've been marginalized again and am criticized every day.

After listening, Lin Dong asked, "Where is this person now?"

"What a coincidence!"

Uncle Cai raised his voice, "It's nearby, Yongxin Mold Factory, only a ten-minute drive from Jingcheng. I heard that he clashed with the factory manager again this morning over the heat treatment process standards for a batch of parts, and he's probably fuming right now."

"Okay, send me the information. We'll be there now." Lin Dong hung up the phone.

Ah Hao had already brought up the navigation, and the car smoothly made a U-turn, heading towards Yongxin Mold Factory.

Yongxin Mold Factory: A simple workshop and office.

A middle-aged man named Li Guohui, dressed in oil-stained overalls but with his hair neatly combed, stood upright in front of a fat factory manager with an impatient expression.

"Engineer Li! Li Guohui! How many times have I told you?!"

Factory manager Wang, spitting as he spoke, his finger almost poking Li Guohui's nose, said, "What kind of orders does our factory take? Shells for knock-off phones! Parts for toy factories! Do we need your aerospace-grade standards?"