The banquet concluded amidst a mix of triumph and dissatisfaction.
Wang Yu was the biggest winner, with the mediation of prominent figures from the Ministry of Industry, past adversaries transformed into cooperative allies. Although many still harbored resentment, they maintained a semblance of cordiality, even a forced smile. To solidify his claims, Wang Yu presented numerous patent certificates, and in a gesture of sincerity, all present, witnessed by the Ministry officials, signed cooperation agreements with him. Furthermore, Wang Yu did not budge on terms regarding associated fees and resource support. Faced with such demands, what else could they do? They had to agree.
Ultimately, Wang Yu finalized cooperation agreements with everyone present, concluding the banquet and immediately returning to Jiangyang County that night. He needed to arrange various tasks and business objectives.
Time passed in a blur of activity, and soon it was time for the automobile factory's mid-year meeting. Representatives from all suppliers and distributor partners were in attendance. No one wanted to miss such an opportunity, as they were eager to see what new money-making ideas Wang Yu would unveil. Not only partners with existing collaborations, but even others sent representatives, including competitors. While Wang Yu had essentially made friends and eliminated enemies within China, the international stage was a different matter. The Western Continent, the Island Nation, and the United States all sent delegates. This was quite remarkable, considering their usual haughtiness. Previously, a minor figure like Wang Yu wouldn't have warranted their attention. However, circumstances had shifted. Wang Yu, who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, commanded respect with his vast repository of advanced technologies, compelling them to grudgingly acknowledge his significance and attend, feigning indifference. Naturally, the Ministry of Industry also dispatched representatives, making brief pronouncements. Both Wang Yu and the others simply smiled, a gesture of mutual understanding.
Once everyone had arrived and the preliminary formalities concluded, they finally proceeded to the main agenda: the complete restructuring of the Jiangyang County Automobile Factory. The Jiangyang County Automobile Factory was renamed the Lingyu Industrial Group of Guanjiang Province. The name "Lingyu" was a deliberate homophone, eliciting knowing smiles, particularly from Brother Hu, who grinned lewdly. All assets of the automobile factory were meticulously organized and streamlined into 19 group subsidiaries, each responsible for a distinct area. For instance, Brother Hu was assigned to Lingyu Logistics, currently managing goods transportation, with potential future expansion into other sectors like food delivery. The 19 subsidiaries operated independently, clearly defining their respective scopes of authority.
Wang Yu then generously distributed group shares to every employee, akin to offering initial stock. Although most people at the time had a limited understanding of equity and its implications, they recognized its potential for annual bonus dividends. This was enough. As long as they worked diligently and the factory prospered, everyone would share in the profits. As for the suppliers, the pretense was dropped. Previously, Wang Yu had invested in them; now they were fully integrated into the Lingyu Group, becoming an integral part. This was a case of "if you can't beat them, join them," as the high incomes and benefits offered by Wang Yu's ventures were a source of much envy and desire. Thus, after a few perfunctory pleasantries, these original core members were semi-willingly absorbed into Wang Yu's fold. His industrial parks, previously operating under franchise agreements, were now fully merged and integrated, becoming part of the Lingyu Group under unified planning.
Following this, Wang Yu announced a series of cooperation matters and development milestones, focusing on domestic engine manufacturing, and the research and development of various heavy and light industrial products, all proceeding systematically. A thick stack of catalogs and reports, along with mountains of patent certificates, caused everyone present to gasp. While they knew Wang Yu's technical prowess was considerable, they hadn't anticipated the sheer breadth and depth of his innovations, spanning numerous fields and industries. It was like a veritable department store of technology. It was foreseeable that once Wang Yu brought all these products to fruition, what a colossal industrial empire he would establish. Indeed, an industrial empire, not a commercial one. Wang Yu had no interest in capital, finance, the internet, or real estate. His sole ambition was to strengthen the nation through industry and revitalize it through technology. That was all.
Following Wang Yu's equity reform of the automobile factory, some, like those from the Metallurgy General Plant who had come to observe, expressed disdain, deeming it a mere show. After all, who would willingly cede such significant profits? Was he engaging in charity? Furthermore, why choose the arduous path of physical industry when simpler, more lucrative methods were available? Wasn't that a sign of poor judgment? Wang Yu merely chuckled in response to such sentiments, offering no further explanation. The distributors, however, were ecstatic. The more products Wang Yu offered, the more choices they had for sales, and the more money they could make. They erupted into celebrations, frantically vying for agency rights, terrified of being left behind. Almost everyone foresaw the establishment of a top-tier, monolithic industrial conglomerate.
Thirty years later.
The original Jiangyang County had become Jiangyang City, the industrial hub of the world. A saying circulated globally: If Jiangyang City cannot produce a certain industrial product, then no place in the world can. If the Lingyu Group cannot produce it, then no place in Jiangyang City can. The former site of the almost legendary Jiangyang County Automobile Factory had been transformed into a renowned cultural street, attracting a constant stream of young visitors seeking to document their visit to this internet-famous spot.
At this moment, a middle-aged man stood outside the door of the now-abandoned factory director's office. His temples were slightly greying, and he held a half-smoked cigarette between his fingers. He slowly lit it, a complex expression on his face. "Thirty years... everything from the past seems to have fulfilled its dreams, the only downside is that I still don't own my own house." "Wang Yu, you scoundrel, where did you run off to?" Wu Lingling, exuding an air of grace, approached Wang Yu, followed by her sharp and capable secretary, Wang Ling. "The group meeting is about to start, why have you snuck away to this place?" "Nothing, I just remembered something." "Oh? What is it?" "A... very interesting story."