Chapter 205: Thirty Years East of the River, Thirty Years West of the River

ASML is actively running around.

A few days later, various countries successively announced the cancellation of some restrictive measures in the Semiconductor industry.

This also means that companies like ASML can once again sell Lithography Machines and various other equipment and materials to the Long Country market.

On the second day after the restrictions were lifted.

Marcello, the Vice President of ASML, excitedly arrived in Long Country and took the initiative to negotiate with various well-known chip manufacturing enterprises in Long Country.

His first stop was one of the leaders among Long Country's chip manufacturing enterprises—Longxin International.

In a spacious and bright conference room, Marcello and Longxin International CEO Zhao Haiyang, along with several of their respective subordinates, sat on opposite sides of a long conference table.

"Over the past period of time, the international situation has been tense, and various bills have been introduced one after another, forcing us to make certain decisions..."

Marcello spoke with emotion, mentioning the situation from the previous period; it was both like an old friend chatting and carried a hint of explanation.

Zhao Haiyang acted as if he heard nothing, merely smiling and echoing a few words.

Seeing his cold attitude, Marcello felt a slight chill in his heart and had a bad premonition.

But he still took the initiative to say with a smile:

"During this time, we have actually been lobbying in many ways, hoping to lift the restrictive measures, and it wasn't until yesterday that there was finally a result."

"So we came to Long Country as soon as possible, hoping to resume cooperation with all our partners."

Zhao Haiyang's expression remained unchanged as he smiled:

"This is indeed a good thing; I believe many friendly companies will be happy about this."

"Friendly companies?"

Marcello was stunned for a moment, then reacted, and through this sentence, he confirmed Zhao Haiyang's attitude; the other party couldn't possibly have failed to hear the implications in his words, yet still said it deliberately.

Then there was only one possibility.

The other party had no intention of cooperating with him at all.

This made his heart sink.

Generally speaking, even with the appearance of a new competitor, Zhao Haiyang could not directly refuse their offer of cooperation; at the very least, he would have to talk it over, understand the terms of cooperation, and compare ASML's conditions with those of Tianqi Core Technology.

Yet Zhao Haiyang declined without hesitation.

He didn't even ask about his terms.

This shows that Zhao Haiyang has likely already reached a cooperation agreement with Tianqi Core Technology Company and is no longer considering ASML.

"Then, what prompted Longxin International to decide so quickly on a deal of at least one billion Long Coins, not even wavering when I personally came to visit?"

Several thoughts flashed through Marcello's mind instantly.

He knew that given the value and complexity of Advanced Lithography Machines, even if both sides confirmed their intention to cooperate, the specific cooperation plan would still need to be discussed for several rounds; it could never be finalized in just a few days.

Not to mention that Tianqi Core Technology had just entered the Semiconductor industry, and was unfamiliar with production and sales service processes, so its efficiency could not be that high.

Therefore, even if a cooperation had been reached between Longxin International and Tianqi Core Technology, it was at most just a preliminary intention, and they certainly hadn't even signed a contract.

Then why was Zhao Haiyang's attitude so firm?

Was the product competitiveness of Tianke No. 1 so strong that it convinced Longxin International?

Or was Longxin International harboring resentment because it had been restricted previously? Refusing to cooperate with ASML?

Thinking of this, Marcello maintained an enthusiastic smile on his face, pretending not to hear the other party's refusal, and said directly:

"Actually, our production capacity has gradually increased during this period, and we can basically meet the needs of the major manufacturers in the Long Country market."

"It's not just the major friendly companies; we hope to reach a cooperation with Longxin International first, after all, you are the leader of Long Country's chip manufacturing enterprises."

Seeing that Marcello had finally gotten to the point, Zhao Haiyang could no longer play dumb.

He smiled apologetically:

"I am truly sorry, I may have to let down Mr. Marcello's good intentions; we reached a cooperation agreement with Tianqi Core Technology just a few days ago and purchased their Tianke No. 1."

"If there is an opportunity in the future, we also hope to cooperate with ASML, but it will have to be next time."

Marcello feigned surprise:

"Didn't Tianke No. 1 only hit the market three days ago? You decided on a cooperation so quickly?"

Zhao Haiyang nodded: "That's right."

Marcello seemed not to care about this at all and continued to say with a smile:

"The performance parameters of Tianke No. 1 are indeed very good, but it is a newly launched product after all; compared with our several types of Advanced Lithography Machines, each should have its own strengths and weaknesses. Mr. Zhao might as well bring the products and cooperation terms of both sides to compare."

"Having re-entered the Long Country market after a long time, in order to show our sincerity, we have very high expectations for this cooperation and will also offer considerable concessions in many aspects."

Zhao Haiyang smiled faintly:

"We have already reached a cooperation with Tianqi Core Technology and have no additional needs for the time being."

Marcello persisted:

"In just a few days, you should have at most reached a preliminary intention, right? Since that is the case, it's not like there is no room to choose again."

"In business, profit comes first."

"As long as a formal cooperation agreement has not been signed, you can completely choose a better product. Mr. Zhao might as well consider it seriously; ASML's products are more mature and stable, and the after-sales system is more perfect, which definitely has a considerable advantage."

But Zhao Haiyang still shook his head firmly, and this time his tone was more resolute and blunt.

"Mr. Marcello, although our Longxin International is a business that focuses on profit, we also value reputation and respect our partners."

"Since we have confirmed our intention to cooperate with Tianqi Core Technology Company, we will not consider other similar products at this stage."

"I still have many things to attend to; taking the time to receive you now is already out of consideration for our past cooperation. If Mr. Marcello has nothing else, then please return."

Marcello's expression finally stiffened.

Over the years, ever since they became the unique hegemon in the field of Lithography Machine manufacturing, they have been highly sought after in the global market, and it has always been the chip manufacturers who came to their door fighting to place orders.

Especially after certain measures were introduced previously, ASML was even held up on a pedestal by some people, who were practically begging them to take their orders.

As the Vice President of ASML, when had he ever been as humble as he was today, begging for cooperation?

If it weren't for the board of directors issuing a mandatory order that they must facilitate a partnership with a Long Country chip manufacturer as soon as possible to hedge with such positive news and stabilize the stock market, he wouldn't have had to be so thick-skinned.

But even though he had lowered his face like this and was requesting a partnership with the other party relentlessly, the other party didn't give him any face at all.

Instead, they even issued an eviction order?

This made him completely furious.

The board of directors only required a partnership with a chip manufacturer in Long Country; they didn't say it had to be the company Longxin International.

He had originally only looked at Longxin International because it was the leading enterprise in that industry in Long Country, feeling that this positive news could have a better effect on the stability of the stock market, which is why he was so insistent.

Since the other party didn't know what was good for them, there was no need for him to continue lingering here.

"I'd like to see how long it takes for you to get a Lithography Machine after partnering with Tianqi Core Technology, how long it takes to put it into mass production, and how long it takes to reach stability!"

"Among your peers, there will certainly be those who choose to partner with us. By then, they will be able to enter stable mass production in over half a year, and they will surely be able to use this to turn things around in one fell swoop and become the new leading enterprise in the Long Country chip manufacturing industry!"

"And you at Longxin International will inevitably, because of this failed partnership, slowly degenerate into second-rate, and it is even possible that you will be dragged down by an immature product like Tianke No. 1 and the imperfect after-sales system of Tianqi Core Technology."

"An Advanced Lithography Machine is not as simple as you people in Long Country imagine."

"A year from now, you will taste the bitter fruit of today's attitude. Farewell!"

Marcello stopped being polite, and after coldly saying these words, he stood up angrily, took his few subordinates, and turned to leave the conference room.

Not long after getting into the car and leaving, Marcello happened to receive a phone call.

He took out his mobile phone and looked.

It was precisely the CEO, Sergei.

Marcello's expression immediately turned solemn.

He knew that it was currently night in Europe, and if there wasn't an urgent matter, Sergei wouldn't be calling him.

He hurriedly connected.

"Things are a bit wrong. The attitudes of those few chip manufacturers internationally have all changed somewhat; they seem to be intentionally delaying the progress of negotiations, and it is very likely that they have wavered regarding the partnership."

"How is the situation on your end?"

Sergei's question made Marcello's heart go cold, and he knew how dire the situation was.

Previously, all the major chip manufacturers were doing their best to push forward the progress of the partnership negotiations between the two sides, hoping to get an order from ASML as soon as possible.

But now.

After Tianke No. 1 hit the market and those chip manufacturers went to visit and inspect Tianxin Industrial Park, their attitudes had all wavered one by one, which showed that they all felt the competitiveness of Tianke No. 1 was at the very least not inferior to ASML's Advanced Lithography Machine.

Combined with Zhao Haiyang's attitude, a shadow was cast over Marcello's heart.

He recounted the process just now in a concise and comprehensive manner, and Sergei immediately said:

"Hurry and test the attitudes of the other few Long Country enterprises; you must secure at least one partnership, and if necessary, you can promise more concessions."

"Given our current stock price trend, only the positive news of re-entering the Long Country market can possibly make our stock price rebound; you must not give up easily."

"In addition, I will personally go to investigate why those people changed their attitudes after visiting Tianxin Industrial Park that day. Could it be that Tianke No. 1 has some other huge advantage that hasn't been announced yet?"

After hanging up the phone.

Marcello continued to meet with the other few Long Country chip manufacturers he had scheduled.

But without exception.

Everyone refused his partnership.

One of them even made no effort to hide his attitude and mocked him bluntly:

"Do you really think it's the situation from before where we couldn't do without you? You're still putting on airs; if you really want to beg us, then show the attitude of someone begging."

"When you rejected the Long Country market, you should have thought that one day you would be shut out of the Long Country market. We no longer welcome you."

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river; don't bully us in Long Country for having no one!"

"Don't say your products aren't as good as Tianke No. 1; even if they were still better than Tianke No. 1, we would never choose you."