[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-reborn-starting-from-1993":3,"chapter-reborn-starting-from-1993-reborn-starting-from-1993-chapter-32":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Reborn Starting from 1993",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2357016,4611,"Chapter 32: Men Die for Wealth, Birds Die for Food","reborn-starting-from-1993-chapter-32",32,"\u003Cp>Arriving at the employee dormitory of the Xiyuan Electronic Engineering Research Institute, which was also a long corridor-style building, Li Dongling and Gao Peng asked a few people along the way and found the room where Chen Tao and his wife lived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before they could knock, they heard a burst of arguing inside, followed by a woman’s crying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No salary again—this is already several months! Everyone else gets paid, but not you, right?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we don’t get paid soon, just let me and the kid starve to death!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You promised us a married couple’s unit when the institute got new housing, but now everyone’s moved in, and only then do they tell you there’s no room for you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the room, his wife’s crying made the child cry too, filling Chen Tao with frustration—he had to soothe them both: “Tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll go demand my salary from the institute’s bosses. If they won’t pay, I’m quitting—I’ll find another company to work for…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he said this, there was a knock at the door. Chen Tao opened it, irritated, and saw Li Dongling and the others standing outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Professor Liu Youguo referred us to you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Li Dongling mention Liu Youguo, Chen Tao quickly said, “Come in, come in…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dongling glanced at the cramped room, packed to bursting—there wasn’t even space to stand, let alone fit several people inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a bit messy—we haven’t had time to clean up!” Chen Tao said, slightly embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Chen, why don’t we talk downstairs?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the term “brother,” Chen Tao’s face brightened slightly: “You’re also a graduate of Jiaotong University!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dongling nodded, glancing behind him at Gao Peng, who carried the items they’d brought into the room. Chen Tao watched all of it closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Downstairs, Li Dongling and Chen Tao entered a restaurant. Chen Tao downed half a bottle of beer, then sighed to Li Dongling: “My brother, I’ve made a fool of myself in front of you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dongling clinked his glass with his: “Back at Jiaotong, I heard plenty about you, Brother Chen. You were the genius of the school—the idol of every freshman!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Chen Tao gave a bitter laugh: “No point talking about past glories—it’s all behind me now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at Jiaotong, Chen Tao had been adored by all; back then, he’d been full of ambition, convinced he’d create something groundbreaking like Giant’s boss Shi, and become famous overnight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after graduation, when he joined the Electronic Engineering Research Institute, endless design revisions dragged on. He applied to develop new products, but always got the same reply: “We’ll discuss it,” followed by silence. The genius from Hanxi Jiaotong had nearly lost his shine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Chen, I’ve come to ask you to lead the Technical Department at Dongling High-Tech. We’re developing two new products, and we need your help!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After downing a bottle of beer, Chen Tao’s mind was still clear. He hesitated: “Brother Li, I won’t lie—I would’ve joined you right away right after graduating from Jiaotong. But now, I’m married, I have a child—I can’t go to Pingyang…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If Brother Chen is willing to move to Pingyang for product development, Dongling High-Tech will pay you no less than seven thousand yuan per month, plus bonuses and year-end rewards. Your wife and child can come too—we’ll offer her a salary as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the future, Dongling High-Tech may even establish a research center in the provincial capital and build housing for employees—then you could return to the city!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Tao couldn’t help swallowing hard. He wondered if he was drunk—but his mind was perfectly clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His current salary? Officially six hundred yuan—but the institute, citing financial hardship, hadn’t paid him in months. Now Dongling High-Tech was offering him ten times that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re not joking?!” Chen Tao gasped at Li Dongling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A gentleman’s word is binding. Dongling High-Tech can advance you one month’s salary right now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with this salary offer—and the seven thousand yuan upfront—Chen Tao had no more hesitation. He rushed back to the corridor dormitory and began packing with his wife for Pingyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just Chen Tao—through him, Li Dongling recruited another seven or eight veteran technicians from the Xiyuan Electronic Engineering Research Institute, and they all returned to Pingyang together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another building beside Dongling High-Tech on Changqing Road was rented out as the company’s R&D laboratory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in Pingyang, Li Dongling held Dongling High-Tech’s first meeting. Financial Manager Hu Zi, Chairman’s Assistant and HR Director Yao Zheng, newly appointed Technical Director Chen Tao, and Logistics Head Li Dongshan and Gao Peng all gathered in the conference room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For a long time ahead, we’ll all be sailing on the same ship—Dongling High-Tech!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hope this ship keeps sailing—and that each of us gets what we want.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dongling looked at the people in the room, then pulled out two sets of blueprints and handed them around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From now on, Dongling High-Tech’s most important projects are developing the digital cordless phone and the scroll-wheel mouse!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All departments and personnel must coordinate to support the Technical Department—no matter the cost—we must launch these two products next year!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yao Zheng stared at the two sets of blueprints. She wasn’t a professional designer, but she knew the mainstream electronics of the time—and she’d never seen products like these before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yao Zheng didn’t know what impact these two products might have on the tech industry, but she was stunned by Li Dongling’s design talent: “Chairman, did you design these yourself?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dongling nodded without comment. He was trained in design—wasn’t it natural for him to design these? Wasn’t it just a matter of having hands?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to Yao Zheng, Chen Tao stared repeatedly at the blueprints, utterly astonished. The designs looked highly complete—he couldn’t spot a single obvious flaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With these blueprints, Chen Tao didn’t need to fumble step by step—he just had to manufacture components matching the specs, run tests, and assemble them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether Li Dongling’s digital cordless phone and scroll-wheel mouse would actually work or perform well—he couldn’t say without seeing a prototype—but just this design ability made Chen Tao think: among all the professors at Jiaotong, few—if any—could outdo Li Dongling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we develop both products simultaneously, the Technical Department still lacks manpower—we need to hire more. We also need to buy specialized lab equipment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Dongling said directly: “Tell HR how many people you need—they’ll recruit. If Pingyang doesn’t have enough, go recruit from the provincial capital!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Make a list of the lab equipment you need. Finance will allocate funds. Logistics’ Procurement Section will buy them. If we can’t find them domestically, buy them from abroad!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dongling told everyone present—his message was clear: no matter the cost, the digital cordless phone and scroll-wheel mouse must be developed by next year!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As manpower, materials, and funds poured in steadily, Dongling High-Tech roared to life like a tank fully fueled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>R&D equipment arrived nonstop in the lab. The Technical Department’s staff swelled to over seventy, and kept growing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dongling was constantly shuttling between the Yuanqi Factory and Dongling High-Tech. The satellite dish project still provided cash flow—he couldn’t abandon it. It had been nearly four months since he returned to Pingyang, and less than a month remained until the New Year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was the day for satellite dish dividends—and the Yuanqi Factory’s payroll day. When Li Dongling arrived, he could feel the entire factory buzzing with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This month, the Yuanqi Factory sold 210,000 satellite dishes—70,000 were pre-orders. Total sales: sixty-three million yuan…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Yuanqi Factory conference room, Zhang Ao reported satellite dish sales. The Guanxing satellite dishes were selling faster than they could be produced—hence the pre-orders, with shipments scheduled for next month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Finance Department, finalize all salaries and bonuses today—distribute them before closing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Xiao told the Finance Section chief, looking cheerful—but once everyone else left and only he and Li Dongling remained, his expression darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slammed his teacup on the table: “Someone from the city government just told me—next month, other companies in Pingyang will launch their own satellite dishes. I never expected to be undercut by outsiders… but by our own people!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Dongling paused—but felt no surprise, let alone anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Guanxing satellite dish had dominated the market for three months. Three months of monopoly—of course competitors would appear. Even if the first ones were backed by the Pingyang city government.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right now, the priority is ramping up production. Send Zhang Ao and his team to southern provinces to open markets—sell satellite dishes there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dongling said. He sensed the satellite dish market still had one final frenzy left—perhaps three more months of booming sales—then the entire industry would turn upside down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s all we can do,” Zhang Xiao said reluctantly, finally sighing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dongling stayed at the Yuanqi Factory until nightfall, finalizing accounts and dividends between the factory and Dongling High-Tech—all requiring his signature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing, he got in the car. Yang Zhi drove him home. The courtyards behind Dongling High-Tech had been renovated and refurbished—he now lived there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dongling entered a four-room courtyard. Externally, it looked no different from other Pingyang homes—but inside, it was far cleaner than any other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the courtyard’s center stood a centuries-old ginkgo tree; in the corner, a pomegranate tree. Other items included old-fashioned tables, chairs, and ornaments—bought by Gao Peng. Whether they were antiques, Li Dongling hadn’t studied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The courtyard had one master bedroom and one guest room, plus a fully equipped kitchen and bathroom. What pleased Li Dongling most was a water heater imported from elsewhere—now he could bathe in winter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, hot-water plumbing wasn’t common—especially in winter, a hot shower wasn’t easy to get.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, Li Dongling took off his coat. The room had a phone, air conditioner, TV, refrigerator, washing machine, radio—and an Aiwa stereo system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dongling sat down and fiddled with the computer. But it wasn’t connected to the internet—he couldn’t post or chat. Still, even if it were, the number of websites, forums, or chat rooms available then was tiny. Many just went overseas to post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After fiddling with the computer, Li Dongling suddenly thought: why not create a website? Give internet veterans a place to chat and boast—and let him join in. Otherwise, China’s internet life would be too dull!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, expecting this site to make money now was pointless. Across the Pacific, the concept of the “information superhighway” had just been proposed—the internet wind hadn’t even blown from the west yet, let alone reached the east.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing the satellite dish market would soon change drastically—and that the old profits were gone—Li Dongling shifted his focus entirely to Dongling High-Tech’s new projects.\u003C\u002Fp>",1777,"2026-06-21T04:42:08.057Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","831b09319c1efda8a2c1ac5c09b3a4337e988344d25d706302a5adb18bffe198","reborn-starting-from-1993-chapter-33","reborn-starting-from-1993-chapter-31",989,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Freborn-starting-from-1993-cover.jpg"]