By April, through the joint efforts of First Branch Factory and Zhuancheng, the proposal for the merger had been approved in principle. Zhuancheng's "inspection delegation" had finally arrived in the capital as well, beginning the final round of contact and negotiations.
This time, it was not just Wang Jinyu and his workers who had come to the capital. There were also officials from relevant Zhuancheng departments, and even people from Dongshan Province. It could be said that as long as the talks concluded smoothly, the merger could begin to be implemented.
April 9th, Monday, was the agreed date for the talks.
Because Zhuancheng had officials accompanying them, and Dongshan Province had even sent representatives, the capital also dispatched two department- and bureau-level cadres of corresponding rank to receive them. This was already an exceptionally high level of reception for First Branch Factory.
So even though Li Ye loathed this sort of formalism, he had to change into a new outfit and wait early at the factory gate, lest people think him impolite.
But heaven did not cooperate. Howling winds mixed with gray-yellow dust dyed the entire sky over the capital yellow.
Early spring was supposed to be a fine season when all things renewed themselves, yet sandstorms had already appeared in the capital of the 1990s.
Watching the pristine white shirt Wen Leyu had prepared for him quickly gather a fine layer of dust—one he did not dare wipe off and could not shake away—Li Ye felt annoyed.
Thinking that he would have to eat sand in the capital for the next decade or so, Li Ye could not help complaining, "It's only 1990. Are the sandstorms already this severe?"
Lu Zhizhang beside him asked curiously, "What did you say, Li Ye? What do you mean, only 1990?"
Li Ye