Chapter 114: The Tide Rises on the Qiantang River

Ning Wenge's expression was very firm. She wanted to gamble for the Ning family. If this electrical appliance mall in Europe could really survive, then this investment might become a retreat for Ning's Trading Company in the future. Even if the company in Hong Kong collapsed one day, relying on this investment, the Ning family would have a chance to make a comeback.

It wasn't just Ning Wenge who had such thoughts. Other wealthy people in Hong Kong were also investing all over the world. Even the royal families of Japan and Britain, and Middle Eastern oil countries, were all making big moves to buy land, buildings, and companies overseas. Besides increasing income, it was all just in case.

"Manager Yao!"

In the lounge, seeing Yao Luoying come over, a girl who served as an administrative assistant at Dongling High-Tech ran over immediately.

When Yao Luoying was an assistant manager, she had been in charge of both the personnel and administrative departments. Many of the people in these two departments now were recruited by her personally. Like the little assistant Zhu Tong in front of her, she was recruited by Yao Luoying during an interview.

Seeing Yao Luoying, who had made a cup of coffee, looking toward the conference room, Zhu Tong smiled and said to Yao Luoying, "Manager Yao, do you want me to help you go in and take a look? Li Zong and that Ning Zong from Hong Kong have been in there for quite a long time!"

"What are you thinking about in your little head? Ning Zong is here to talk business, here to send money to Dongling High-Tech. If they, these agents, don't come, where would the money come from to pay your salary!" Yao Luoying knocked on Zhu Tong's head, saying angrily and amusedly.

Zhu Tong covered her head, saying with a bitter face, "Manager Yao, I'm doing this for your sake. You didn't see it. Just now when I went into the conference room to pour water, that woman's eyes were almost nailed to Li Zong. You don't know how many women are thinking about our Li Zong now. Now Li Zong is our Hanxi's richest man, and there are rumors from the provincial capital that Li Zong is the richest diamond bachelor in Hanxi.

How many women want to marry Li Zong and fly onto a branch to become a phoenix!"

There was no rich list domestically yet, but various media in Hong Kong had their own estimated rich lists. However, the authoritative one was the Asian Rich List produced by Forbes in Hong Kong. With Dongling High-Tech's revenue, Li Dongling would definitely be on the list; the difference was just the ranking. But in Hanxi, many media had already privately put the title of Hanxi's richest man on Li Dongling.

This wasn't groundless speculation. Although Hanxi now had brands like Yellow River TV, Changling Refrigerator, Qinling Electrical Appliances, and Double Gull Washing Machines, most of these were state-owned companies. Even if these brands were counted, whether their revenue was higher or lower than Dongling High-Tech's was hard to say, but in terms of profit, Dongling High-Tech absolutely crushed them.

Not to mention that Dongling High-Tech also earned foreign exchange, and Dongling High-Tech was a completely private company, and Li Dongling was the absolute major shareholder. Saying Li Dongling was Hanxi's richest man wasn't wrong.

But in this era that still emphasized not revealing one's wealth, there were still some taboos regarding net worth and wealth, fearing the situation of "a pig fearing to be famous," being slaughtered as a fat pig.

But a few years later, with the change in social atmosphere, wealth became a symbol of strength and status. There were no taboos about these things, and even entering the rich list could improve the company's and brand's popularity. Bank loans would be easier, and they could become guests of honor when investing in various places. Countless individuals and families were proud to enter the rich list.

But this list referred to the Forbes Asian List, not that "pig-slaughtering list" that made countless people tremble—the Hurun Rich List. The two had essential differences.

Listening to Zhu Tong's words, Yao Luoying felt some agitation in her heart, but she still kept a straight face, pointed her finger at her forehead, and said with hatred for her lack of success, "Put your mind on proper business and think less about those things.

How long have you been in the company, and you still haven't become a supervisor? Those who joined later than you are already managing several people, and their salaries have grown by a large margin. You just know how to eat all day!"

Being criticized, Zhu Tong wasn't angry, hugging Yao Luoying's arm, "That's because they went to other places to be supervisors. I want to stay at the headquarters and scout for news for Sister Luoying!"

Yao Luoying was somewhat crying and laughing, but she couldn't do anything about this Zhu Tong she had recruited personally. Zhu Tong's work ability wasn't bad, but she just wasn't the competitive type. Most of her monthly salary went into her stomach, and her relationship with Yao Luoying was quite good.

The conference room door was pushed open. Yao Luoying saw Li Dongling and Ning Wenge walk out. Ning Wenge also noticed Yao Luoying.

"Ning Zong, it's not easy to come to Hanxi once. This time, on behalf of Dongling High-Tech, I will do my best to be a host for you!" Yao Luoying walked over and said to Ning Wenge.

Ning Wenge heard the meaning in Yao Luoying's words and smoothed her short hair, "This time it's not necessary. Next time, Manager Yao, if you go to Hong Kong, I will definitely host you!"

"See you in Hong Kong!"

Ning Wenge's gaze stayed on Li Dongling for a few moments, and after leaving a sentence, she walked toward the outside with several people from Ning's Trading Company.

Seeing Ning Wenge, who had just said they would eat together, directly wanting to return to Hong Kong, Li Dongling was somewhat puzzled. Seeing Ning Wenge leave, Yao Luoying rolled her eyes at Li Dongling and also left angrily, leaving Li Dongling even more confused, not knowing what was wrong with these two women who usually lived half a map apart.

"Wan Dai Company has acquired the global patent and copyright of the electronic pet machine!"

Makoto Yamashina, who had just returned to Japan, announced to the outside world as soon as he landed that Wan Dai had obtained the copyright for the electronic pet machine.

As soon as the news came out, Wan Dai's stock price immediately soared. Everyone knew that the electronic pet machine was a cash cow now. Wan Dai getting it would definitely earn more than it did in Dongling High-Tech's hands!

"Wan Dai electronic pet machines will launch a new generation of electronic pet machines for users, and will link with IPs like Ultraman, Gundam, Dragon Ball, and Godzilla to launch collection and limited-edition electronic pet machines!

Next year, Wan Dai will sell 30 million electronic pet machines!"

Makoto Yamashina shouted spiritedly at the Wan Dai board meeting to a group of directors and representatives of investment institutions that next year, they would complete the sales volume of 30 million electronic pet machines.

When the media spread Makoto Yamashina's words, Wan Dai's stock price had already started to go crazy. As for whether Wan Dai could complete such sales volume, the media wasn't worried. After all, when it was in Dongling High-Tech's hands, this year's electronic pet machine sales volume was expected to exceed 18 million units. In Wan Dai's hands, not to say double, an annual shipment volume exceeding 30 million units wasn't excessive, right?!

"This will be the most valuable acquisition in commercial history. Wan Dai has obtained a gold mine!"

The Yomiuri Shimbun in Japan boasted that Wan Dai had obtained a gold mine. It wasn't just the Yomiuri Shimbun; after hearing that Wan Dai had acquired the electronic pet machine copyright from Dongling High-Tech, a bunch of Japanese media began to boast about Wan Dai and Makoto Yamashina's wise manipulation.

"250 million USD?"

"No, this is an acquisition worth over 3 billion USD, or even more. Makoto Yamashina is the most underestimated president!" The Nihon Keizai Shimbun boasted even more blatantly.

There were even more media belittling Dongling High-Tech, "We don't know what magic President Makoto Yamashina used to persuade Dongling High-Tech to give up electronic pet machines, but Dongling High-Tech will regret this transaction for the rest of its life!"

And when the news reached the domestic market, it caused an uproar. Although there were already many counterfeit manufacturers domestically producing electronic pet machines, they were sold domestically and couldn't sell them overseas. Dongling High-Tech, which could export overseas, had now sold the patent. This was a project that could earn foreign exchange, so the news naturally caused public opinion to explode directly.

Even though Dongling High-Tech announced that it could still do OEM production of electronic pet machines and could still earn foreign exchange income from electronic pet machines, it couldn't calm public opinion.

"Short-sighted," "narrow-minded," giving up a gold mine of foreign exchange for temporary profit—all kinds of scolding poured toward Dongling High-Tech.

There were even several large media outlets that didn't mention Dongling High-Tech's name, but everyone knew they were talking about Dongling High-Tech. The report believed that Dongling High-Tech was somewhat "too hasty" in this matter. Clearly, electronic pet machines were still selling hot, yet they sold the electronic pet machine patent.

"This is I don't know how many times we've heard of domestic companies or brands being acquired by foreign companies!

We don't know why Dongling High-Tech sold the electronic pet machine patent, but the wood is already a boat. This might be the best-selling and most popular product globally in the history of domestic products, but now it has been taken away by a foreign company. We should remember this tragic day, and history will also remember the culprit who caused all this!"

Other media criticized it even more bluntly, directly pointing the finger at Dongling High-Tech, treating Dongling High-Tech as the sinner for the loss of domestic brands.

However, facing this public opinion, after Dongling High-Tech responded a few times, it stopped responding. Dongling High-Tech was a completely private company. Even if public opinion was loud, it couldn't affect the interior of Dongling High-Tech. If it were a state-owned company, it would have exploded long ago.

Public opinion was only one aspect. The key was that shortly after Makoto Yamashina returned to Japan, Dongling High-Tech received a collective price increase notice from Japanese companies like Toshiba, Sharp, and Sanyo. The price increase for parts was generally over 20%. Dongling High-Tech needed to deal with this trouble!

This price increase had a considerable impact on a group of domestic tech companies, including Sitong, Lenovo, Gree, Haier, and others, who were all somewhat worried, not knowing if this price increase would affect them. After all, many core parts of domestic companies also relied on imports, and Japanese parts were a large part of them.

After receiving the price increase, Dongling High-Tech didn't go around the world arguing with companies like Toshiba, but sent out multiple teams to Yanjing, Shanghai, Yangcheng, and other places to find substitutes for parts.

At the same time, in an office building in the provincial capital, a sign was also hung low-key: "Dongxin Semiconductor Company"!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 115 =====