127: Ulla! Thatch with vodka!

"Not young anymore, almost 27 years old," Lu Shenwei muttered.

"Only 26, no wonder you love to brag," Xu Lei said casually.

In the subsequent tests, Liuguang Coating achieved results that exceeded standards, leaving Xu Lei dumbfounded.

"Director Xu, it's lunchtime."

Lu Shenwei reminded him softly, and Xu Lei laughed, "You're quite the foodie."

"Haven't you checked the time? It's almost 2 o'clock. If they don't eat soon, I'm afraid they'll faint."

Lu Shenwei pointed at the three lab technicians; working in extreme high-temperature environments for six consecutive hours would melt even an iron man.

"My fault, my fault. Let's eat and talk."

Xu Lei quickly arranged for the cafeteria to prepare lunch. During the meal, Xu Lei asked curiously, "Was Liuguang Coating really used on agricultural vehicles at the beginning?"

"Our factory's first-generation longmao agricultural vehicle paint had defects and couldn't achieve complete rust prevention, so we spent a huge sum of money to develop Liuguang Coating."

"How much did it cost? Is it convenient to tell me?"

Liuguang Coating was truly excellent, and Xu Lei was already thinking about buying out the intellectual property rights.

Lu Shenwei opened his mouth, but Xu Lei suddenly slapped his own head. "How would a mere junior worker like you know about such a confidential matter? I've been so busy I've lost my mind."

Looking down on me?

Lu Shenwei muttered, "It wasn't that expensive, just a little over 200 million."

"What? You only spent 200 million to develop such an awesome coating? I don't believe it!"

Xu Lei was stunned. He knew that the Air Force Equipment Research and Development Center had already spent a full 500 million in budget to overcome stealth coating technology, yet the performance of the coating they had developed was not even one-third of Liuguang Coating.

"If you don't believe me, feel free to call our factory director. He wouldn't lie, would he?"

Lu Shenwei, currently adopting the persona of a junior worker, suddenly felt a bit mischievous.

You say I'm a junior worker? Then I'll give you a junior worker's shock.

"Really?"

Xu Lei took the phone that Lu Shenwei had dialed. Ma Quanlin spoke up, "Little Lu, how is everything over there?"

"I am Xu Lei, Director of the Air Force Equipment Research and Development Center. Who are you?"

Xu Lei?

Ma Quanlin paused for a moment. "I am Ma Quanlin, Director of the Julong Steel Factory."

It's really the director? This kid didn't lie to me.

"I want to ask about the R&D cost of our Liuguang Coating. Is it convenient to say?"

"This... our chairman said at least 200 million. I'm not entirely sure about the specifics. Isn't he right there..."

"Director Ma, the leader just wants to know this."

Lu Shenwei interrupted. Ma Quanlin was confused but didn't continue.

Xu Lei hung up the phone and muttered, "It really is 200 million? How did you manage that?"

"We hired four college students, and we developed it in less than half a year," Lu Shenwei said casually.

What the hell? Four college students? Less than half a year?

I... comparing people is maddening, comparing goods makes them trash!

This is so infuriating, I really want to give this kid a punch!

Our team of two hundred people worked for six or seven years and spent over 500 million, only to be inferior to a steel factory's four-person team.

Is my brain not working, or are they just too awesome?

"Are you sure there were only four college students?"

"Yes, if you want their numbers, I have them."

Xu Lei was astonished; this kid was serious.

"Forget it for today. In a couple of days, I'll personally visit your chairman. You'd better be there too," Xu Lei said sternly.

Lu Shenwei smiled, "Beautiful Qinchuan welcomes you!"

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries, and Lu Shenwei drove away.

"A smart young man. He's a bit old, but as a technical talent, he could be absorbed into our center."

Xu Lei watched the departing military vehicle and sighed. His assistant asked, "Do you have your eye on this kid? I'll go make some inquiries."

"Don't. Wait until we go to Qinchuan in a few days. Don't contact the Julong Steel Factory yet," Xu Lei said, raising his hand.

The next day, at the Qin Chuan Julong Steel Factory.

Lu Shenwei was soaking in a hot spring pool with a hot towel over his forehead.

"Little Lu, is there any problem with the Air Force side?"

"No major problems, but the director of their equipment center is quite interesting."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll know when they come in a few days. By the way, how is Director Wang doing?"

Lu Shenwei hadn't forgotten about the dream transport plane.

Ma Quanlin wiped his face. "I just had someone take the cash over a couple of days ago. It seems there's still a problem; the Russians want more money and also want us to send another truckload of moutai."

More money? That's not an issue; the key is that they must give us the goods.

"A truckload of moutai doesn't cost much. What about the cash? How much more do they want?"

"They want another 3 million in cash."

"Greedy. Uncle Ma, contact the bank, get another 2 million USD, and you can ship two more truckloads of moutai."

"Alright, I'll go handle it in a while."

"Also, the last 3,000 units of the earliest high-performance longmao small car must be recovered."

Since the Air Force bigwigs attach such importance to it, Lu Shenwei would definitely not let the Liuguang Coating technology leak out.

Even if it's a piece of paint the size of a palm, it must all be scraped off and destroyed.

The next day, the Julong Steel Factory issued its sixth recall notice for the longmao agricultural vehicle.

[Julong Steel is really breaking the bank; they are determined to recall that first batch that could block speed cameras.]

[Recalling one car rewards you with 40,000, and they even give you a new car. It's not a loss.]

[I always feel like Julong Steel is losing money just to make noise. A new car only sells for 36,800, and they reward the owner with 40,000 for the recall. In a normal car company, they'd have lost their shirts.]

[I don't get it, but who told Julong Steel to be so rich.]

The extremely cold region of Siberia in Russia.

"Director Ulayang, this is the final payment. Please count it," Wang Zizhong said with a smile.

Having been drinking day and night for the past few days, Wang Zizhong could only judge the time by the sun outside the window.

As for Zhou Wen, he was surrounded by Russian girls and was struggling every day to maintain his bottom line.

"The weight isn't enough, it's a bit short?"

"Foreign exchange controls. You know the situation in Dragon Xia. However, our boss sent two extra truckloads of moutai, I hope you like them."

Upon hearing "moutai," Ulayang's beard couldn't stop trembling.

"My dear Comrade, you can send people to dig now."

What do you mean? Send people to dig? Are you messing with me?

Siberia is all frozen earth; when would we ever finish digging?

"What, are there difficulties? My dear Comrade, many comrades from the development bureau can help, but it will require extra money," Ulayang said with a laugh.

Wang Zizhong had an expression like he was constipated. "I need to ask for instructions."

"Comrade, please do as you please. Remember to come to the restaurant tonight; vodka paired with moutai tastes even mellower."

Wang Zizhong's liver trembled. In the past few days in Siberia, what he feared most was hearing the word "vodka."

Damn it!

Were the Russians' stomachs soaked in liquor jars from childhood?

Lu Shenwei, far away in Qinchuan, learned of the situation and immediately gathered twenty workers to fly to the extremely cold land of Russia.

"Uncle Wang, you've worked hard. I'll handle the drinking with the Russian girls from now on," Lu Shenwei said generously.

"You? Can you handle it?"

Wang Zizhong remembered the tragic incident where Lu Shenwei got drunk.

Lu Shenwei patted his chest. "Don't worry, it's in the bag."