Chapter One Hundred and Three: Remarkably Efficient

In the capital’s project team, nearly everyone came from the level of factory directors or institute heads. Yet in order to swallow this new trainer aircraft program whole, they had all returned to the days when they had been junior designers, rising before dawn, working late into the night, and keeping such hours was nothing unusual.

The reason was simple. The foreign delegation had already arrived, and Saudi Arabia had come with a massive diplomatic party as well, preparing to establish formal relations with the republic. As for the other side, it had naturally been abandoned.

In a single sentence: break with the bald man, and go play with the bunny.

The Pakistani representative was the same Madad they had met at the Paris Air Show before. This astute Pakistani Air Force technical officer, who knew exactly where to insert himself, had been appointed as the chief negotiator for this new trainer project.

On the Saudi side, the lead was still Prince Sultan. Strictly speaking, a project of this kind did not require a man of deputy-premier rank to handle it, but considering the far larger projects that would follow after its completion, and to demonstrate sincerity and respect, the Saudi side once again dispatched this important figure.

At the strong insistence of the foreign delegations after checking into the hotel, the higher-ups once again urged the two units to produce their design proposals as quickly as possible. In the capital, the project team at the base hurried from one task to the next; likewise, in the northern design group that had come to snatch the prize, everyone was working overtime to prepare their drawings. Everything was for the sake of winning the new trainer aircraft project after the design presentation three days later.

The project’s rough outline had already taken shape. At the very least, it looked far clearer and more definite than the hurried three-view sketch of the fighter-trainer nine that Yang Hui had drawn back then.

The drawings for two different intake schemes had already been sent to the Plexiglas Crafts Factory in the capital, where highly skilled veteran craftsmen were now making the models. Once those models were finished, everyone would naturally have something far more intuitive to look at, so if there was the chance and the time, the model absolutely had to be made.

With the design proposal complete, there was naturally one more important thing to do. When the time came to go on stage and present the plan, they would certainly need someone eloquent enough to do the talking. In this day and age, the power of sharp tongue could absolutely add a high score to the entire project.

Need one look at how formidable Institute Six-Eleven had been when working on the Tenth Project. They had originally been invited as evaluators, meant to listen to the new aircraft proposal from the Shenyang Design Institute. But with no advance preparation at all, those people from Six-Eleven, relying purely on their tongues, managed to talk the whole project into ruin. In the end, the higher-ups had no choice but to require both sides to produce their own plans and fight again later.

That showed just how powerful a silver tongue could be. Of course, it also indirectly proved that the Shenyang Design Institute really was not much to brag about. Now that the base was up against the Shenyang Design Institute again, they naturally needed someone who could speak well to take the stage and present the proposal.

“Everyone, think about who should go up later to present the project. We need talent like the people at Six-Eleven, someone who can make the Shenyang Design Institute’s proposal collapse in fifteen minutes.”

Bad news travels fast. The domestic aviation field was only so big, and Six-Eleven’s glorious exploits had long since become known throughout the entire system. When Director Yu brought it up now, it was a classic case of rubbing salt into the Shenyang Design Institute’s wounds, and also a way to rally everyone’s spirits. After all, the opponent this time was the Shenyang Design Institute, an old heavyweight whose prestige still carried some weight.

But the little prestige the Shenyang Design Institute still had was about to be squandered away completely. That would be those fellows’ own doing; no one else was to blame.

When Director Yu said they needed to choose a project presenter, everyone naturally turned their eyes to him. Back then, it had been Director Yu who had pried the fighter-trainer seven out of Factory One-Three-Two’s grasp. Naturally, people had high expectations for his ability.

Seeing everyone looking at him, Director Yu finally realized what they were thinking. He quickly said that he was not really suitable for the role of presenter.

“I’ll pass. Presenting this scheme means not only explaining the airframe design, but also the engine selection, and for that reason I’m not really the right person. Besides, I don’t have experience negotiating projects with foreign partners.”

Hearing the implication in Old Yu’s words, Director Bai naturally cooperated by naming his own choice.

“Don’t look at me either. I can’t do it. I’ve never been good at verbal sparring to begin with. If you let me go up and present, I’d probably drag down an eighty-percent chance of success by half all on my own. Not me. I think Comrade Yang Hui would be more suitable.”

What? Yang Hui again? What had this young fellow done to deserve such favor from the heads of the base’s two principal design institutes, that they would even hand over such a chance to shine? It was truly unexpected.

Yang Hui himself had never imagined such a turn of events. This was the kind of opportunity that brought glory and had a very high chance of success. If it worked, it would be a major achievement. Yet now that achievement was being handed to him. It was almost too astonishing to believe.

“Director, I’m afraid that would not be quite appropriate. If someone my age goes up to present the proposal, the higher-ups will certainly think we are unreliable. That would only lower their impression of us.”

So that was what Yang Hui was worried about. That was not something to worry over too much. When Director Bai had gone to the Ministry of Aviation to present a project before, and later spoke with the chief designer over the phone, the chief designer had hinted, in a roundabout way, that he might attend the proposal presentation.

“You don’t need to worry about that. The elder gentleman you met last time down by the South China Sea said he would be there. He thinks quite highly of you, so there is no need to worry.”

In Director Bai’s mouth, the earlier “might attend” became “will attend.” The word “might” was naturally brushed aside.

The significance of this piece of news could hardly be overstated. For a mere aircraft design presentation to bring in someone of such high rank was exceedingly rare. Yet Yang Hui more or less understood why. This was not really about the aircraft design proposal itself; it was about the attitude toward foreign capital.

Still, if that was the case, then there was nothing to fear. As long as the bureaucrats from the aviation ministry were not the ones presiding from above, then there was no need to be afraid. They only needed a fair chance to compete.

“In that case, I can do the project presentation. As long as the higher-ups have no prejudice against my age, I am confident I won’t botch this.”

Yang Hui said it with great confidence, but the heads of the other factories at the base were not especially optimistic, such as Director Liu from the Liyang Factory. In his heart, he sneered hard at Yang Hui once again: you little brat, and you think you can win this project over? I had thought there was still some hope for it, but now it looks shaky.

Nobody said anything now. Although they still did not feel entirely at ease with Yang Hui, his performance these past few days had indeed been quite impressive. If one ignored his age, he really was the most suitable choice. But even so, everyone remained somewhat hesitant.

“No need to hesitate. Let me tell you something. The aerodynamic improvement scheme I proposed was actually something Yang Hui brought up when he first arrived at the base. Back then I filed that configuration away. But it really was quite good, at least enough to prove that the aerodynamics major he studied at university is genuinely solid. So technically, there is no problem with him.”

What more could anyone say? Since Director Yu had dropped such a bombshell, what else was there to discuss? Let Yang Hui do it. After all, he was also responsible for liaising with the foreign side. It stood to reason that when it came to communicating over the proposals, he had an advantage over everyone else. As for the age issue, they would set it aside for now. Where else were they going to find such a fitting presenter? Make do with him.

“Then we’ll follow the two directors’ judgment. Comrade Yang Hui will handle the project presentation.”

As for Yang Hui, the designer who had worked on the radio system for the model aircraft also had a favorable impression of him. The factory had made a great deal of money from that model aircraft, so naturally he looked on Yang Hui with a kindly eye.

“Good. Comrade Yang Hui, we’re betting on you now. When the time comes, you must perform well. Don’t let the project be ruined. This concerns the rise and fall of the entire base.”

When people mixed in the system or in state-owned enterprises, by this point there was one thing everyone had to do: declare their determination.

“Please rest assured, everyone. I will treat this project with the utmost seriousness. It is the result of all our joint efforts, and I will present the scheme clearly and thoroughly. We must win this project.”

Seeing Yang Hui declare his resolve, they all nodded in satisfaction, though there was still some concern over whether he could ultimately secure the new aircraft project.

Still, from the way Yang Hui expressed himself so properly, it could be seen that he was indeed quite good. He knew exactly when to do what. That was right. Doing the right thing at the right time was enough.