193: Excellent publicity? Actual sales: zero?

"President, must we really go this far? Dragon Xia Steel Factory has even overcome the technical difficulties of pen tips and lighter gaskets, while the other two steel companies have yet to make a move," Takemura advised.

The white-haired president said excitedly, "Really? That's great! If we're going to die, we'll all die together. If we run first, we can lose less."

"President, what are you saying?" Takemura asked, confused.

The white-haired president said gloomily, "There is an old saying in Dragon Xia: 'Those who understand the times are outstanding.' There is another saying: 'Better the friend dies than me.' Hurry up and sell the steel factory; we are going to do other business."

"Okay, I will contact the buyer immediately."

"Haven't asked for the buyer's company name yet. What are they called?"

"Sunset Trading Co., Ltd., the chairman is named Kameda Jiro."

"Kameda? Good, good, good! With a turtle and a field, there must be money. It serves them right to take over our mess."

The next morning, Qinchuan News Network broadcast a two-hour special report on Julong Steel overcoming technical challenges like ballpoint pen balls, once again igniting public opinion.

[Julong Steel is truly awesome, tackling three industrial pearls at once.]

[Feels like it's highly likely fake. Julong Steel just posted an announcement on their official website without even holding a press conference.]

[Is there a possibility that Julong Steel just doesn't care?]

[This... that's actually possible. Julong Steel has contributed quite a few black technologies in recent years, right?]

[I don't care about pen tips or lighter gaskets. It's a new fiscal year now; when will the new longmao small car be released?]

[I think you're daydreaming. If anything, the new Longying Drone would be released first.]

[Don't even think about the Longying Drone, bro. It's already for military use. Look at that certain model of unmanned transport aircraft from Julong Steel; do you see any news about it?]

[That sounds right. Haven't heard any news about the Double Bone Dragon for two or three months.]

[Stop asking. It's already been shelved by the military; don't expect to see a civilian version in the future.]

Just one hour after the Qinchuan TV report was broadcast, Dragon Xia Channel 1 contacted Mu Guchan.

"Sister Mu, I heard your local Qinchuan enterprise overcame the technical difficulty of ballpoint pen balls?"

"Bingbing, why do you have time to call me?"

"It's an interview assignment from the station. Sister, tell me first, is this reliable?"

"Aren't you doing interviews for Urban Life? Why didn't Liu Xiaoqian come for this?"

"He went to the Desert Camel region to interview the resistance army; he probably won't be back until next month."

"Understood. The matter about Julong Steel we reported is true. I've even seen the furnace used for refining the ballpoint pen balls," Mu Guchan confirmed.

Bingbing asked suspiciously, "Why wasn't it reported before? How did the technical breakthrough happen so suddenly?"

"Before, Julong Steel just wasn't willing to invest the effort into R&D," Mu Guchan admitted.

Bingbing asked, "Do you mean that as long as Julong Steel is willing to research it, there is zero technical difficulty?"

"Pretty much. Anyway, I haven't seen any technical bottleneck that Julong Steel couldn't overcome."

"Really? I'll arrive this afternoon. Sister, could you please help me connect with Julong Steel? I want to enter the factory for an interview."

"Julong Steel Factory is a top-secret unit for the Navy, Army, and Air Force. You need to apply for interview rights from your superiors."

"Can't I do it with my status as a reporter for Dragon Xia Channel 1?"

"No, even if the station director came, they would still have to apply."

As an Urban Life interview reporter, Bingbing didn't know much about the leader of Qinchuan's manufacturing industry.

After checking the information on Julong Steel, she was shocked.

A Dragon Xia steel enterprise that has withstood seven sanctions from the Eagle Sauce Defense Department, a friendly cooperative unit for the Dragon Xia Navy, Army, and Air Force, a Dragon Xia top-secret unit, a famous Dragon Xia enterprise, and an honorary unit included in the Dragon Xia Industrial Directory.

The dazzling halos made Bingbing unable to open her eyes: "Is Julong Steel this awesome?"

Out of curiosity, Bingbing continued to browse the official website of Julong Steel.

Julong Steel was already awesome enough, but the General Manager of the steel factory was even more awesome!

Since his parents died, he took over the failing Julong Steel Factory at the age of 22.

That same year, he led all the workers in the factory to build Julong Steel, which became famous overseas.

At 23, he led a team to acquire a drone company and developed the Longying Drone, which sold well both at home and abroad.

At 24, he took over the Shanmao Tractor Factory and created the longmao small car that swept the country.

At 25, he created an improved version of the longmao small car, which sold out instantly. That same year, he created the "Big Guan Dao" to support the Western Theater Command.

At 26, he manufactured the Double Bone Dragon Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, stunning everyone.

At 27, he made it to the bottom of the list of Dragon Xia's billionaires and became the second richest person in Qinchuan.

The public information was already so explosive; what about the classified content that couldn't be revealed? Wouldn't it be even more exaggerated? It was the perfect template for a protagonist in a power fantasy novel.

Full of curiosity, Bingbing applied to the relevant departments to enter Julong Steel for an interview, but ended up being shut out.

"Interview Julong Steel? The Double Bone Dragon bomber is in the final verification stage. Director Lu must be busy. Turn away all these messy interviews," Xu Lei said impatiently.

It had been nearly three months since he last met Lu Shenwei. The military representative stationed at Julong Steel sent news that the Double Bone Dragon bomber prototype had been modified and was undergoing intensive testing.

At such a critical juncture, even if he had to use some small tricks, he wouldn't let anyone disturb Lu Shenwei.

"Urge Director Lu. The Old Leader is still hoping to make a big splash at the Zhu Hai Airshow next month," Xu Lei muttered.

Bingbing, far away in the capital, was so angry that her face turned red when she learned her request to enter the factory was rejected.

"What does this mean?"

Liu Xiaoqian, on a video call, asked curiously, "Who has made our great reporter Bingbing so angry?"

"I wanted to interview the Chairman of Julong Steel, but the higher-ups won't even let me through the factory gate. How can this interview continue?" Bingbing said gloomily.

Liu Xiaoqian asked in surprise, "Julong Steel? Is it the Julong Steel Factory that makes Julong Steel and steel cylinders?"

"That's them. The factory gate is too hard to get through."

"Julong Steel Factory's products are very popular in the Desert Camel region, especially the drones and steel pipes, which have been modified into various weapons."

"Really?"

"Of course. Many Desert Camel soldiers have the black dragon head logo sprayed in their homes."

"No wonder. I'll contact the station director tomorrow and apply again."

Bingbing waited a long time without receiving approval to enter the factory, and a week later, Lu Shenwei finally completed all tests for the Double Bone Dragon ultra-long-range bomber.

He let out a long sigh of relief: "Almost worked myself to death."

"Chairman, you really should take a good rest for a few days," Zhou Cun advised.

Lu Shenwei rolled his eyes at him: "Wait until I've earned ten billion, then we'll talk. By the way, how was the effect after the ballpoint pen ball announcement? Did anyone come to seek cooperation?"

"This... sales are not ideal, but the public opinion effect is excellent," Zhou Cun said with a bitter smile.

Acclaimed but not selling. What kind of situation is this?

Lu Shenwei took the weekly sales report, and after just one glance, he almost fainted.