Chapter 333: Not Taking the Beaten Path

The group walked toward the campus. The dormitory conditions at Yan University at this time could not be called very good. In fact, the accommodation conditions at domestic universities were all about the same; air conditioning, private bathrooms, and four-person rooms were things one shouldn't even dream of.

Upon arriving downstairs at the dormitory building, Li Dongyue, this girl, did not let Li Dongling follow her up to help tidy up the bed or anything.

"Second Brother, I can handle it myself. Back at school, didn't I always tidy up myself? Those people over there are still waiting for you!"

Although Li Dongyue hadn't done any heavy labor at the Li family home, she wasn't a delicate little girl either. In the past few years, the Li family had gotten on its feet, so she didn't need to help with the busy farming seasons anymore. However, when the Li family was busy with farming in the past, she would always follow them into the fields to help whenever she was on break.

Li Dongyue pushed Li Dongling away. Song Zhiliang, Zhang Yufeng, and the others were waiting to the side, clearly having matters they wanted to discuss with Li Dongling. Li Dongyue had seen this scene in Pingyang more times than she could count, so how could she not know what was going on?

Li Dongling smiled and shook his head, saying to Li Dongyue, "Alright then. I'll be in Yanjing for these next few days. When you have time, call the people from your dorm, and we'll have a meal together."

"These next few days, I plan to purchase some real estate here in Yanjing. If you need to, you can live off-campus."

"By the way, find time to get a driver's license. I'll leave a few cars here in Yanjing for you..."

Nowadays, the driver's license examination wasn't difficult, and it wasn't even that standardized. As long as you found a scalper and paid the money, you could get a license whether you showed up or not.

Li Dongling didn't need Li Dongyue to get that license, but rather for her to learn how to drive. Although Wang Yan and Huang Jing were around, it was hard to guarantee there wouldn't be times when she needed to drive herself; learning it certainly wouldn't do any harm.

"Got it, Second Brother. How come you're just like Mom? I'm already eighteen; I'm not a little kid anymore." Li Dongyue waved her hand and ran upstairs.

Li Dongling opened his mouth slightly. He still wanted to remind Li Dongyue, this girl, that she needed to keep her eyes peeled when looking at people. Not to mention Li Zhenlin and Wang Xiulan, even Li Dongling didn't want the Li family's little cabbage to be suddenly arched by someone. Watching Li Dongyue's figure, Li Dongling could only shake his head.

"Li Zong, we've already reserved a spot at the restaurant over there. Would you like to have a meal together?"

Founder's head, Zhang Yufeng, said to Li Dongling at this moment. Li Dongling looked at Zhang Yufeng and saw that he might as well have had "I have a favor to ask of Li Dongling" written on his face.

Looking at Zhang Yufeng, then glancing at Song Zhiliang to the side, Li Dongling didn't know what they wanted to discuss, but this almost "stakeout" behavior today clearly meant they weren't discussing anything trivial.

"Then I shall impose upon you!"

"Please!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yufeng couldn't help but show joy on his face. As for inviting Shi Guangyi to go along, he was rejected by the old man, who clearly didn't want to have much to do with Song Zhiliang and Zhang Yufeng, who were tainted with the "stench of copper."

Song Zhiliang didn't mind this. Regarding the matter of universities doing business, not to mention now, even twenty years later, it remained a subject of considerable controversy. Many people believed that universities were places for teaching and research, and once they touched money, the flavor changed.

And within Yan University, there were actually quite a few people who had "opinions" about Song Zhiliang and the others. Beyond the issue of profit distribution, the most significant factor was the emergence of the Yan University Asset Management Company, which caused restlessness within Yan University.

After all, who didn't want to earn more money? Everyone was employed at Yan University, but the salary received at Founder compared to the salary received for teaching at Yan University was almost a world of difference. With such restlessness, how many people were still willing to be a willing ox?

Yet, Song Zhiliang had his own side of the story. The Yan University Asset Management Company served the role of transforming Yan University's industry-academia-research efforts, turning Yan University's R&D into commercial results, and finally using the money earned to promote Yan University's academic research.

If it weren't for the Yan University Asset Management Company, majors like Yan University's physics, chemistry, and mathematics, which required continuous investment, might have long since stagnated.

As for the matter of establishing university-run enterprises, how much effect it had and who was right or wrong might require time to prove. Perhaps it would only become clear in ten or twenty years.

But for Dongling High-Tech, it was necessary to cooperate with more universities. Currently, Dongling High-Tech was already cooperating with universities like Hanxi Jiaoda, Xigongda, and Hagongda, needing the support of the academic and technical giants from these universities.

"I don't know Li Zong's taste. The Chinese chef at this hotel is a master of Lu cuisine, and there is also a French chef. I hope it suits Li Zong's palate!"

After entering a hotel restaurant, Zhang Yufeng took on the role of a local snake, arranging a table of Chinese-Western fusion dishes.

Now was the time when the wind of Western-style culture was blowing most fiercely in the country. Eating Western food was considered to have more status and prestige than eating Chinese food. Not to mention steaks and the like, even eating a meal of burgers, pizza, or spaghetti could become a bragging right. One could imagine the prestige of Western food.

"Dongling High-Tech has really won a breath of fresh air for our domestic companies. The products are sold in Japan, America, Europe, and other places, letting those foreigners use our products too."

"Dongling High-Tech is the company in our tech industry that earns the most foreign exchange. I've long wanted to meet Li Zong for a chat, and today I've finally achieved my wish!"

"This cup, I'll finish first; Li Zong, please feel free!" Saying this, Zhang Yufeng downed a cup of Zhen wine, the same kind used at state banquets.

State banquet wine wasn't just one kind. Over the years, state banquet wine had constantly changed. From Fen wine to Luzhou Laojiao, Yanghe, and Gujing Gong, all had been on state banquets. Zhen wine had also been on state banquets a few years ago.

Li Dongling also raised his glass and took a sip, sizing up Zhang Yufeng before him. Zhang Yufeng, who had spent years running sales and pulling in orders for Founder, had a style clearly different from Song Zhiliang, who still maintained the style of a "cultured person."

Zhang Yufeng's ability was certainly not a problem. Founder's success today was inseparable from the orders Zhang Yufeng pulled in for Founder. One had to know that Founder didn't start making money only after launching the phototypesetting machine.

As early as before that, Founder's predecessor relied on buying computers, printers, recorders, and power supplies from abroad to sell domestically, with annual sales exceeding 25 million. That was 25 million in sales in 1988.

And in this, Zhang Yufeng acted as the vanguard general. His sales ability was extremely outstanding, running all over the country to pull in a large number of orders for Founder.

Zhang Yufeng had ability, but his desire for fame and profit was very heavy, and his desire for control was very strong. In his previous life, after Zhang Yufeng became the head of Founder, he soon had a fierce dispute with Academician Wang, who managed Founder's technical department.

This caused the Founder management faction led by him and the Founder technical department led by Academician Wang to appear within Founder, the two factions being like fire and water. Was this script a bit familiar? In reality, it was a replica of Lenovo.

When Founder's revenue declined, disputes inevitably arose within Founder regarding the right to use funds and whether to continue pouring money into R&D. The management faction and the technical faction fought fiercely. Of course, this also had to do with Zhang Yufeng wanting to monopolize Founder's power.

However, Founder was different from Lenovo. Lenovo's Boss Liu had brilliant methods, holding Lenovo's purse strings and personnel power, and with one act of a sob story, he drove Academician Ni away.

But Founder was different. Academician Wang was Founder's absolute spiritual leader and the inventor of the phototypesetting machine, a figure who was registered at the top. Even Yan University didn't dare to say they would drive Academician Wang away.

Plus, Yan University was Founder's major shareholder. In the end, facing the foul atmosphere within Founder, Yan University simply hit both sides with fifty lashes, removing both of them from the Founder board of directors, but retaining their titles. In reality, they selected a new head for Founder.

But when selecting the fourth head of Founder, Yan University was afraid of repeating the same mistakes, so it played the "mud-mixing" tactic again. Just like when selecting the second head of Founder, it chose a head with less ability. It was this choice that buried the seeds of disaster for Founder.

"Founder is the leader of the domestic tech industry. It has set an example for the domestic tech industry. Fifty years from now, the Founder laser phototypesetting machine will still be the most influential invention product in the mainland in the 20th century!"

Li Dongling said. This wasn't him hard-hyping Founder. Founder's status in the domestic tech industry and in the hearts of the people was no less than the existence of the Chrysanthemum Factory and DJI in his previous life; they were all representatives of domestic "pride-winning machines."

Now, when countless people in the country bought computers and other products, the first brand they chose was Founder. In terms of technical prestige and influence alone, the brands under Dongling High-Tech like Silver Mink, Shenzhou, and Little PHS really might not be able to compare to Founder.

In his previous life, Founder computers once sold to become the second-largest domestic brand, ranking among the world's top eleven computer shippers. It was just that Founder at the time didn't have its heart set on computers or manufacturing.

Computers and phototypesetting machines were no longer in its eyes, thinking that money came too slowly. Instead, it chose the fast-money game of financial leek-cutting, suddenly selling off the computer brand, playing the game of borrowing money to acquire companies, and then going public to cut leeks. It quickly pushed Founder's market value to 360 billion, and then... it couldn't pay its debts and collapsed with a bang.

Hearing Li Dongling's words, Song Zhiliang showed joy on his face. Honestly, he was different from Zhang Yufeng. He was the manager of the Yan University Asset Management Company, and in essence, he still belonged to Yan University's teaching staff, just holding a position in this spot.

For Song Zhiliang, what he needed now was still fame. Only with high fame could he be promoted. The path he walked was, in reality, still an official career, not "jumping into the sea."

But Zhang Yufeng, hearing Li Dongling's words, also showed a smile on his face, but it was a bit of a forced smile. Founder's past prestige and fame were all obtained by Academician Wang and the previous two heads of Founder. He had been the head for less than two months, and these had nothing to do with him.

More importantly, as the head of Founder, what Zhang Yufeng cared about most at this moment wasn't fame, but increasing revenue. Only with high revenue could he reflect the role of this head, could his position sit firmly, and could his backbone stand straight!

Sighing, Zhang Yufeng drank a cup of sullen wine. "What's the use of fame? Compared to Dongling High-Tech, Founder's revenue is too far behind!"

"Dongling High-Tech's Shenzhou phones, Little PHS, and Shenzhou storage are now all sold in overseas markets. The foreign exchange earned is more than Founder's revenue!"

Zhang Yufeng couldn't stop the envy in his words. Mentioning Founder, he sighed again. "Founder's phototypesetting machine can barely be considered the industry ceiling now, but year-round, it only has a few hundred million in revenue. Compared to Dongling High-Tech's products, the profit is even less worth mentioning!"

Li Dongling heard these words but did not speak. To be honest, the path Dongling High-Tech was taking was completely different from the path companies like Fang Zheng were on; Dongling High-Tech was simply not walking the beaten path.

Domestic manufacturers like Founder, Lenovo, Chrysanthemum Factory, Changhong, and Haier were all crossing the river by feeling the stones of overseas companies. Even if there was innovation, launching some new product, it was within a visible range and didn't cross industries.

But Dongling High-Tech was completely different. The path Dongling High-Tech walked was a field that domestic manufacturers, and even foreign manufacturers, hadn't stepped into. It created a track itself. In the early stages, there were simply no opponents. Could it not let Dongling High-Tech gallop and advance wildly?!

If one had to compare, it was like the Han Dynasty, when the General of Agile Cavalry blitzed the Xiongnu. While generals like Li Guang were still slowly looking for the Xiongnu on the grasslands, the General of Agile Cavalry had already opened the global map and headed straight for the Xiongnu's lair.

What Dongling High-Tech was doing now was the same thing. With Li Dongling there, Dongling High-Tech, this ship, at least in terms of direction, didn't need to worry about getting lost. Plus, the new routes found allowed Dongling High-Tech to maintain an astonishing speed, leaving a host of opponents behind!

Seeing Li Dongling not chiming in, Zhang Yufeng had to cough and continue the act. "Now, foreign computer brands are coming aggressively, occupying the domestic mid-to-high-end computer market. Founder is prepared to shoulder the banner of domestic computer brands and do its bit for domestic computer brands!"

Zhang Yufeng said righteously, then looked at Li Dongling. "I heard that Dongxin Semiconductor, invested in by Dongling High-Tech, is developing the first domestic computer chip, as well as other computer components. Founder wants to cooperate with Dongling High-Tech to develop domestic computers together!"

"Cooperating with Founder is Dongling High-Tech's honor. Dongling High-Tech also hopes to be able to develop domestic computers with Founder, letting Founder computers be equipped with domestic computer components!"

Li Dongling directly took the bait. No matter what Zhang Yufeng wanted to play, if Dongxin's chips, Oriental Optoelectronics' panels and screens, and Shenzhou Storage's hard drives could appear on Founder computers, that would definitely be beneficial for companies like Dongxin Semiconductor.

Products like chips, panels, and hard drives could only reduce costs, break even, and finally make money to start upgrading technology and developing next-generation products if the brands purchased were numerous enough and the sales volume was high enough.

With Founder computers' future shipment volume, if they could purchase products from Dongxin, Oriental Optoelectronics, etc., it could increase a large portion of sales for these companies. This could reduce a large portion of the burden on Dongling High-Tech headquarters, so Li Dongling naturally wouldn't be polite.

Hearing Li Dongling take the bait, Zhang Yufeng showed a smile on his face, clinked glasses with Li Dongling again, and then said to Li Dongling, "There is one more thing. I don't know if Li Zong has heard, but Founder Group is going public in Hong Kong!"

"Zhang Zong really has good methods to be able to get Founder public so quickly!"

Li Dongling was also a bit surprised. News of Founder going public had been circulating since Lenovo went public last year. He didn't expect Zhang Yufeng to be able to handle it so quickly.

"Li Zong exaggerates!"

Zhang Yufeng's expression also carried a bit of pride. Operating Founder's IPO was definitely the first great achievement for him after taking office.

Lenovo completed its IPO last year, and its popularity began to soar. Its brand influence even began to exceed Founder's. One had to know that Founder's revenue was higher than Lenovo's at this moment.

Founder also began to anxiously start operating the IPO matter. The media also had wind of it, but he didn't expect the speed to be so fast.

"Now, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange has already passed Founder's IPO application. It is expected that by around December this year, the IPO can be completed."

"I don't know if Li Zong has any interest in letting Dongling High-Tech subscribe to Founder's issued shares?"

Li Dongling looked up at Zhang Yufeng in surprise, suspecting that he had misheard.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 334 =====