Chapter 2843

Seeing Jian Qiu laughed: "Bai Muyun is almost ninety years old, and she has no children. It is said that she has decided to donate half of her assets to the country. One could say that at this point, she has no desires or demands, so there is no possible conflict of interest with us, and naturally she would not come to provoke us."

Zhou Andong asked curiously: "Since she has no children, why did she only donate half?"

Seeing Jian Qiu explained: "She still has three older brothers, two older sisters, and one younger brother. Because of her, her father and two older brothers were persecuted to death during the turbulent times, but they left behind descendants.

So, the children of her brothers and sisters and younger brother together number more than ten. When she returned to the country, her first action was to seek out relatives. After finding them, she took out forty-five percent of her shares and distributed them."

Zhou Andong said with a smile: "No wonder she is a traitor—her mind is sharp. She used half of her assets to buy herself a burial plot, and used the other half to buy mourning clothes for her nephews and nieces to wear when they sweep her tomb and burn paper offerings."

Upon hearing Zhou Andong's words, Seeing Jian Qiu slowed her jogging pace and stopped. After taking a few steps, she resumed running: "Many people say that Bai Muyun donated half of her assets to the country as an act of atonement. But hearing you say that, I feel it makes more sense."

"Atonement?" Zhou Andong snorted: "A person who sold out the country, sold out her comrades—a traitor—whether she feels guilty or not, I don't know, but I know she is absolutely a self-interested individual.

She donated half of her assets to the country; perhaps there is a hint of atonement, but the main reason is certainly to buy herself peace after death. For she does not know whether, after her death, someone will dig up her grave, crush her bones, and scatter her ashes."

Seeing Jian Qiu nodded thoughtfully: "The way you put it, I am more certain that what you said is the truth. Although she once was a traitor, she returned to invest in our country during its most difficult time and donated half of her assets to the nation. The authorities will surely remember this favor.

Moreover, she divided her other half of assets among her nephews and nieces, so after her death, someone will offer incense and burn paper for her, tend to her burial plot, allowing her to lie peacefully there without disturbance."

Zhou Andong asked again: "How much assets does she have?"

"I don't know the exact amount." Seeing Jian Qiu shook her head: "Probably around ten or so billion US dollars."

"Not a small sum!" Zhou Andong laughed: "Even if she donates half, that's five hundred million US dollars—enough to do many things."

Seeing Jian Qiu did not continue the topic, but said: "Yesterday, I went shopping with Meng Jiao in the mall and saw that many new VCD brands had appeared, priced at only over two thousand."

Zhou Andong asked: "How are the sales of Yuzhou?"

Seeing Jian Qiu said with a smile: "Yuzhou VCD advertisements are everywhere, and its domestic reputation is absolutely among the best. Meng Jiao and I looked around the home appliances section for a while, and most people were asking about our Yuzhou VCD."

Zhou Andong asked again: "How are the sales of Wan Yan?"

Seeing Jian Qiu sighed: "Wan Yan has already released version 2.0, but due to pricing issues, customers merely ask a simple question and then leave."

Zhou Andong felt helpless inside, for in this life, because of his participation, the first batch of VCDs to hit the market had reaped a lot of gains. Therefore, compared to the previous life, Wan Yan's situation in this life has improved significantly. Yet he never expected that Lao Meng and Lao Sun would still, as in the previous life, stubbornly hold onto prices without loosening their grip.

Seeing Jian Qiu said: "Looking at this situation, Wan Yan will not be able to hold on for long; it will definitely lower prices."

Zhou Andong looked up toward the distance and said softly: "The VCD price war is very likely to occur earlier than I had estimated."

In the previous life, the VCD price war began in 1996, when Aiduo fired the first shot. But in this life, because Wan Yan has substantial funds in hand, and coupled with sales that have not picked up, perhaps the price war in this life will be launched by Lao Meng and Lao Sun.

Seeing Jian Qiu tilted her head to look at Zhou Andong: "You mean, because Wan Yan's sales are poor, it will soon launch a price war?"

"Possible!" Zhou Andong said thoughtfully: "Because the first batch of Wan Yan VCDs reaped a lot of gains, Lao Meng and Lao Sun have the confidence to launch a price war."

Seeing Jian Qiu pondered and said: "Although they have reaped a lot of gains, that money cannot sustain a price war. So, I fear that Lao Meng and Lao Sun lack the courage to launch a price war."

Zhou Andong gave a hey laugh: "Rest assured, with me here, their courage will be great."

Seeing Jian Qiu gave a puff laugh: "Lao Meng and Lao Sun knowing you is their misfortune for eight lifetimes."

"What nonsense are you speaking?" Zhou Andong said dissatisfied: "Whether or not a price war is launched, Wan Yan's fate is sealed. Once Wan Yan goes bankrupt, Lao Meng and Lao Sun will become unemployed. I gave them an opportunity to enter the home appliance sector and also gave them shares—that is giving them a fortune."

"Alright, alright, alright!" Seeing Jian Qiu said helplessly: "You are a great benevolent person, alright."

Zhou Andong said proudly: "I am originally a kind, pure-hearted man."

Seeing Jian Qiu's mouth twitched slightly, and she asked: "Once the price war begins, how should we respond? Should we prepare a countermeasure in advance?"

Zhou Andong said with great momentum: "Rest assured, all advantages are with me."

Seeing Jian Qiu asked temptingly: "Besides not lacking money, I cannot think of any other advantage."

"Patents!" Zhou Andong gave a sinister laugh: "Once the price war begins, we will start negotiating patent fees with them."

Seeing Jian Qiu asked: "You have not collected patent fees domestically all this time—are you just waiting for the day the price war begins?"

"Yes!" Zhou Andong said with a smile: "Sony has already paid the patent fees and become a benchmark. Hitachi and Siemens, those international giants, are still in talks, mainly due to price disagreements, but results will come soon.

You say, these international giants have honestly paid the patent fees, while these domestic brands are just lawless, and even if local protectionism is severe, the authorities must consider international influence, so we will definitely win any lawsuit. It's just a matter of how much the patent fee will be."

"Once the patent fee is paid, we will already be in an invincible position." Seeing Jian Qiu smiled and glanced at her man: "I feel that the bad water in your belly has risen again."

"If you cannot speak properly, just shut your mouth." Zhou Andong gave Seeing Jian Qiu a glance: "Next, we need to layout VCD discs. We have acquired Sony Entertainment, and combined with the copyrights acquired by Wan Yan, whether it is film sources or song copyrights, we are not lacking."

Saying this, Zhou Andong paused, then continued: "We control over 300,000 stores of the supply and marketing cooperative, covering all cities and towns nationwide.

Each store can establish a VCD disc rental point. At that time, buying a Yuzhou VCD will come with a rental card for five mao per card. Without a rental card, one yuan per disc……"