Reborn in 1977

Chapter 596 Bestseller

Just after 9 o'clock, the secretary came to inform him that guests had arrived.

Director Yang didn't delay, stood up to tidy up his things, and looked at Chen Fan at the same time, "Go together?"

Chen Fan immediately waved his hand, "No, I'm not used to it."

After a pause, he added, "Tell Deputy Director Li and the others not to tell anyone I'm here."

Director Yang chuckled, gestured to him, "Then you can stay here in peace. For lunch, go directly to the cafeteria in the back. Anyway, they all know you, so you can arrange it yourself."

Chen Fan, "Don't worry about me, I might leave later."

Director Yang thought for a moment, "Okay, it's been quite busy these past two days. When you come again, I'll treat you to a restaurant, we'll go to Wangjiang Tower."

After speaking, he strode out.

After he left, Chen Fan walked to the window, looking at the open space inside the factory gate not far away, thinking, could it be that Wangjiang Tower has changed its name back?

Since last year, some time-honored brands that had been renamed have gradually changed back. For example, the famous Donglaishun was renamed National Restaurant in 1969, which was also related to the fact that many Hui people came here to eat meat, and it was not until 1979 that it was restored to Donglaishun Restaurant.

Wangjiang Tower was similar, it was renamed Gongnong Restaurant around the same time. Judging from what Director Yang just said, it seems that it will be changed back to Wangjiang Tower this year.

From this point, one can see the inclination of the leaders in the Yunhu area.

Many similar time-honored brands had to wait until the 1980s or even the 1990s to be renamed, which shows the situation.

On the surface, it's just a simple name, but what it reflects is the attitude of the local leaders.

He watched from the window upstairs, and more and more people began to gather in the open space inside the factory gate.

Unlike later generations with big stages, this year's ceremony had a kind of makeshift feel.

Each employee had a small stool in their hand, and when they arrived at the designated location, they put it down and sat down.

Men and women alike, sitting on the stools with their legs spread apart, chattering and grinning from ear to ear, smiling more happily than if they had won a prize.

A table was placed at the front, which was the leadership seat. Behind the leadership seat, another row of chairs was placed, which was the seating for the cadres from the machinery factory and the automobile factory who attended the ceremony.

After the tables and chairs were set up, Director Yang led a group of people over to take their seats.

Without too much pre-meeting chatter, the Propaganda Department brought over a radio microphone with a communication line, the kind with a base, and placed it in the middle position. Director Yang began to speak, "Comrades, today is a good day…"

"Today is a good day, everything you want will come true…"

Chen Fan pulled a chair, turned it around, sat on the back of the chair, lit a cigarette, and watched the fun with a smile.

This grand opening ceremony didn't feel as lively as the National Day performance in Lujiawan last year.

But it was still a bit interesting. The discipline of the workers this year was quite strong.

Chen Fan glanced at the guards standing guard at the gate with guns, and the quad machine guns on top of the assembly workshop opposite, thinking that the security was also very strong.

One leader after another spoke, and one procedure after another passed.

Finally, it was time for the product to appear.

Director Yang, without giving way, stood up, holding the base of the microphone, and shouted loudly, "Comrades, drive the cars out!"

The workshop door opened, and as the first car slowly drove out, all the cadres and employees applauded with their heads raised.

Under the shining sun, the black body flashed a stream of light, making people's eyes shine.

As one car after another drove out, the applause became more and more enthusiastic.

After ten cars were driven out, followed by vans.

Ten mini-trucks, except for the cab, had an open cargo bed at the back. Behind them were ten fully enclosed mini-buses, with tightly sealed compartments and clean bodies. Through the bright glass windows, you could see the seats inside covered with thick fabric.

When all the cars were driven to the open space next to them and parked, someone finally couldn't sit still, looking over there while glancing at the leadership seat.

Director Yang was radiant, with one hand on his hip and the other holding the microphone, "Now, please invite the leaders and guests to visit our Yunhu Automobile!"

In the window, Chen Fan's face collapsed.

Directly called Yunhu Automobile? Can't you come up with a better-sounding name?

Even if it's called Changjiang Automobile… Oh, Changjiang was the brand used by Chongqing Changan Automobile Factory in the 1950s. The later Beijing 212 absorbed some of the technology of the Changjiang 46 jeep.

Then Changhong?

Forget it, let it be Yunhu.

Chen Fan silently took out a cigarette, wishing Yunhu Automobile could stand out and survive to the next century.

In the square in front of the factory, leaders at all levels, cadres and employees, and representatives of units who came to buy cars today, were all circling around the cars.

Today, Deputy Director Feng from Unit A in the provincial capital came in person, nominally to support the development of the local automobile industry, but in reality, he was just here to watch the excitement.

In order to watch the excitement, he had quietly grabbed the seat on the far side. As soon as Director Yang finished speaking, he took the lead and rushed to the car, opened the door and got in.

The driver, who was unbuckling his seat belt, was startled, turned to look at him, and was about to get out of the car, but was grabbed by Deputy Director Feng, who asked curiously, "What is this thing in your hand?"

The driver was stunned for a moment, then his expression changed, he coughed dryly, and put on a look of seeing something strange, "Well, this thing is called a seat belt,"

He said, pulling the belt, "Look, you can pull it out gently like this, but if you pull it hard…"

As soon as he finished speaking, he pulled hard, "Look, you can't pull it, right."

Then he released the seat belt, "This is to protect the passengers. Only a very few Hongqi cars in China have it installed. It's normal if you haven't seen it before."

It was not until 1993 that China mandated the use of seat belts in automobiles, and only required drivers and front-seat passengers to use them. Before that, there were no requirements.

As for the earlier 1970s, it was normal for cars not to have seat belts. People who have been in the old Jeep 212 know that the car was not equipped with seat belts.

Only the Hongqi limousine was equipped with this thing, more to facilitate foreign guests, and ordinary Hongqi cars did not have it.

So it was normal that Deputy Director Feng had never seen this thing.

Not only Deputy Director Feng, but also others were similar.

In another car, Section Chief Wei from Unit B curiously pulled the belt and found that it could be pulled slowly, but it would not move when pulled hard, and he became curious and started to compete with the seat belt.

In the car next to him, Deputy Director Ma from Unit E, after consulting various functions, directly asked the driver to leave and tried to start the car himself.

He had a driver's license, so he didn't mess around.

And he didn't release the handbrake, just tried to experience it, and after a while, he nodded repeatedly, "Good, good, this car is good."

The leaders of the district committee, relying on the geographical advantage, had already seen the finished car, and at this time, they were each accompanying the leaders from the province, vying to introduce them.

"Leader, look at the seams on this car, aren't they tight? I had people bring over all the sedans from our unit and compare them. Whether they're domestic or foreign, the quality of our Yunhu sedan doesn't lose out to any car!"

The provincial leader's interest was immediately piqued. "Oh? Tell me about it."

"Alright. Look here, this leather is buffalo hide, soft and breathable. And over here, this velvet is... what kind of velvet was it again? It feels just like velvet. Oh, right, it's velvet."

Factory Director Yang and the others stood aside, quite pleased with themselves.

These people in front of them weren't country bumpkins who hadn't seen the world. Whether they were from the province or the local area, they were all cadres who had traveled the country, what kind of good cars hadn't they seen?

But today, they were acting like country bumpkins, looking at this and that, and even pressing down on the back seat sofa with their butts.

Hey, actually pressing down with his butt? You're still pressing?

Factory Director Yang was displeased.

Then he saw that person waving at him. "Factory Director Yang, our department store wants this car!"

Oh my god, it turned out to be Section Chief Ren from the procurement department of the provincial capital's department store.

Factory Director Yang immediately ran over, grinning from ear to ear. "Section Chief Ren, so generous! Your provincial capital department store is the first unit to buy our Yunhu sedan. I'm afraid only you can get a sedan approval from the Commerce Bureau so smoothly."

Section Chief Ren grinned and laughed heartily, "Of course, I'm not bragging, but..."

At this moment, Deputy Director Wang from the provincial grain bureau, wearing a white shirt, black pants, and black leather shoes, and carrying a briefcase, walked over. He calmly opened his briefcase, handed over an approval form, and smiled amiably. "Factory Director Yang, here's the approval for two Yunhu sedans. Where do I pay?"

He would have been even more handsome if his small eyes weren't glancing sideways.

Factory Director Yang gasped and quickly pulled Deputy Factory Director Li aside. "Old Li, quickly help Deputy Director Wang with the formalities."

Section Chief Ren was unhappy when he heard this. "Hey, hey, hey, Old Wang, that's not fair. Shouldn't we consider who came first?"

Your grain bureau is powerful, but is our department store lacking?

Deputy Director Wang chuckled. "Oh, don't say that. Buying things should be based on first come, first served, but I didn't stop you. Here, aren't you going to buy a car? Take out the approval form, and bring the money. Clear the payment, and you can drive the car away."

Section Chief Ren wanted to say something, but Factory Director Yang quickly stopped him. "Don't worry, we have plenty of stock, guaranteed to have enough for everyone!"

While speaking, Factory Director Yang couldn't stop smiling.

Look, this one is from the grain bureau, that one is from the department store, and over there are the post and telecommunications bureau, the telephone bureau, the shipping company, the passenger transport company... .

Which of these unit leaders doesn't usually look down on people?

But today, they were all obediently lowering their heads in front of him, Old Yang. What does this mean?

It means our Yunhu Automobile Factory is rising!

A few minutes later, these leaders from various units were taken to the office building to complete the procedures, and the many employees were also taken back to the workshop to prepare for a major effort.

After the crowd dispersed, Deputy Factory Director Li waved his hand. "Go."

The people from the logistics section of the Mechanical General Factory immediately swarmed forward.

Every one of these thirty cars had someone tie a banner on it, and then the drivers borrowed from the passenger transport company got into the cars one after another. After they were "full", they all honked their horns together, and then slowly drove out amidst the deafening sound of gongs and drums.

After the commotion, the leaders and guests were invited to Wangjiang Tower for dinner.

Factory Director Yang took the time to return to his office and saw Chen Fan leisurely lying on the sofa drinking tea and smoking. A wave of bitterness welled up in his heart. "Can't you be a little more proactive, kid?"

Chen Fan threw away the cigarette butt and shook his head. "I can't be any more proactive."

Factory Director Yang was speechless. Just as he was about to say something, there was a knock on the door. He turned around and called out, "Come in."

Deputy Factory Director Li pushed the door open, his face glowing, and shook a few pieces of paper in his hand. "Old Yang, guess how much we sold just now?"

Before Factory Director Yang could speak, he excitedly lowered his voice and shouted, "We sold 36 sedans and 122 vans! And they all said they would recommend them to units in the same system. There are still many people who want to buy them!"

Factory Director Yang swallowed back a sentence. When he heard his words, he didn't care about anything else and immediately grinned, raised his head, and laughed. "What's this? Which unit doesn't want to buy a car now? As long as they have the conditions, they have to curry favor with the automobile factory, hoping that they can approve the car in advance and drive it away.

It's just that we are all in Yunhu, people from the same place, otherwise I wouldn't bother to pay attention to them!"

Chen Fan nestled on the sofa, watching and chuckling.

I didn't expect that Uncle Yang would have times when he would brag.

It's just a pity that there are no mobile phones now, otherwise I would definitely record a video for him as a souvenir.

At this time, Deputy Factory Director Li said again, "However, Old Yang, we don't have enough sedans."

Factory Director Yang was stunned.

They had prepared 200 vans, but only 20 sedans. Now that people want 36, the extra orders definitely can't be delivered on time.

It's not that he didn't want to prepare more stock. This number was determined based on the different production capacities of the two models. The production process of vans is simple and they come off the line quickly, while the production process of sedans is more complicated. In particular, many key parts require senior workers to hand-craft with special steel, the efficiency is very low, and the output is naturally not high.

On the other hand, it also took into account the actual sales situation of other small local automobile factories.

Although it is a seller's market now, many small factories in some places also have poor sales.

For example, the Jiangnan Automobile Factory in this province is one of them.

They got the drawings for the Beiqi 130, but they couldn't make a car as good as theirs. The failure rate was higher than others. Any unit that had a way was unwilling to buy it. As a result, they could only rely on local blood transfusions to support them. The cars produced every year were bought by small units in various counties in the province.

To put it bluntly, it is to find subordinate units to support this automobile factory, which is also to support the face of Jiangnan Province, indicating that our province also has an automobile factory.

Therefore, Factory Director Yang and the others were also cautious and did not produce too many sedans.

But unexpectedly, today it was ignited in one fell swoop, and so many sedans were sold.

36 cars, none of the units that came today had so many, which means that many units bought more than one.

Now is not the time to think about this, the most important thing is output.

He immediately ordered, "Immediately order the workshop to go into full production to ensure supply!"

Deputy Factory Director Li didn't say much, "Okay."

He immediately turned around and left.

At this point, Chen Fan didn't stay any longer. He stood up, took the two packs of cigarettes that Factory Director Yang gave him, and waved to him. "Uncle Yang, I'm going back to Lujiawan."