Reborn in the red age

Facing the gazes of everyone at the table, Li Qingfeng only wanted to say one thing: as long as you are willing to invest large amounts of money in research and development, there will be opportunities at any time. But are you willing to invest in research and development?
It's not that Qingfeng Li looked down on them. Among the four of them, only Li Jiacheng might be willing to invest some funds in research and development.

As for the other three companies, if you ask them to speculate in land, they will be more enthusiastic than the other and invest tens or hundreds of billions of Hong Kong dollars without blinking an eye. But asking them to invest the money in the field of technology for research and development is harder than climbing to the sky.

"Competition in the personal computer industry has become increasingly fierce in recent years. The era when you could make a fortune simply by assembling computers is over. If you want to be recognized by international consumers, you must have your own technological innovation. Otherwise, a single assembled computer will not sell well."

Facing the gazes of the people at the dinner table, Li Qingfeng thought for a moment and did not directly answer Li Jiacheng's question.

After listening to Li Qingfeng's opinion, Li Jiacheng did not answer directly, but frowned and fell into thought.

The elders here didn't say anything. Zheng Yutong's son Zheng Jiachun next to him immediately took over the conversation and refuted Li Qingfeng's words: "Chairman Li, you just said that we should have our own technological innovation. I don't think it's necessary. Last year, Hongzhi Company was listed on the US stock market. The stock price rose by 40% in three months. The current market value of the company is nearly 300 million US dollars."

"I have inquired about their computers, and there is no technological innovation. It is exactly the same as your Lemon Company's previous model. They purchase parts in the mainland and import core components from abroad. Relying on the price advantage, they have good sales in Southeast Asia. I think as long as the publicity is done well and the price is low, they can still have good sales."

After hearing this talk, Qingfeng Li knew that this person was looking to make a quick buck.

I was too lazy to pay attention to him and just smiled, neither refuting nor agreeing.

Hongzhi started to engage in computers in the same year when Lemon Company sold its computer business to IBM. How many years has it been? Could the market environment back then be the same as it is now?
When personal computers first came out, there was no brand awareness and as long as the machine could be assembled, it could be sold.

Now that assembly machine brands have been established, if you don’t have the necessary skills and still enter the assembly machine market with old ideas, no one will buy into it.

Why have companies been focusing on laptops in the past two years? In addition to market demand, the main purpose is that companies are frantically rolling in computers to prove their technical strength, leaving customers with an impression of technological innovation and making their own computers competitive in the market.

Li Jiacheng, who was very insightful, did not miss the conversation between the two even when he was thinking. He guessed what Li Qingfeng was thinking by looking at his expression. He immediately stopped thinking and said with a smile:

"Ah Zheng, you don't understand this, right? Chairman Li's suggestion is correct. Look at the mainstream brands on the market now, from IBM, Sony, Compaq to the recently emerging Dell, which one doesn't have its own unique skills? It is indeed difficult to gain recognition from the people in developed countries by simply assembling computers."

"We're not targeting the markets in developed countries, so what's the point of getting their approval?" Zheng Jiachun muttered softly.

Zheng Yutong didn't wait for his son to finish his words before he began to lecture him: "To do business, you must go in the direction of a large company or a large group. What's the point of doing a small business?"

Zheng Yutong turned to Li Qingfeng and said with a smile: "Chairman Li, I'm sorry to have embarrassed you."

"When you rashly enter an unfamiliar field, you will naturally be relatively cautious. It's understandable," Li Qingfeng said with a smile.

After a few more laughs and a few casual responses that they were willing to hear, Qingfeng Li was too lazy to open his mouth and just picked up his chopsticks to continue eating.

The Li family’s chef is a good cook. The dishes on the table are so delicious and tasty that they are not much different from those at a state banquet.

Everyone saw that Li Qingfeng didn't want to pay attention to them, so they didn't continue to talk to Li Qingfeng. Instead, they started chatting, either talking about their own children or which piece of land they wanted to buy for commercial real estate.

After dinner, Li Jiacheng asked Li Qingfeng to stay alone and said he wanted to discuss something.

Li Qingfeng was very respectful to this biggest local tyrant in Hong Kong, and he and Fang Wanzhen admired his collection in his reception room.

When Li Jiacheng came back after seeing off the guests, Li Qingfeng did not exchange pleasantries with him, but went straight to the point and said, "Mr. Li, there is no one else here, just tell me what you want to say."

Li Jiacheng was stunned. He didn't expect Li Qingfeng to be so direct. He went straight to the point without any greetings. There was no verbal wrangling like the Chinese do when discussing business.

It only took a moment for Li Jiacheng to react. He smiled and said, "Okay, Chairman Li is really quick to speak. In that case, I'll just say it straight."

"Please speak"

"Your company cannot directly produce computers, which wastes your influence in the computer field. Therefore, I would like to cooperate with your company to jointly establish a computer manufacturing company."

Li Qingfeng was about to refuse without hesitation when Li Jiacheng interrupted him with a wave of his hand: "Chairman Li, don't be so hasty to refuse. I haven't finished what I'm saying yet. It won't be too late for you to refuse after I finish."

Qingfeng Li nodded and waited for Li Jiacheng to continue.

"We jointly established this computer company. We, Cheung Kong Holdings, invested 99% and only hold 51% of the shares. Your company only needs to invest 1%, but you can get 49% of the shares."

"And once the new company is established, I will immediately announce to the outside world that the computers produced by the new company will only be sold within China, and not a single machine will be sold abroad. In this way, Chairman Li will not have to invest in a computer company, which would cause dissatisfaction among partner companies."

After listening to what Li Jiacheng said, Li Qingfeng finally understood the real reason why Li Jiacheng was working in computers. He was indeed an excellent businessman with a keen sense of smell, and he was heading for the mainland market.

At this time, the domestic computer market had already been cultivated by state-owned enterprises, sales were increasing year by year, and there was already a market for computers.

With the deepening of reform and opening up, Li Jiacheng, who often travels to the mainland, has realized that China, with a population of 1.1 billion, may become the world's largest consumer market for electronic products in the future.

He wants to use Lemon Company's influence in the computer field to gain a foothold in the domestic market.

Li Qingfeng, who understood Li Jiacheng's plan, smiled meaningfully and said, "Giving such a large amount of shares for free, I'm afraid Mr. Li doesn't just want to borrow the name of Lemon Company, there must be other things that need Lemon Company to do, right?"

"Haha, of course. Although Mr. Li has some face in the mainland, he is a Hong Konger after all. Some things are not as convenient for him to handle as for Chairman Li, a mainlander. I need Chairman Li to help me solve the issue of building a computer factory in the mainland." Li Jiacheng laughed and mentioned another thing that needed Li Qingfeng to do.

In the past, the mainland had not yet liberalized the import approval for electronic products. If one wanted to import electronic products from abroad, one first had to obtain the approval, and the tariffs on imported electronic products were relatively high.

Especially for computers, in order to protect domestic computer companies, the country charges high tariffs on imported computer systems and only allows small-scale imports.

It was not until this year that China cancelled the import license approval for computer products and significantly lowered tariffs, allowing foreign brand computers to enter the country.

However, only imports are allowed. In order to protect domestic enterprises, foreign investment is not allowed to build complete machine factories in China for the time being.

After all, foreign companies have price advantages in core components such as CPUs. At this time, domestic computer accessories are also of high quality, low price and large output. Once foreign capital builds factories in China.

Without import tariffs, and with the price advantage of computer accessories, foreign brand computers can be sold cheaper than domestic ones.

Clap, clap, clap. Applause broke out in the reception room.

Li Qingfeng admired Li Jiacheng's business vision very much. No wonder he had been in the business world for thirty or forty years and had never done a losing business. His vision was really amazing.

If he nodded and agreed to Li Jiacheng, a super giant stronger than anyone in later generations would appear in the country, and the title of "Conscience of the American Empire" would definitely fall on him.

"Chairman Li, what do you think of my proposal?"

"This is related to the development of the company. I need to go back and hold a board meeting to discuss it. We'll talk again when there's a result."

"That's right. I'll wait for good news from Chairman Li."

"Easy to say, easy to say"

Li Jiacheng enthusiastically escorted Li Qingfeng and the other person to the door. He didn't get in the car until the taillights disappeared around the corner. He then left the mansion and returned to his own home.

In the car, Fang Wanzhen asked curiously: "Director Li, does our company have a board of directors?"

"The company is not listed, and I hold 100% of the shares personally. Where does the board of directors come from?" Li Qingfeng said with a smile, spreading his hands.

"So what did you mean by discussing it at the board meeting?"

"Oh, you're talking about this, I was fooling Li Jiacheng"

"."

Fang Wanzhen looked at Li Qingfeng's nonchalant expression and muttered to herself that in the whole of Hong Kong, the only person who dared to deceive Li Jiacheng openly was probably her boss.

"If Mr. Li asks about the results of our board's discussion, how should we respond?"

"You can reply whatever you want, saying things like it's still under discussion or there's a disagreement among shareholders, etc. Just get rid of him."

"Okay." After hesitating for a moment, Fang Wanzhen asked tentatively, "But Mr. Li, can I ask why you don't cooperate with Mr. Li? The conditions he gave can be said to be giving us money. No company would refuse such conditions."

"Of course I know this is giving us money, but Li Jiacheng is not a good partner."

After saying this, Qingfeng Li closed his eyes and began to rest, no longer answering Fang Wanzhen's questions.

Fang Wanzhen saw this and knew that Li Qingfeng didn't want to talk, so she tactfully didn't ask any more questions.

If Fang Wanzhen knew what Li Jiacheng did in later life, she would understand why Li Qingfeng refused to cooperate with Li Jiacheng.

If you are looking for investment, he is a very good partner, but not in the technology industry.

He is essentially an excellent businessman rather than an entrepreneur, and it is his instinct to seek profit and avoid harm.

When the company shows signs of decline, he will not invest money in technological innovation to save the company, but will just take the profits and sell it off and run away.

If you work with him, you must always be on guard against him selling out and running away if the company shows any signs of decline.

We cannot say that his character is wrong. It is businessmen's nature to pursue profits, and investment is for returns. There is nothing wrong with people doing this to protect their own interests. We can only say that it is not suitable to cooperate with him in the field of science and technology.

In the next few days, Li Jiacheng's secretary called several times to invite Li Qingfeng to attend the dinner. After being declined several times, Li Jiacheng understood what Li Qingfeng meant and never called again.

Li Qingfeng's visit to Hong Kong this time was not just for the sake of visiting, but because he had an important project to announce.

Since arriving in Hong Kong, except for having a meal with people from the four major families on the first day, I lived and ate in the company for the following days, and held meetings with software engineers from the R&D department of Lemon Company every day.

The World Wide Web (www) was launched earlier this year and quickly became popular in the field of scientific research.

However, the World Wide Web is just a system of text-linked HTML files, which can be easily accessed using a browser.

Currently, the World Wide Web is inaccessible to ordinary people except in the field of scientific research.

In order to quickly popularize the World Wide Web on personal computers, Li Qingfeng planned to organize the software engineers of Lemon Company to write a software that can read HTML files, commonly known as a browser.

The software engineers at Lemon Company were all battle-hardened and experienced. After understanding Qingfeng Li's intention, they patted their chests and guaranteed that they could write a fully functional software in two months at most.

Li Qingfeng had an idea of ​​the capabilities of the company's programmers. Since they dared to pat their chests and guarantee that they could complete the task within two months at most, it meant that if they worked overtime, they should be able to complete it within a month.

Therefore, Li Qingfeng asked Fang Wanzhen to give everyone a generous bonus and asked them to work overtime in the company to write code during the New Year holidays, so as to complete the software within a month.

Dozens of top programmers at Lemon Company, with a stack of bonuses equivalent to half a year's salary on their desks, are typing away at their keyboards in pain and joy.
Li Qingfeng looked at the programmers who were working hard to complete their work, nodded with satisfaction, picked up his suitcase and leisurely ran to the airport, bought a plane ticket to Tokyo, and fulfilled last year's bet.

"What did you say? Kudo Keiko no longer works at the Imperial Hotel?"

"Yes, I asked the Imperial Hotel about the whereabouts of Ms. Kudo Keiko. In October, she was fired by the hotel after being complained by a guest about her poor service attitude. There is no news about her current whereabouts."

In the Tokyo branch of Lemon Company, Li Qingfeng listened to the reports of the employees and secretly regretted that he had forgotten to send someone to keep an eye on her.

Rubbing his brows, Li Qingfeng said helplessly: "Mobilize people to try to find it, and tell me when you find it."

"Ha Yi" (End of this chapter)