Since the previous acquisition and integration of many subsidiaries, Meng Hao changed the company name from Huarong Industry to Huarong Technology, transforming it from a single company into a group. As a group company with one main entity and four branches, and a total market value of 1 billion, Huarong Technology's monthly output of Phantom mechs has reached 100 units. Half of these are supplied to the domestic market of Great Xia, and the other half to the foreign trade market. This translates to a monthly revenue of approximately 550 million, with a net profit close to 100 million. This is already enough to surpass many small and medium-sized companies domestically.
The first branch, formerly Ao Shi Heavy Industry, is the largest of the four branch factories and has the most complete production line among its subsidiaries. With a production capacity of 20 Phantom mechs per month, the first branch mainly supplies the international market. Because Meng Hao adopts a high-price export strategy to gain profit and subsidize the loss-making domestic version, the first branch, with a monthly revenue of around 200 million, is the highest revenue earner among Meng Hao's five companies.
Meng Hao, who was already dizzy from the various online trolls targeting him, never expected that the first branch factory would also encounter problems.
...
Meng Hao was in a meeting, the main topic being the procurement of raw materials. After all, without national support, it would be extremely difficult to secure many strategic materials. What troubled Meng Hao even more was that not only were the raw materials for lithography machines being bottlenecked, but even the nickel and cobalt required for high-intensity composite batteries were being targeted.
"If the Western Alliance disagrees with exporting resources, we can sign acquisition contracts with African countries!"
"Even if the material prices increase, our foreign trade version is still profitable."
"No matter what, we absolutely cannot have any mishaps before completing the existing orders."
Just as Meng Hao was issuing his strict command, a mishap occurred. Qin Muyan knocked on the conference room door and rushed to Meng Hao in front of everyone.
"Brother Hao."
"Something big has happened."
"The first branch factory is being surrounded?"
Hmm? The first branch factory is being surrounded? Could there be some issue with management? Meng Hao looked towards Cheng Hua. As a hands-off manager, Meng Hao almost never dealt with administrative matters, leaving everything to Cheng Hua.
Seeing Meng Hao's gaze, Cheng Hua also looked at Qin Muyan in confusion. With decades of administrative experience, it was unlikely he would make mistakes in management.
"It's not a management issue."
"It's a product quality problem."
Huh? Meng Hao was somewhat bewildered! Technical issues had always been personally overseen by him. Although the lower branch factories did not have access to core technology – the main core components were secretly produced at Huarong Technology headquarters and then transported to the various branch factories. The branch factories' permissions only extended to the production of simpler components like gyroscopes and spectrometers. Then came the assembly work. These processes were all mature technologies in Great Xia, so how could there be a problem?
"The primary customer base for the first branch factory is overseas users."
"Why would they be blockading the entrance?"
"Moreover, the production difficulty of the first branch factory is not high; it mainly involves the production of peripheral components. What kind of problem could arise?"
Seeing Meng Hao's bewildered expression, Qin Muyan, who fully acted as the head of Huarong Technology's live broadcast department and Meng Hao's personal secretary, quickly continued.
"It is precisely some customers from the United States who are holding banners at the entrance of the first factory."
"Many embassy staff from Western Alliance countries are also exerting pressure on the local authorities, demanding a prompt resolution of the complaints."
"It seems even quite a few television stations have been alerted."
Overseas customers traveling thousands of miles to Great Xia to protest? Not only were they holding banners at the entrance of the first branch factory, but they had also alerted television stations? This smelled of a conspiracy. Furthermore, it could easily escalate into an international incident. Truly, one wave had not subsided before another arose. It was raining cats and dogs when the house was already leaking. Meng Hao, unable to continue the meeting to discuss how to handle the raw material shortage, quickly asked Cheng Hua to have the company's vehicle management department prepare a car to rush to the first branch factory in JN City... the company that was formerly Ao Shi Heavy Industry.
...
More than an hour later, they arrived at the first branch factory. As Qin Muyan had said, the factory entrance was blocked by over a hundred foreigners. They held up banners and, using their broken Great Xia language, frantically shouted protests in front of cameras from more than a dozen television stations.
"Huarong Company, substandard products, have caused the deaths of many of our researchers!"
"Unscrupulous company, products exported do not meet safety standards at all."
"The mech, touted as the strongest on Earth from Huarong Technology, actually exploded!"
"..."
Meng Hao's brow furrowed. The Phantom mechs did indeed explode. However, this had been explained to the customers before they left the factory. Moreover, the Phantom mechs would only explode if forcibly disassembled. Otherwise, the product's safety was fully guaranteed. One must know that the core of the Phantom mech was a black technology supplied by the system.
Meng Hao got out of the car and slowly walked towards the group of foreigners.
"This is Meng Hao, the chairman of Huarong Technology."
"My son was a researcher in the United States; he was killed by an explosion while researching your Huarong Technology products."
"My husband was just a mech enthusiast; he strictly followed your operating procedures, and he was also killed by an explosion."
"How did products of such substandard quality pass inspection and get exported?"
"We've always heard that you are a military enterprise disguised as a private company... you must have colluded with the Great Xia government to obtain export permits."
"Huarong Technology, give us an explanation! Great Xia government, give us an explanation..."
At the chaotic company entrance, if not for the security personnel of the first branch factory forcefully restraining them, they might have already rushed up to Meng Hao and beaten him severely. Meng Hao did not sense that this enraged crowd was intentionally faking it. Could it be that there was a problem within his own company?
As he was contemplating this, Meng Hao looked around and suddenly saw a few people with ferocious smiles on their faces. They were wearing Huarong Technology work uniforms. However, when they saw Meng Hao's gaze sweep over them, they immediately adopted an expressionless, indifferent demeanor and quickly disappeared into the crowd.
Cheng Hua, who had rushed to the first branch factory with Meng Hao, looked at Meng Hao.
"Young Master."
"How should we handle this situation?"
"Many television reporters have already arrived at the scene. If we continue to drag this out,"
"Regardless of whether the reason is truly our fault at Huarong Technology, I fear it will damage our reputation!"