194: Mr. Lu is here, and the problem is solved with just one phone call!

In the first week, not only were few units sold, but a significant amount of money was spent on promotion, bringing the total loss to a staggering 70 million.

Was it really just selling at a loss for nothing?

Impossible! Since taking over the steel mill, aside from voluntarily subsidizing the military, I have never lost money.

I must find a way to turn this loss into a profit!

"These three little things have caused our factory a massive loss of 70 million. What are your thoughts?"

Even with deep pockets, Lu Shenwei was unwilling to waste money unnecessarily.

"I was thinking of finding an agent so we can collect some agency fees to recoup the costs," Zhou Cun pondered.

Before taking on the task, he knew it would lose money, but he didn't expect it to lose this much.

A loss of 70 million was the second-largest loss for a single project since the restructuring of Julong Steel, second only to the longmao agricultural vehicle before its improvements.

"The idea is good, but we released the announcement about overcoming the ballpoint pen tip technology a week ago, and the city television station cooperated with the promotion. Have any partner companies come to us?" Lu Shenwei asked.

Zhou Cun shook his head, "No, I am still contacting them."

Zhou Cun was also puzzled; how could there be no companies seeking cooperation?

Even a small fly is still meat; even among the short, one can pick out a general.

Little did he know, Xu Lei had pulled some strings to ensure Julong Steel focused on the bomber performance verification.

Except for the military red phones, no other calls could get through.

Of course, he received criticism from his superiors for this, but that is a story for another time.

Lu Shenwei said with a toothache, "Organize a factory manager meeting immediately. Get Director Ma and Deputy Factory Manager Wang over here to study this."

Spending 70 million just to show off without getting any real benefit was not Lu Shenwei's style.

In the conference room, Ma Quanlin and Wang Zizhong looked at the report in their hands, completely bewildered.

"It's not what we expected. Just one Japan steel company has almost eaten up all the market share, and the selling price is even lower than our cost price," Ma Quanlin muttered.

If it continues like this, we can only sell below cost.

Including transportation and distribution costs, the 70 million loss might just be the beginning.

Wang Zizhong thought for a moment, "Our product is definitely not the problem; the key lies in sales. Japan steel companies and the Hans Cat steel mill almost monopolize the market. It will be difficult to break through in the short term, unless..."

"Unless what? Don't keep me in suspense," Lu Shenwei urged.

Wang Zizhong sighed, "Unless we dump the products at a low price. Since we have already lost 70 million, we don't care about losing another 20 or 30 million. As long as we take out the Japan steel companies and the Hans Cat steel mill and capture all the market share, the losses will be recouped year by year."

"That is a solution, but it will drag on for too long," Lu Shenwei said in a low voice.

Ma Quanlin pondered for a moment, "I also agree with Old Wang's method."

"Everyone, keep thinking of solutions. Zhou Cun, you contact partner companies again to see if anyone wants to be the general distributor," Lu Shenwei ordered, taking a sip of water.

The three nodded and took action.

Ma Quanlin approached companies he had cooperated with for many years, Wang Zizhong leveraged his connections, and Zhou Cun went to the publicity department to prepare to release the distributor recruitment announcement again.

"Deputy Factory Manager Zhou, there is one more thing I need to tell you. Our factory phones can make calls now, but people outside cannot call in."

The head of the publicity department said this, and Zhou Cun nodded slightly, "Eh? That's not right. Our factory has a dedicated line; the phone shouldn't have problems."

"The problem started last week. The information department has been fixing it and even contacted the municipal telecommunications bureau, but they don't know what's going on either."

"A dedicated line problem? Why didn't you report it earlier?"

"The information department reported it to the superiors, and they said to wait two days and it would be fine."

Zhou Cun frowned and pondered, "This is a big deal. With external line failures, if others want to find factory leaders, they can only use mobile phones. No wonder after the announcement was released for a week, few people came to seek cooperation."

Realizing this, Zhou Cun immediately found Lu Shenwei.

"A dedicated phone line failure? Let me ask."

Lu Shenwei said as he dialed Xu Lei's number. The initial telephone network of Julong Steel was managed by the telecommunications bureau, then handed over to the Navy to lay a dedicated line, and later the Air Force encrypted and upgraded the dedicated line.

Julong Steel was a first-level confidential unit, and communications were all encrypted dedicated lines. How could there be a problem?

"Director Lu has finished his seclusion, which means all the verification for the Double Bone Dragon bomber is complete?" Xu Lei asked.

Lu Shenwei nodded, "We rushed, and it only finished yesterday. When do you have time for us to deliver it to the Air Force?"

"Good! I will lead the team personally tomorrow," Xu Lei said, excited.

Lu Shenwei suddenly added, "There is one more thing. The phone lines in our factory area have a problem. If it's convenient, could you urge them to repair it? It hasn't been resolved for a week."

"The phone? No problem, I will urge them immediately."

Xu Lei ended the call with a chuckle.

On the other end, before Lu Shenwei could catch his breath, the information department informed Zhou Cun that the phone lines had been restored.

"Chairman, the phones are restored."

Zhou Cun thought to himself that the Chairman still had prestige; a single word from him and the military region acted immediately.

Lu Shenwei instructed, "In the future, when releasing announcements, be sure to write down the contact mobile phone numbers to avoid phone problems."

"Understood." Zhou Cun nodded and went to make arrangements.

But less than five minutes after he left, Ma Quanlin hurried into the room.

"Little Lu, Chen Qizheng is looking for you."

Chen Qizheng? The General Manager of Qinchuan Qizheng Agriculture, specializing in the production of organic nitrogen fertilizer.

"Why didn't he call me?"

"He thought about scheduling a time with the office, but our phone couldn't get through."

"The phone has been restored. Did he say what it was about? The longmao agricultural vehicle agency issue?"

"He wants to recommend an agency partner to sell our ballpoint pen tips and fountain pen nibs."

"Good thing. Let him come this afternoon," Lu Shenwei said.

Ma Quanlin spread his hands, "Boss Chen said that it's hard to enter our factory recently, so he might need to talk outside."

"The higher-ups won't let people into the factory?"

Strange, I haven't heard other leaders mention factory entry restrictions.

"Alright then, let's chat at a teahouse in the city center."

That afternoon, in a private room at Tianxiang Tea House in the city center.

"Director Lu, you are a very busy man now."

"General Manager Chen, you are joking. Director Ma said you want to distribute our steel mill's ballpoint pen tips and fountain pen nibs. How do you want to cooperate?"

Chen Qizheng waved his hand and poured tea for Lu Shenwei.

"An old man like me who deals with fertilizer doesn't have such skills. An acquaintance asked me to bridge the connection."

"General Manager Chen's acquaintance must also be a big boss in the circle. When are we meeting?"

Lu Shenwei didn't want to spend too much effort on ballpoint pen tips. The Shuang Gu Long Unmanned Aerial Vehicle bomber was finished, but the unmanned boat research and development needed to be accelerated.

"He is just downstairs. Is it convenient for me to call him up to talk?"

"That's fine, saves scheduling another time."

"By the way, what is their company called?"

Since we are meeting, it won't do not to know their name.

"Twilight Stationery, Nie Erhu."

Twilight Stationery?

One of the top stationery brands in Dragon Xia; this is worth pursuing.