Chapter 1344

For Engineer Ni, Zhou Andong had heartfelt respect: "I have always firmly believed that this dream will definitely be realized. And I have already restarted the R&D of the lithography machine, so we will manufacture our own chips."

Engineer Ni sighed: "I have exchanged ideas with Professor Lin more than once. He has a very deep understanding and cognition not only in the field of lithography machines but also in chip R&D. Every exchange gives me great inspiration."

Zhou Andong said with a smile: "It seems I've found a treasure."

"Indeed." Engineer Ni said very seriously: "Indeed found a treasure."

At this time, Chen Guofeng interjected and asked: "Chairman Zhou, I heard from Qingjun that you are going to invest funds and enter the computer field?"

"Yes!" Zhou Andong nodded: "I am investing huge funds to develop lithography machines and chips. If I don't build my own computer brand, it really wouldn't make sense."

This was the first time Engineer Ni heard this information, and he said excitedly: "Chairman Zhou, are you really going to invest funds to enter the computer field?"

"Of course!" Zhou Andong said very seriously: "After the New Year, we will establish Yuzhou Computer Technology Company. Engineer Ni, you will serve as the Chief Engineer, just like you did at Lenovo.

But I will give you the greatest autonomy; the company's General Manager has no right to interfere with your work. You only need to be responsible to me alone. No matter what requirements you have, report directly to me."

Engineer Ni was so moved that his voice was a bit choked: "More than ten years ago, I was invited to the National Research Council of Canada for exchange and lecturing. Seeing the vigorous development of foreign semiconductor technology and thinking about our country's lagging semiconductor technology, my heart was very heavy.

At that time, computers had just started being used, belonging to a hazy starting period, and the price was expensive—buying one required 15,000 to 20,000, and it required foreign exchange certificates.

However, even if we spent a lot of money to buy expensive computers, the screens were all in English, which made me very dissatisfied. So during my lecturing period in Canada, I developed and manufactured a computer Chinese character display system."

As long as you are Chinese and pay attention to the history of China's computer development, who doesn't know the names of Engineer Ni and the Han card?

Zhou Andong's heart stirred: "Engineer Ni, was the Han card system developed by you during your lecturing period in Canada?"

"Yes!" Engineer Ni said: "After I returned to China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Computing Technology Development Company was established, which is Lenovo. I was appointed Chief Engineer and brought the Han card into the company, handing it over to Lenovo for use without compensation."

Zhou Andong blinked: "Did you sign a contract with Lenovo? For example, exclusive usage rights, usage duration, and the like?"

"No!" Engineer Ni shook his head: "I am the company's Chief Engineer. Isn't it very normal for the Chinese character display system I developed to be handed over to the company for use? Why sign a contract?"

Zhou Andong laughed. These older generation scientists are truly dedicating themselves selflessly and never asking for anything in return.

"Engineer Ni, our Yuzhou computers will definitely also use the Han card. When the time comes, we must sign a contract and pay you fees."

Engineer Ni hurriedly said: "Use it if you want to use it; no need to sign any contract, and no need to pay money."

"No!" Zhou Andong said seriously: "That is your labor achievement. If the company wants to use it, it must pay you. Don't say this was developed before you came to the company. As long as there are any R&D achievements in the future, the company will also issue bonuses to R&D personnel.

You brought your team to this small city in the Northeast, whether because of the ideals in your heart or because of the dream of a strong nation, as your boss, I must ensure you have no worries behind you.

Let the parents, wives, and children of every scientific researcher live a good life, let them be able to devote themselves wholeheartedly to their work. For the ideals in their hearts, for the dream of a strong nation, and for the future of the company."

Whether it's Engineer Ni or the old director Chen Guofeng, these older generation scientists have always had hot blood.

Now hearing Zhou Andong's words, besides being moved, they felt the blood in their bodies showing signs of wanting to burn.

For Engineer Ni, the old director, and the more than twenty top-tier experts poached, Zhou Andong offered an annual salary of 100,000 US dollars.

In this era, in China at this time, such an annual salary was absolutely an astronomical figure.

And Zhou Andong offering such high salary benefits wasn't something done on a whim; he had his own considerations.

Because Lin Benjian and several other foreigners poached were offered annual salaries of 120,000 to 150,000 US dollars.

If he gave less, why would foreigners want to stay and work in poor and backward China?

Therefore, offering Engineer Ni and the old director an annual salary of 100,000 US dollars was to ensure they didn't have too much of a sense of disparity compared to Lin Benjian, and it was also a kind of respect for their knowledge.

In addition, there is the most important point: Engineer Ni's annual salary during his exchange lecturing period in Canada was 50,000 Canadian dollars. You must know that was the early 1980s, and at that time, the Canadian dollar was very strong, with an exchange rate to the US dollar of almost one-to-one.

More than ten years have passed. No matter what Engineer Ni's salary was after returning to China, Zhou Andong offering an annual salary of 100,000 US dollars now is really not much at all.

As for the salary benefits of other scientific researchers, Zhou Andong naturally wouldn't be stingy either. High monthly salaries were over 10,000, and low ones were over 3,000. Although calculated in RMB, it was absolutely a high salary.

And, Engineer Ni and the old director taking US dollars can also motivate the scientific researchers below. Who doesn't want to exchange the RMB behind their salary into US dollars?

Zhou Andong took a turn around Laboratory No. 5 and understood the R&D progress of the storage chip before coming out.

"Old Director, Engineer Ni, I'll eat at the research institute tonight; let's have a drink then."

"Okay!" The old director and Engineer Ni agreed with a smile, then turned and returned to the laboratory.

"Chairman Zhou!" Li Hongyan asked: "Where are we going next?"

Zhou Andong said: "Go see Lin Benjian."

"He's in Laboratory No. 11." Li Hongyan walked toward the corridor opposite first.

Zhou Andong glanced at Liu Qingjun, who hadn't spoken: "Old Liu, after the New Year, we'll establish the computer company. Is there a suitable candidate for General Manager?"

Liu Qingjun said without thinking: "Old Xu!"

Xu Jiangshan is the Party Secretary of the electronics factory. Originally, the city wanted to arrange a new place for him, but he didn't leave and instead stayed behind.

However, he stayed, but his position was a bit awkward because the electronics factory was acquired, and the position of Party Secretary was abolished.

At this time, Xu Jiangshan was just assisting Liu Qingjun in managing the electronics factory, becoming a nominal Deputy Factory Director.

Actually, Zhou Andong had also thought of Xu Jiangshan; asking Liu Qingjun was just out of respect for him.

"Okay!" Zhou Andong nodded: "When you have time, you can chat with him and give him a hint so he can have some mental preparation."