That afternoon, on the very day the College and Technical School Students started work, a call from the main factory came through to the First Branch Factory.
After taking the call, Lu Zhizhang said, "Li Ye, the main factory has informed us that we're to go over for a meeting immediately. What I heard is that they're announcing a vehicle price reduction."
Li Ye raised an eyebrow. "Announcing it, not discussing it?"
Lu Zhizhang nodded.
He had been with the organization for over twenty years and had his own network of connections. When it came to information channels, he was far more capable than Li Ye.
"Then let's go! Soldiers come, generals block them; water comes, earth dams it. Good thing I announced the price increase this morning."
"Heh heh, if we hadn't raised prices today, they might not have been in such a hurry to call this meeting!"
"..."
The two looked at each other, then both shook their heads with helpless, bitter smiles.
"Since the pricing of the First Branch Factory conflicts somewhat with that of the main factory, sales of the main factory's J2 model 130 have been far from encouraging. As one unified collective, our pricing must support and coordinate with one another.
Therefore, after deliberation by multiple departments, it has been decided that effective immediately, the ex-factory price of the J2 model 130 will be lowered by 1,450 yuan."
When the meeting began, it turned out Lu Zhizhang and Li Ye had guessed correctly. The reason for the price cut really was to "reasonably coordinate" with the First Branch Factory's pricing.
Li Ye naturally did not agree. Could it be that, decades later, when those joint-venture brands were forced into one price cut after another, it would all be the fault of domestic cars