"Tut, I'd long heard that First Branch Factory's management model drew on advanced overseas experience. Seeing it today has truly opened my eyes. I've benefited greatly—greatly indeed!"
After touring First Branch Factory, Director Tan and the others lavishly praised its working environment and systems. Then Director Tan changed the subject and, smiling, made a new request.
"President Li, President Lu, since it's still early, could we visit your new factory in Western Hills next?"
Lu Zhizhang immediately became wary. Li Ye had just told him that this Director Tan had "the look of a ruthless hero." He might well have come to First Branch Factory to poach people.
Over the years, First Branch Factory had gone to no small lengths to strengthen its technical capabilities, so it knew exactly how damaging poaching could be. The loss of a single core technician could very likely lead to serious consequences.
So Lu Zhizhang smiled and said, "That would be difficult! The new Western Hills factory is still under construction, and foreign experts are coordinating things on site. If we want to visit, we need to apply in advance."
"We need to apply in advance?"
Director Tan paused slightly, then smiled. "True enough. Foreign-invested enterprises do have a lot of rules and regulations. The engines we brought in were designed by Austria's AVL Company. When we first took them over, we also ran into many restrictions and difficulties, but we overcame them one by one."
Lu Zhizhang said in surprise, "AVL? List Company, one of the world's four major internal-combustion-engine companies? I really didn't know that."
If the Steyr heavy trucks imported by the Heavy Truck Group had only been average by 1980s standards, then the engines they carried were rather distinctive. After all, they came from a distinguished lineage, and their rugged