Chapter 379 The title of “Bicycle Kingdom” is not called for nothing
On April 27, 1980, when a brand new Boeing 747 took off smoothly.
The 18 ships with full flags gathered at Wusong Port in Pujiang also began to set sail in a mighty manner.
Looking at the fleet that was far away from sight, the rivers and seas that had just completed their shooting mission, they also looked up at the planes flying by in the sky.
"Ordinarily, the third child's flight should take off," Jiang Hai handed Jiang He a ZNH cigarette: "You are a little bit regretful that you didn't go to New York this time, right?"
In recent days, Comrade Jiang He has changed from his usual cold face and has a cheerful smile every day.
"Regret? How is that possible?" Jiang He said with a smile, "I'm telling you boss, now I wake up laughing every day when I fall asleep."
"Are you so happy?"
"nonsense!"
"Congratulations, second son," Jiang Hai smiled and patted the second son on the shoulder: "I'm finally going to be a father."
After learning that Lu Xiao was pregnant, Jiang He immediately gave up the idea of traveling abroad.
At this moment, as the art editor of the newspaper, he was accompanying the editor-in-chief to take photos of the fleet going to sea!
In order to carry out the secret mission, the Yuanwang 1 and Yuanwang 2 survey ships, which were delivered at the end of last year, and accompanied by more than 10 survey ships and destroyers, set out for the mission waters.
It's a coincidence that this fleet of ships was sailing out of the Yangtze River Estuary.
Taiwan authorities sent a five-word telegram to the mainland: I wish the mission a success.
…
At this time, the flight, which had just taken off not long ago, had already entered feeding mode.
This rhythm reminded Comrade Jiangshan of Sichuan Airlines, the pig-raising airline in his previous life.
"Xiaojiang."
Director Hou, who was sitting in the front row, turned around and said hello to Jiang Shan as soon as he saw the flight attendant pushing out the dining car.
Jiangshan was revealed at one point, and he immediately shook the Leica camera in his hand: "Don't worry, leader."
After saying that, he turned and looked at Huang Yongyu, Wang Shixiang and Yu Sigui next to the aisle.
At this moment, he happened to bump into the three people opposite him.
"Hi~"
The three people waved to Jiangshan at the same time, all with happy expressions.
For the first Boeing 747 introduced by China Civil Aviation, everything must be conducted according to the highest standards.
At this moment, walking toward them were two waitresses in white shirts and blue skirts pushing a dining cart.
When the smiling stewardess placed the dishes on the tray on the small table, everyone could see the difference at a glance.
"Look," Wang Fulin pointed to the plate in front of him and said, "It's really different."
"I'm telling you about Director Wang,"
Sitting aside, Jiang Shan whispered:
"Nowadays, all domestic airline catering is handled by professional companies."
"Let me just say," Wang Fulin said, "the level is obviously different."
"That's right," Jiang Shan: "Do you still remember the previous food standards?"
"Why don't you remember?" Wang Fulin counted them one by one: "Bread, apples, lunch meat, anchovies."
"The cream cake looks pretty much the same,"
Zhang Lu pointed to a piece of cake on the dinner plate: "The first time I took a plane, there was mung bean cake."
Compared with the previous aluminum lunch boxes and thermos buckets, which were almost the same as those in the work canteen.
The tableware this time does look much more comfortable.
While Jiangshan was making comments and taking photos to collect evidence, Huang Yongyu and Wang Shixiang, who had not been on a plane for a long time, had already started eating.
Braised sea cucumber with green onion, braised fish maw, braised shrimp in oil, roast duck, Wuxi pork ribs, fried tofu...
The group, including other passengers, had no idea that AVIC’s food would suddenly become so good.
At this moment, even Jiang Shan and Wang Fulin, who were not planning to drink, asked the waiter for two small cups of special Moutai.
"Director Hou,"
Jiang Shan, who was sitting in the back row, leaned on the back of the seat in the front row and said: "With the current food standards of our civil aviation, in my opinion, it is impossible for any more passengers to complain."
"I think so," said Hou Xijiu, who was enjoying the food very much: "It seems that AVIC has made a big move this time."
Meals, fruits, and soft drinks were eaten almost non-stop during the more than two-hour flight to Tokyo.
When the transfer group boarded the JAL Boeing 747 again, Huang Yongyu and Wang Shixiang were finally able to enter the upper floor of the plane.
"Sisi said, the upper level of Japan's 747 is completely different from the plane we just took,"
Although his heart was already in turmoil, Huang Yongyu, whose face remained tense, whispered to Wang Shixiang: "You can lie down and sleep."
"That's great," Wang Shixiang also whispered: "After all, we have to fly for 13 hours. I definitely can't bear it if I sit all this time."
After learning that the National Tourism Administration had funded hotel upgrades for the advertising team, Xu Muchun from Pujiang Foreign Trade immediately upgraded their tickets.
Japan Airlines, known as the third largest airline in the world, was the first airline to introduce lie-flat seats on the upper deck of its 747 aircraft in the 1980s.
Just in time, I gave Jiangshan and his party a taste of this trip.
This time, the participating team was led by Wang Fulin and Jiang Shan.
In addition to three directors including Zhang Lu, two consultants, there is also Huang Hua, the manager of Pujiang Advertising Company who is responsible for connecting with foreign departments.
Of course, among this group of people, one must also count Comrade Yu Sigui, who went there at his own expense.
At this moment, Miss Yu, who was sitting with Jiang Shan, was studying the bicycle advertising plan with him.
"I called and asked when I was at the airport just now,"
After learning about Jiangshan's new mission, Yu Sigui immediately ordered the company's employees to investigate:
"Currently, bicycle factories in the United States are basically preparing to change careers."
"What do you mean?" Jiang Shan, who was next to him, asked, "Americans no longer produce bicycles?"
"Since 1972, the United States has placed a large number of bicycle orders with Taiwan," Yu Sigui said: "Currently, Taiwan has become the largest bicycle processing location in the United States."
"Well," Jiang Shan understood: "So this is how big brother supports his younger brother."
"Why,"
Yu Sigui held up his chin and looked sideways at Jiang Shan: "Have you seen foreign bicycles?"
Jiang Shan stopped writing in his hand and smiled. He knew what Yu Sigui meant by asking this question.
"Don't worry," Jiang Shan said: "When it comes to other products, there are indeed differences in our country, but when it comes to bicycles, it's a different story."
After hearing the other party's answer, Yu Sigui's brows still did not loosen.
Ever since she learned that Jiang Shan had taken on this new task, she had been wanting to remind him.
This time Jiang Shan still didn't understand what she meant, so he simply made it clear.
"Jiangshan, don't look at how popular Phoenix and Forever brand bicycles are in China, but compared to foreign models, they are still too vulgar."
"Too cheesy? Just wait a moment."
The next second, Jiang Shan stood up and took his backpack from the luggage rack.
Then, a stack of photos was placed in front of Yu Sigui.
"This is?"
Looking at the photos on the small table, Yu Sigui felt that each one was very beautiful: "Are these all Phoenix and Forever bicycles?"
"if not?"
"Oh my god, have domestic bicycles developed like this?"
In fact, not only Yu Sigui, Jiang Shan also looked surprised when he saw these photos.
“You’re kidding,” Jiang Shan pointed at the photo and said, “Do you think the title of Bicycle Kingdom is for nothing?
Take the Phoenix brand bicycle as an example. It is not only our country’s first bicycle, but also the predecessor of the Pujiang brand car.”
Yu Sigui: "You mean, Phoenix Bicycle Factory also produced a car?"
"In 1958, Pujiang Automobile Factory bought back a Benz," Jiang Shan said:
"After dismantling the car and studying it, technicians from the two factories copied a car with a 4-cylinder engine. At that time, they named the car Phoenix.
However, a total of more than 10 Phoenix brand cars were produced, and it was only changed to Shanghai brand in 1963 when mass production began."
"So this is ah."
"This," Jiang Shan clicked on a photo on the table:
"It's a 26-inch lightweight bicycle launched by their factory in the 1950s.
This car is a men's lightweight sports car of the Forever brand.
In addition, the styles in these pictures are sports bikes, road racing bikes, track racing bikes that have been exported abroad before...
All are bicycles that meet international quality standards.”
Looking at the bicycles with good styles and colors, Yu Sigui was puzzled: "The styles of these bicycles are not popular, so why are there no sales?"
"Thankfully you are still a comrade who runs an advertising agency,"
Jiang Shan said this and picked up the pen in the sketchbook again:
"Sales are not good, of course, because there is no advertising.
Compared to surrounding Southeast Asian countries, Americans have never heard of the name Phoenix Forever.
Director Xu said that it was because the two bicycle factories were too confident that they caused the current embarrassing situation."
"What should we do?" Yu Sigui: "Is this something that can be solved with a newspaper advertisement?"
"The next trading time is at the end of August," Jiang Shan wrote a date on the paper:
“Our mission this time is to sell more than half of the first batch of 5,000 bicycles before this date.
Only when this figure is reached, the United States will not postpone the transaction date.
It’s definitely too late to shoot a TV commercial, and it’s also impossible to shoot a commercial for these thousands of bicycles.
In comparison, it is more cost-effective to publish it in the newspaper.”
"But," Yu Sigui felt: "An advertisement in a newspaper cannot solve the problem.
Do you know how dense the ads are in the New York Times? Unless you spend a week's worth of money, it's definitely useless.
Besides, even if readers notice your advertisement, they will never take a closer look based on their habit of viewing advertisements in a glance.
To put it another way, even if someone takes a closer look..."
"Stop it,"
Jiang Shan was about to cover the other person's mouth: "You want to say that even if someone sees it, they won't buy it, right?"
Yu Sigui, who didn't want to offend the other party, just looked at his comrade silently.
"Just keep your heart in your stomach," Jiang Shan continued to lower his head and paint:
"Not only do I want them to notice our advertising, but I also want them to help us actively spread the advertising, isn't it just 5,000 bicycles..."
The sun and moon alternate, and the stars change.
Just as Jiangshan's flight was flying through the Pacific Ocean, the Chinese fleet departing from Wusongkou also sailed into the Pacific waters.
Facing a group of ships that suddenly appeared in the Pacific, reconnaissance planes from Japan, the United States, Australia and other countries scrambled to take off.
At the same time, warships from many countries also rushed nervously in the same direction.
However, compared to the tense atmosphere on the sea, Jiang Shan and Yu Sigui were lying flat in the cabin, holding up the manuscript paper in their hands and looking hard at the light...
