Created in China Episode 3 Recap
> Created in China Recap
Qian Hongming noticed a piano next to him in the bar and proactively paid to invite Liu Jun to perform on stage. Liu Jun's exquisite piano skills attracted the attention of Lin Chuan and her sister-in-law Xia Haiping. Only then did Lin Chuan realize there had been a misunderstanding earlier. She specifically asked the waiter to send Liu Jun a bottle of wine along with a business card.
Introduced by Qian Hongming, Liu Jun and Lin Chuan officially met and learned that she was actually Lin Yue's younger sister. During their conversation, Liu Jun deeply analyzed the development potential of stainless steel precision manufacturing. His professional insights impressed Lin Chuan, and he was immediately invited to visit the City No. 1 Machine Factory. Meanwhile, Liu Shitang came downstairs to the Qian family home with gifts. After much hesitation, he entrusted them to Qian Hongying, but she politely refused.
Liu Shitang admitted that these gifts were specifically prepared for Qian Hongying, feeling distressed that her health had been worn down by years of caring for the sick. Hearing this, Qian Hongying's expression was complicated. She watched Liu Shitang leave alone. After entering the house, Qian Hongying noticed her mother's abnormal condition and quickly called Qian Hongming. Liu Jun immediately rushed back with Qian Hongming and drove the elderly lady to the hospital.
However, Qian Hongming knew in his heart that his mother was terminally ill and held her hand, tears streaming down his face. Outside the hospital, Liu Jun draped his jacket over Qian Hongying. After returning home alone, he looked at his mother's posthumous photo, feeling deeply saddened.
Lin Yue learned that Liu Jun would be visiting the City No. 1 Machine Factory for inspection and specially arranged for Chief Engineer Wang, a technical authority, to accompany him throughout, intending to test his temperament. Lin Chuan thought this move was inappropriate. Chief Engineer Wang held an important position but had to receive an unknown junior, which would inevitably lead to resentment.
But Lin Yue disagreed, feeling that testing Liu Jun was the top priority, as it concerned his sister's lifelong happiness. Although Lin Chuan flatly denied having any interest in Liu Jun, she couldn't help but take out a mirror to examine her makeup upon returning to her office. On the day Liu Jun arrived at the factory, Lin Chuan personally welcomed him and introduced Chief Engineer Wang.
She originally intended to accompany him throughout, but Liu Jun declined, citing that it would not affect the work. Instead, he and Chief Engineer Wang had a pleasant conversation and immediately hit it off. Seeing his sister sitting alone in the office looking unhappy, Lin Yue remarked that Liu Jun was indeed quite interesting. When Chief Engineer Wang led Liu Jun on a tour of the CNC workshop, Liu Jun felt some regret about the idle imported CNC machine tools.
Chief Engineer Wang explained that these equipment were primarily set up by the Japanese side, and the core technology was always monopolized by foreign parties. With the withdrawal of the Japanese engineers, the equipment became paralyzed, and restarting them would require paying high debugging fees. Although these equipment easily allowed the City No. 1 Machine Factory to obtain high-tech certification, the management preferred short-term high-profit projects, leading to the high-end equipment only being used to produce low-end products.
Liu Jun stated frankly that this was a serious waste of resources. Chief Engineer Wang deeply agreed but could do nothing about it. After all, new product development requires continuous massive investment, and success is unpredictable, which is far less appealing to capital than OEM business. Additionally, Chief Engineer Wang pointed out a core dilemma in the industry to Liu Jun, which was the severe loss of young technical talent.
This industry is different from the computer field; it has neither miraculous explosive growth nor the possibility of rapid upward mobility. It requires long-term accumulation; without ten years of hard work, it's difficult to see results. After the visit, Liu Jun politely declined Lin Yue's dinner invitation, excusing himself by saying a friend had lost his mother. Chief Engineer Wang didn't understand why he missed a good networking opportunity.
Liu Jun frankly stated that his visit was only to inspect the equipment and he had no intention of collaborating. Lin Yue, on the other hand, commented that Liu Jun was not worldly-wise. Ever since Qian's mother passed away, the old house felt instantly empty. Qian Hongming planned to sell the old house and buy a new one.
As Qian Hongying reminisced about the past and looked forward to the future, her younger brother solemnly promised that he would eventually make enough money to buy villas for her and Shen Jiali. In the twilight, Liu Jun visited with groceries and had a long heart-to-heart talk with Qian Hongming downstairs, sharing their ambitions.
After this, Liu Jun imported advanced equipment from Germany and devoted himself wholeheartedly to technological research and development and the establishment of product standards, leaving sales, production management, and worker scheduling to Liu Shitang, who was more skilled in those areas. After preparations were complete, Liu Jun had a detailed conversation with Chief Engineer Wang over tea about his entrepreneurial plans and received his support.
Chief Engineer Wang also reminded him that high returns come with high risks, and R&D investment is by no means a small sum. Liu Jun was confident that he could persuade his father to invest, but unexpectedly, the father and son argued again over the topic of new product development. Just as they were at a stalemate, Lin Chuan suddenly came to visit.
