Chapter Ninety: Shooting for the Stars, Aren’t You?

After a long flight, spending ten straight hours in an airplane, trapped in such a tiny space, is truly exhausting for any intercontinental journey.

Once the six-hour time difference had been adjusted for, the date was already June eighteenth. Counting carefully, this air show had taken eight days in all, before and after.

The four of them had gone to the air show together from the base, and now they had returned to the imperial capital. Naturally, they first found a fairly decent state-run restaurant to treat themselves properly; the food on the French side had been utterly unremarkable.

Over the meal, the director also outlined the work that lay ahead, so the others would have a clear idea of what to expect.

"All right. Originally, according to plan, we were to go straight back to the base. But now that the trainer aircraft project has come up, we must make a proper job of it. I have already informed Old Yu at the base, and he will be coming over day after tomorrow or the day after that."

Everyone knew what a fine opportunity the trainer aircraft project was. The entire base would have to throw itself into the effort.

In fact, the J-7 training project already underway would have to be put on hold once the new trainer project was launched, of course on the condition that approval could first be won from the authorities at home.

Putting down his chopsticks, Yang Hui added, "There is one more thing: we must do a good job of keeping this secret. The longer we can keep it quiet, the greater our chance of success."

Everyone understood the importance of secrecy. Once secrecy was mentioned, they would naturally keep their mouths shut in front of outsiders.

Yang Yue was the first to promise discretion. "Don't worry. There won't be any problem on my side."

Seeing Yang Yue commit to secrecy, Xie Lianfa immediately stated that he too had no problem keeping things confidential.

"Director, Team Leader Yang, you can rest assured. I won't say a word."

Hearing that all three young people valued secrecy and guaranteed there would be no issue, the director was naturally very satisfied.

"Good. That is good. For the sake of this model aircraft project, everyone has spent days in Paris living on instant noodles. Now eat freely and improve the meal properly."

...

After eating and drinking their fill, it was time to get down to business. A large sum of foreign currency was still sitting under the name of the import-export company, and it had to be handled according to the plan the chief designer had outlined last time. Leaving it untouched was no solution.

They first had to find Old Wu. Only by finding him could the money be withdrawn, and the company's profits also had to be transferred to the import-export company. That company existed precisely to make money through such projects.

"Old Wu, we're here to settle the project funds. We plan to use this money to introduce a computer-aided design system."

Before Director Bai even finished speaking, Old Wu had already intended to deal with the money. Since this eager young Bai was in such a hurry, they might as well handle it together.

"Come on then. Let's go to the Foreign Exchange Administration and sort this out."

The import-export company did not even have a proper office of its own, let alone a company car, so naturally they could only rely on public transportation.

When they arrived at the Foreign Exchange Administration to handle the exchange, the clerk sitting outside saw the amount involved—several million in foreign currency—and knew he had no authority to process it. With an apologetic smile, he said, "Hello. The amount of foreign exchange involved this time is too large. Please take it to the bureau chief upstairs. I just saw him go into his office. You can handle it there."

Unexpectedly, this foreign exchange still could not be handled here. It seemed the matter was quite troublesome.

"All right, Bai, let's go up."

Hurrying after the director, he went to the bureau chief's office on the second floor.

Director Wang of the Foreign Exchange Administration was currently in a foul mood. With the nation carrying out reform and opening up, foreign currency was needed everywhere, yet foreign exchange remained in severe shortage. The leaders above were beating him down every day, and it was making him miserable.

Just then, a knock came at the door. The irritated Director Wang naturally answered in a bad temper.

"Come in. If you have something to say, say it quickly."

He had not expected the bureau chief's temper to be so explosive. This did not look easy to handle.

Since the funds were under Old Wu's company's name, it was naturally Old Wu who stepped forward to negotiate.

"Hello. I am from the China Aviation Industry Policy Development Import and Export Company. I am here to process some foreign exchange."

At the mention of an aviation import-export company, Director Wang instinctively assumed it was that outfit from the aviation technology corporation.

"Again? Didn't you just draw down three million dollars in foreign exchange? You have not even got a cent left now."

Director Bai and Old Wu exchanged glances. How was this supposed to be explained? Somehow, everyone was lumping them together with that aviation technology corporation.

When he heard that the aviation technology corporation had actually been drawing foreign exchange, Old Wu's face showed clear disdain.

"Allow me to clarify: we are not that company. We are the newly established China Aviation Industry Policy Development Import and Export Company. We are two different companies."

Two different companies? Had the aviation system obtained another import-export right? He did not seem to have heard of that. Wait a moment... it seemed something was coming back to him.

Director Wang's expression turned serious. "Did you also borrow fifty thousand U.S. dollars in foreign exchange from our office? The one from not long ago?"

Ah, so borrowed money really did make one into an uncle.

At last, the only clue that allowed this bureau chief to remember their company was that, when the company was founded, they had borrowed fifty thousand dollars in foreign exchange.

Still bringing up borrowing foreign exchange? It was only fifty thousand dollars. Once the accounts were settled, the money could be slammed right onto the bureau chief's desk.

"Hello. We are here to process foreign exchange. During the Paris Air Show, we earned 5.4 million U.S. dollars in foreign currency from exports."

Old Wu spoke with such simple directness, yet the substance of his words covered everything.

Upon hearing that this was export earnings, Director Wang was delighted. As long as it was foreign exchange earned through exports, even a few thousand dollars counted, let alone 5.4 million.

Good heavens, 5.4 million dollars. That was a truly astonishing figure. Who knew whether it was real or not?

"Are you certain it is 5.4 million dollars?"

Hearing Director Wang actually question the efforts they had put in over so long, Director Bai could no longer remain calm.

"Yes, 5.4 million dollars exactly, and there will be even more to come."

5.4 million dollars. This absolutely had to be taken seriously. This was the kind of company the republic needed: a truly formidable earner of foreign exchange, the strongest of the strong.

One could clearly see Director Wang's entire expression changing at a speed that was almost comical. Even the face-changing in Sichuan opera was not this impressive.

Director Wang immediately began to ask about the foreign exchange. "This... old comrade..."

"My surname is Wu. My name is Wu Daguan. This gentleman beside me is surnamed Bai, and his name is Bai Kang."

At that moment, Director Wang looked as though enlightenment had struck him. "So it is Old Wu. I have been rude, I have been rude. Please, both of you, have a seat."

After arranging for the two great earners of foreign exchange to sit down, Director Wang began his inquiry.

"May I ask, Old Wu, where exactly did this 5.4 million dollars come from? We do need to investigate it."

Although Old Wu very much wanted to keep the pricing of the model aircraft secret from this bureau chief, that was not very realistic. It all came down to whether this official had any principles. As for the principles of officials... that was another matter entirely.

Old Wu began to explain the source of the foreign exchange. "The source is quite simple. Our company represented Director Bai and his team's model aircraft products, all sold at the Paris Air Show. In total, fifty sets of model aircraft and nearly eighty engines brought in 5.6 million dollars, but nearly two hundred thousand dollars in tax was paid on the French side."

What sort of thing was this model aircraft, to have such astonishing foreign exchange-earning power? He had never heard of it before. It seemed this was yet another major source of foreign currency, and they would have to make a proper study of it. At that thought, Director Wang's mind suddenly opened up.

"Oh? Is that so? This model aircraft business can make that much money? Then why don't you keep exporting it? The country is in urgent need of foreign exchange."

Of course Old Wu knew the country needed foreign currency. Not only the country, but the aviation sector as well. Yet the model aircraft market was only so large, and absorbing production capacity would have to be done gradually.

"We understand that. But judging from current market demand, this model aircraft project is one that will make money slowly in the future. It cannot be rushed."

After hearing Old Wu's explanation, Director Wang was also pleased by the sheer amount of foreign exchange involved, and silently took note of the model aircraft project, resolving to focus on it in the future.

Having marked the model aircraft project as one with great potential, Director Wang moved on to the real matter, the very purpose for which Old Wu and the others had come.

"Very well. First of all, congratulations to both of you. This model aircraft project is truly a profitable one. Now I will calculate this foreign exchange for you."

He turned and took out a form, handing it to Old Wu. It stated that in order to encourage export earnings, the state had decided to implement a dual exchange rate system, with export foreign exchange being exchanged at 2.8 yuan per U.S. dollar.

At the right moment, Director Wang began to explain the benefits of export earnings. "As written here, the exchange rate for your exports will be far higher than the normal rate of 1.5 to 1, reaching the high level of 2.8 to 1."

He took out paper and began to calculate exactly how much renminbi this foreign exchange should be converted into.

A recommendation for a friend: a xianxia novel called The Immortal Tale. If you like xianxia, you may want to check it out.