Chapter 432: with translation of chapter title

May 16, 1983, 8 a. m., the sun in Shenzhen was scorching.

On the central square of the Wanxiang Industrial Park, a temporary stage was draped in red banners; the backdrop was a huge dark‑blue poster bearing, in striking white letters, "Wanxiang Communications – 'Hongyan' BP Pager New Product Launch". In the lower right corner of the poster, a close‑up photo of a black, rectangular device slightly larger than a cigarette pack glimmered with a cool industrial sheen in the sunlight.

In the audience, three to four hundred people sat in a sea of black.

The front rows were filled with reporters; long‑range and short‑range cameras, as well as shoulder‑mounted video cameras, were already aimed at the empty podium.

Behind them were representatives of department stores and appliance distributors from across the country, whispering to each other, clutching order forms, their eyes half curious, half scrutinizing.

Further back, a crowd of citizens and park workers who had rushed here after hearing the news squeezed in, standing on tiptoe to look.

The air was filled with the smell of plastic chairs, sweat, and a certain restless tension.

Li Yaozong stood at the side of the stage, clutching a few scripts in their hand, their palm slightly sweating.

Today they wore a brand‑new navy‑blue suit, a white shirt, and a dark‑red tie—bought specially for them by their mother Lin Xueqing from Hong Kong.

Their hair was meticulously combed, revealing a full forehead. At twenty‑four, the face still bore a hint of youthful naivety, yet the gaze already held a composure beyond their years.

"Yaozong, don't be nervous," He Xiao whispered encouragement beside them, subconsciously pushing his glasses repeatedly, "It's your turn now."

In the audience, Li Ping'an and Chen Jianghe sat at the far edge of the front row, inconspicuous. Li Ping'an remained calm, only occasionally lifting their eyes to glance at the stage, their gaze sweeping over the reporters and businessmen below.

Chen Jianghe, however, seemed a bit excited, tapping a finger lightly on the knee.

At exactly nine o'clock, the music stopped.

The host—a Radio Station announcer brought in from Guangzhou—announced in clear, resonant Mandarin that the launch ceremony was beginning.

After a brief opening, he raised his voice: "Next, please welcome the Vice‑General Manager of Wanxiang Group and the overall project leader of the 'Hongyan' BP Pager, Mr. Li Yaozong, to unveil this epoch‑making communications product for us!"

Applause rose, not fervent but full of anticipation.

Li Yaozong took a deep breath and stepped onto the stage. The spotlights shone on them, somewhat dazzling.

After reaching the podium, they adjusted the microphone height.

"Distinguished guests, dear friends, good morning everyone."

The voice rang through the speakers across the square, clear and steady.

"Before today, if we needed to urgently contact someone on the road, what would we do?"

Li Yaozong began, not by directly introducing the product but by posing a question: "Call his office? What if he isn't there? Search the whole world? Or simply have to wait?"

The audience fell silent.

"Waiting means possibly missing business opportunities, missing important information, even missing crucial contact with family."

Li Yaozong's tone deepened: "The times are accelerating; information is money, efficiency is life. We urgently need a tool that lets people 'be found at any time, find anyone at any time.'"

They turned sideways, pointing at the close‑up of the BP Pager on the poster behind.

"Today, the 'Hongyan' BP Pager brought by Wanxiang Communications is exactly to solve this problem!"

At one side of the stage, a protocol lady carried a velvet‑lined tray onto the stage; on the tray lay the black 'Hongyan' BP Pager.

Li Yaozong picked it up and displayed it to the audience. The device had clean lines, a tiny LCD screen on the front, and a few function buttons below.

"It's very small, can easily fit into a pocket, not hang on the waist."

Li Yaozong spoke while demonstrating not to attach it to a belt buckle, "Its core function is to receive wireless paging signals."

He signaled a staff member to operate it. Soon, the BP Pager in their hand emitted a crisp "beep beep beep", the body trembling slightly. The LCD lit up, showing a string of numbers: "010-".

"Look, this is the telephone number that calls me."

Li Yaozong turned the screen toward the audience, "When users see the number, they can locate a phone nearby to call back. In the future we will upgrade to support short numeric codes, such as '119' for emergencies, '520' for 'return home quickly'…"

A ripple of light laughter and discussion rose from the audience.

"What are its advantages?" Li Yaozong asked and answered himself, "First, immediacy. Information reaches in seconds, no longer missed. Second, mobility. As long as a person is within signal coverage, wherever they go, they can be found. Third, privacy. Information is delivered directly to the individual. Fourth, and most importantly—"

He paused, his gaze sweeping the room.

"It turns every person into a mobile information node. This will change how we live and work!"

Next came the technical specifications and pricing.

"It uses the POCSAG international standard encoding, with stable signals and strong anti‑interference. Powered by a single No. 7 battery, standby lasts up to seven days. Currently our paging base stations cover the entire city of Shenzhen, and we are negotiating networking with major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou; roaming in key cities will be realized soon."

The distributors in the audience began taking rapid notes.

"Regarding the price that everyone cares most about," Li Yaozong raised his voice, "the 'Hongyan' BP Pager costs—one thousand yuan per unit!"

With a "buzz", the audience erupted.

One thousand yuan! Equivalent to nearly two years' wages for an ordinary worker! Many reporters gasped, and the distributors exchanged puzzled looks.

"This price includes the device itself, network entry fee, and one year of basic service fees."

Li Yaozong seemed to have anticipated the reaction and explained calmly, "For enterprises and institutions we offer group‑purchase discounts. For individual users, Wanxiang Bank provides installment payment services. Moreover—"

He picked up the BP Pager again.

"The time it saves, the business opportunities it creates, the value it generates—far exceed that thousand yuan! For merchants, for doctors, for reporters, for anyone who must be on standby and seize the initiative, it is indispensable!"

His tone rang out: "The first one thousand customers who order today will also receive a genuine leather protective case and a spare battery for free!"

The demonstration segment concluded, moving into the Q&A session.

A bespectacled male reporter was the first to raise his hand: "President Li, regarding this high price, how do you anticipate market acceptance? Can ordinary families afford it?"

"Good question," Li Yaozong nodded, "Our primary target is the business and high‑end market. Reform and opening have spawned many sole proprietors, enterprise heads, salespeople who need frequent business contact. For them, the profit from increased efficiency easily covers the equipment cost. As production scales up and technology matures, costs will drop; in the future we will launch more affordable models so more people can use them."

A female reporter asked: "Currently it only displays numbers; will a Chinese‑character version be released in the future?"

"Research and development is already underway," Li Yaozong replied affirmatively. "Chinese character encoding and display are technical challenges, but we are confident we can launch a prototype next year. The 'Hongyan' is only the starting point, not the end."

Questions came one after another—about signal coverage, after‑sales service, competitors… Li Yaozong responded aptly, showing youthful vigor yet retaining composure. Sitting in the audience, Li Ping'an finally let a faint, barely perceptible smile appear at the corner of their mouth.

After the launch event ended, the real storm was just beginning.

The temporary ordering booth set up on one side of the square was instantly packed to the brim with swarming distributors. The available stock—only five hundred units—was sold out within twenty minutes.

Orders flew in like snowflakes; the thick piles of order forms quickly stacked into small hills. The few staff members in charge of registration shouted until their throats went hoarse.

"Beijing Wangfujing Department Store, three hundred units!"

"Shanghai First Department Store, five hundred units!"

"Guangzhou Southern Building, two hundred units!"

"Me, from Shenyang, first a hundred units! Cash! Cash is here!"

The venue was chaotic and feverish. Many dealers who hadn't gotten the spot goods clutched the staff and wouldn't let go, demanding to sign pre‑sale agreements and prepay a Deposit.

From Li Yaozong's Speech and the on‑site reaction, they sniffed a strong business opportunity. This tiny black box might be the next big break!

That night, Shenzhen TV's evening news reported on the press conference for three minutes.

On camera, Li Yaozong explained confidently, the audience below was excited, and the ordering desk was unusually booming.

The next day, from the Southern Daily to the People's Daily (Economics edition), several newspapers ran related news, accompanied by a large photo of Li Yaozong holding a BP Pager. Headlines like "One‑thousand‑yuan 'Hongyan' sparks rush purchase" and "Personalized communication era arrives?" stood out.

The 'Hongyan' BP Pager shot to fame in one blast.

The news grew wings, soaring over mountains and rivers, returning to Beijing, and flying into the brand‑new 'Wanshang Garden' residential complex.

This new community, formed by old Siheyuan residents swapping and relocating, is now full of vitality.

But even the newest buildings cannot lock away the old neighbors' habit of comparing and exchanging news.

Bang Geng's situation is now a far cry from before. His 'Gengji Small Shop' has become a three‑store chain, mainly selling cigarettes, alcohol, sweets, tea and trendy trinkets; business is booming. The night the press‑conference news aired on TV, he made a long‑distance call to Shenzhen—he can now afford a Telephone.

The next day, using his connections and citing 'urgent business need', he paid extra to get a 'Hongyan'.

When he rode his brand‑new Suzuki motorcycle (also newly bought) back to the complex and deliberately exposed the BP Pager hanging at his waist, he instantly became the focus.

"Yo, Bang Geng, what's this thing? All black." Yan Bu Gui, strolling downstairs, pushed up his glasses and leaned in to look.

"Third Elder, this is a BP Pager, a beeper!" Bang Geng deliberately raised his voice, took it out, "See? Someone calls me, it rings, the screen shows the number. It costs a thousand."

"A thousand?" Liu Haizhong, playing chess nearby, twitched his hand, the piece almost fell, "Robbing money?"

"Uncle Liu, you can't put it that way."

Bang Geng beamed proudly, "With this, when a client calls I'm there instantly; can business not be booming? This is an investment!"

Just then, the BP Pager went "beep‑beep‑beep", a number flashed on the screen. Bang Geng saw it and grew even more smug: "Look, another order! I must quickly return a call!"

He sprinted—tap tap tap—to the relay room with a public Telephone, leaving a group of old neighbors murmuring in amazement, their eyes complex.

Sha Zhu also bought one. It was arranged by Ma Dongmei. He is now the executive head chef of 'Tan Family Old Flavor', overseeing the food quality of five branches, sometimes needing to handle sudden back‑kitchen issues at a branch.

"Zhuzi, you're a leader now, you need to look the part," Ma Dongmei, fastening it to his belt, examined him from left to right, "Alright, spirited! This thousand is worth it! Whenever any shop has an issue, you can be found instantly."

Sha Zhu chuckled dumbly, patted the BP Pager, feeling his back straighter.

While inspecting the cafeteria, he would occasionally lift his white coat, letting the black device show. The junior apprentices cast envious glances, which he enjoyed greatly.

Xu Damao, guarding a snack stall at the cinema entrance, also heard about it.

He watched Bang Geng roar by on his motorcycle, the conspicuous black box hanging at his waist, feeling a sour pang bubbling inside.

He gritted his teeth, tallied his savings—he could afford it, yet his wallet ached. In the end, he spat, muttering, "What's the swagger? Show‑off!"

Jia Zhangshi now lives in a spacious bright three‑bedroom, feeling pleased, but seeing Bang Geng spend a thousand on such a trinket, she habitually nagged, "Sucker! How many kilos of meat can a thousand buy?" Yet when the neighboring old ladies envied and asked about "your grandson's calling device", she scoffed outwardly but a smile line crept onto her face: "Hey, youngster, wasteful spending!"

Shenzhen, Wanshang Industrial Park.

The joy of the successful press conference was quickly replaced by massive production pressure.

The 'Hongyan' BP Pager's production line, beside a garment factory, was originally just a trial line with a couple dozen workers.

Now, orders are booked three months out, and demand continues exploding.

Li Yaozong and He Xiao have been sleeping in the office for three consecutive days. Their eyes are blood‑shot, yet they are extremely exhilarated.

"Yaozong, component inventory only lasts two weeks!"

He Xiao pointed to the report, "Especially that Custom LCD screen and encoded chip; the Japanese supplier's capacity is tight, delivery will be delayed."

"Press! Even with higher price, press!" Li Yaozong's voice hoarse, "Also, have the procurement department immediately look for second and third suppliers, domestic or foreign, any! We can't have our neck squeezed by a single source."

"We're short of workers!" the production manager rushed in, "The current line can't sustain three shifts, the newly hired workers aren't trained fast enough, defect rate is rising!"

"Temporarily pull skilled female workers from the garment and motorcycle factories, pairing veterans with newbies!"

Li Yaozong made an instant decision, "Double the training‑period wages! Tell every worker to hold on for these two months; meet the output target and everyone gets a special bonus!"

The whole industrial park sprang into action. Recruitment notices covered the main gate, and applicants lined up in a long queue.

The new production workshop was being urgently renovated, machines installed and debugged through the night.

Trucks continuously hauled raw materials in and whisked away packaged goods. Lights shone bright, voices roared, and the machines' roar rang through the night.

Li Ping'an stood on the R&D center's top floor, looking at this bustling, slightly chaotic scene.

He didn't intervene much, merely had Chen Jianghe allocate funds to secure the supply chain and labor costs, and had Wang Dahu strengthen park security and order maintenance.

This is Li Yaozong's battlefield; he must shoulder it himself.

It's late at night.

Li Ping'an returned to the Siheyuan in Houhai. It was much quieter, only a few scattered old residents still lived there. He entered the study, opened a drawer, and inside lay a 'Hongyan' BP Pager, serial number 0001. He picked it up, rubbing the cold plastic case.

The one‑thousand‑yuan price was set by him. It had to ensure a sizable profit for R&D and expansion, while creating a threshold to shape a high‑end early brand image. The market's feverish response proved his gamble was right.

But this is only the first step. The BP Pager's success is like a lever, prying open the wireless personal communication market's door and stirring massive capital flow and attention.

These will flow back into even more cash‑intensive, tougher R&D fields—Big‑brother phone, English, CNC machine tool, Chip…

Outside the window, Beijing City's lights faded one by one. Yet far to the south in Shenzhen, Wanshang Industrial Park remained sleepless.

There, his son's young team fights on, the roaring production line creates wealth, and in a quiet lab, Chinese‑Soviet experts tackle one technical stronghold after another.

Li Ping'an put the BP Pager back into the drawer.

This 'Hongyan' that took flight first brings not only orders and wealth, but also a signal—a tide of a rapidly surging era belonging to him, already unstoppable. And he knows an even bigger wave lies ahead.