Niu Hongzhang's voice was so loud that even those who had already entered the R&D Workshop heard it.
Minister Xue frowned and turned back out.
"What's going on? Director Li, why didn't you follow us in? Aren't you going to explain things to everyone?"
The secretary said it with a smile, but there was more or less a note of reproach in it.
Li Ye was just about to speak when Niu Hongzhang said in a deep voice, "Minister Xue, Li Ye stopped us and wouldn't let us go in. He said there were too many people, making it inconvenient to visit."
Minister Xue looked at Li Ye strangely.
For Niu Hongzhang to say something like that at a time like this was already a very serious accusation, and rather inappropriate as well.
Li Ye was from the Light Vehicle Company. What exactly did Niu Hongzhang mean by criticizing him in front of so many people?
Li Ye could only explain, "Minister Xue, our R&D center was never prepared to open to the public, so we can't receive too many visitors. Secretary Niu insisted on bringing several foreign friends inside, and we were afraid of leaving them with a bad impression."
Minister Xue froze for a moment, then suddenly looked toward the large characters over the entrance to the R&D Workshop—Unauthorized Personnel Keep Out.
Then he looked at the workshop entrance with its two heavy iron doors and seemed to understand something.
So this was meant to guard against the Japanese!
Li Ye had put it tactfully, but Niu Hongzhang bluntly laid it out. "Li Ye, your engine hasn't even been successfully developed yet, has it? With technology this backward, you're still afraid of others taking a look?"
Niu Hongzhang said it with a smile, as though he were joking