I'm back in 1990

Chapter 740: Do you think I'm stupid?!

"I'm Back in 1990" is causing a reading frenzy on Cola Novels. Haven't you read it yet?

"I find this very strange. I admit you're very accomplished in business and academic research, but I never expected you to have a talent for politics. You can't let this talent go to waste. How about this? I'll think of a way for you to get into the system!" Ding Yi said, expressing his admiration while giving Huang Xiaochuan a suggestion.

After hearing this, Huang Xiaochuan looked at the guy with a mocking expression: "What kind of international joke are you playing on me? Getting me into the system?"

Ding Yi immediately slapped his own face lightly: "Damn! I'm really drunk!"

Ding Yi blurted out those words because there were no outsiders around, and partly because he had drunk quite a bit tonight. However, Ding Yi quickly realized that letting this richest man into the system? That was truly a joke.

Ding Yi's return to the system is a phenomenon unique to this era. In the 1980s and 1990s, the country strongly advocated and encouraged employees within the system to go into business. Later, most of these people, scarred and battered, returned to the system.

However, among them are some successful business people who ultimately chose to return to the system. This is because these people have a vision far beyond that of ordinary people. Otherwise, how could they stand out from the crowd?

After graduating from university, Ding Yi was assigned to a government job. However, after reporting to his workplace, he took a leave of absence without pay. This was because he was concerned about his father. Otherwise, according to Ding Yi's original plan, he would have resigned directly.

Therefore, even though Ding Yi is already quite wealthy, his return to the system is legally permissible. But Huang Xiaochuan's situation is different; he has already resigned. Besides, letting a billionaire into the system? That would be like a drop of water falling into a hot oil pan—it would explode!

Ding Yi naturally looked very regretful. In his opinion, if Huang Xiaochuan could also enter the system, the two of them could complement each other and perhaps even achieve great things in the future.

Suddenly, the lights in the room went out. Huang Xiaochuan instinctively thought the light bulb was broken, but Ding Yi, as if it were nothing new, said, "Damn! Another power outage!"

He stood up and searched the room where Huang Xiaochuan was staying, finding a few candles and matches in the table drawer.

After lighting two candles, the two continued their conversation.

"Didn't expect that, did you! To tell you the truth, this is just everyday stuff!" Ding Yi said as he sat down again, rubbing his face hard to try and sober up, and even made a self-deprecating joke: "I was in a good mood tonight, so I drank a bit too much."

Huang Xiaochuan, however, didn't seem to care much about it and laughed, "Just you wait and see, these problems will all be solved in the future. The main reason for the current power shortage is the uneven development of infrastructure across the country. Once the economy develops to a certain point, there will be more electricity than we can use."

"The future is the future. Right now, we still have to light candles, don't we?" Ding Yi said, focusing on the present.

Huang Xiaochuan patiently advised, "I know what you're thinking, but you can't rush things. Things have to be done one step at a time."

Ding Yi naturally knew that Huang Xiaochuan's words made sense. Only after reaching his current position did he realize that some things could not be done as he had imagined. If he wanted to get things done in government affairs, he had to learn to share, compromise, and strive. As long as the result was good, sometimes he shouldn't take the process too seriously.

"I know, but seeing how backward the development here is and how low the income of the people is, I just sigh!" Ding Yi sighed helplessly.

Huang Xiaochuan could understand Ding Yi's feelings and was glad that his friend cared about the people's affairs.

That's why Huang Xiaochuan stopped hiding his true intentions.

"Old Ding, let me tell you, wherever you go in the future, just remember two things!"

Ding Yi perked up and looked up, saying, "Go on, I'm listening!"

"First, we will vigorously develop precision manufacturing and processing; second, we will strongly advocate the development of high technology."

Ding Yi laughed and leaned back: "I thought you were going to talk about vigorously developing people's livelihoods and the real estate market!"

Huang Xiaochuan smiled and continued, "Of course, those things you mentioned should be developed, but they're not the most important. The two points I'm telling you are the most important. Manufacturing and high technology are the two cornerstones of a strong nation and a strong military. Do you really think selling land and building houses can make a nation and a military strong?"

"Isn't this exactly the same viewpoint you expressed at the academic seminar at Tsinghua University? I heard you even gave a bunch of experts who advocated for GDP supremacy a thorough dressing-down?"

Huang Xiaochuan rolled his eyes: "What I called correcting flawed logical thinking, what do you mean by criticizing someone without any basis?"

Ding Yi had a "I don't believe you" look on his face: "Come on! I know you too well. Back in college, how many times did I suffer because of your words? I have bloody lessons to prove it."

Huang Xiaochuan scoffed, "Tch! You need evidence to back up your claims. Do you have any?"

Nonsense, of course Ding Yi can't produce any evidence. Who has nothing better to do in college than secretly record conversations every day?

But Ding Yi still had something: "I have a video recording of you giving an academic seminar at Tsinghua University."

"Huh? You're not in academia, where did you get the video?" Huang Xiaochuan asked, puzzled.

Ding Yi's big, round eyes widened: "What?! No way? Your speech recording has become internal reference material. After my old man watched it, he even called me back and made me watch it from beginning to end, saying it was to educate me. My old man also told me to learn more from you. He practically praised you to the skies."

Then Ding Yi said with a serious expression, "To be honest, after I watched the video, I also applauded because what you said was really right. Being big does not equal being strong, and being heavy does not equal being of high quality. Nowadays, some so-called scholars are good at singing praises and whitewashing the truth. They have no other skills, but their flattery skills are first-rate. They all deserve to be taught a lesson. You have helped me vent my anger."

Huang Xiaochuan waved his hand modestly and said, "I still haven't learned how to be well-mannered! Blood rushes to my head and I don't care about anything else."

Ding Yi, however, disagreed: "What's wrong with getting angry? What you said makes a lot of sense. Those people, their lives have only just started to get a little better, and they're already showing off, talking about GDP all the time. All they know is how to flatter!"

At this moment, Ding Yi also transformed into an angry young man, constantly complaining. Normally, he had no one to talk to, nor could he easily tell others. Fortunately, Huang Xiaochuan came, so he simply let it all out.

Huang Xiaochuan waited until Ding Yi finished complaining before instructing him, "Just say these things to me, don't go around shouting them out there."

Ding Yi rolled her eyes at him: "Do you think I'm stupid?"