Chapter 357: Cast a Long Line to Catch a Big Fish

After Guo Guo Jingyun left, Li Li Dongling shook his head; Wang Wang Jiangmin's behavior was typical of this era.

Whether it was those who plunged into business to fight for a better fate, or figures like Academician Ni, Huang Huang Lingyi, and the academician Li Li Dongling planned to visit this afternoon—all were people who truly fought for their beliefs and ambitions!

That morning, Li Li Dongling handled numerous documents and held a phone conference with Ren Ren Yuefeng, Hu Zi, and others in Hanxi Pingyang; his absence had already lasted quite a while.

At noon, Li Li Dongling spent half an hour on a phone call with Yao Yao Luoying; "phone chatting" was a new term that had emerged this year, made possible by the advent of the Little Smart phone, and was wildly popular among couples.

In the era of big Dage phones, calls cost several yuan per minute—even wealthy families wouldn't dare make half-hour or hour-long calls for no reason; only after the Little Smart brought down call rates did this new phenomenon emerge.

After having lunch at Tianya Company, Li Li Dongling headed toward Yan University; after finishing today's business, he would soon return to Pingyang.

Although Ren Ren Yuefeng and department managers were present, many decisions still required Li Li Dongling's personal approval—in fact, over these past few days, Zhang Xiao, the chairman of Torch Group, had called him countless times.

As the car drove through Zhongguancun's streets, it was clear the area still consisted mostly of low, two- to three-story buildings, but many sites had already been demolished to make way for office towers, computer factories, and pharmaceutical plants.

Li Li Dongling gazed at the scene before him and knew that next time he returned, this place would be utterly transformed—especially with the arrival of the internet age, Zhongguancun would undergo a massive change.

When the car arrived at Yan University, someone had already been waiting there.

"Director Li, Academician Wang is already waiting for you at Yan University's Computer Research Institute!"

By the time Li Li Dongling stepped out of the car, Song Tao Zhiliang, general manager of Yan University Asset Management Company, was already waiting.

Song Tao Zhiliang led the way with a broad smile: "Yu Feng told me about the IT training center project; the Yan University Academic Committee fully endorses it and is willing to provide full support!"

Building an IT training center could generate profit while enhancing social influence and reputation—Yan University was naturally delighted.

Seeing this, Li Li Dongling immediately added, "If Yan University needs it, we can hand over the naming rights of the IT training center to Yan University."

For Li Li Dongling, the name of a training center wouldn't affect the bigger picture; moreover, bearing Yan University's name might attract more enrollees, given its prestige, equal to Tsinghua's.

"This…"

Hearing this, Song Tao Zhiliang's face lit up with clear interest: "Yan University couldn't possibly accept such a favor—but rest assured, Director Li, we will fully support the new Oriental School and the IT training center in Pingyang; we'll rotate our top teachers and professors there every year to teach!"

The IT training center was registered under Yan University Asset Management Company; the more it earned and the greater its reputation, the more Song Tao Zhiliang, as its manager, would benefit.

Li Li Dongling and Song Tao Zhiliang walked together to Yan University's Computer Research Institute; as the saying goes, "Mountains need not be high, if immortals dwell there"—this applied equally to Yan University's Computer Research Institute.

Over the past few years, computer research institutes had sprung up like mushrooms after rain, especially at major universities—none dared fall behind by not opening one.

But the most renowned was undoubtedly Yan University's Computer Research Institute; the reason? It had produced China's first Chinese laser typesetting system, and inevitably, in the future, this institute would be named after Academician Wang.

After entering the institute, Song Tao Zhiliang waited outside, refusing to follow inside—he didn't want excessive contact with Academician Wang, lest he provoke Zhang Zhang Yufeng's displeasure.

Frankly, as head of Founder's parent company, Song Tao Zhiliang found himself caught between Academician Wang and Zhang Zhang Yufeng.

Favoring either side would stir public backlash; Song Tao Zhiliang rarely interfered in Founder's affairs—but in his past life, precisely because of this lack of parental oversight, Founder had split into two factions: one supporting Academician Wang, the other Zhang Zhang Yufeng, locked in bitter conflict.

Li Li Dongling knocked on the door of Academician Wang's office; inside, a man in his sixties, gray-haired and bent over his desk writing, looked up, adjusted his glasses, and said, "Come in!"

"Academician Wang, sorry for the disturbance!"

After entering, Li Li Dongling glanced around the office: apart from one new computer, everything else was old, and the wall-mounted storage cabinets were packed with documents and books.

Academician Wang waved his hand, studying Li Li Dongling: "No disturbance—I'm just an old man nearing retirement, fiddling with things. No trouble at all."

"I heard Academician Wang plans to promote Founder's laser typesetting system to the Japanese market?" Li Li Dongling said.

Academician Wang replied, "I've considered it, but it's up to Founder's younger generation to handle; I can only clap from the sidelines—just don't get in the way."

Li Li Dongling knew, however, that though Academician Wang claimed to step back, he'd never truly stopped working—he'd been developing the next-generation typesetter and mentoring many talents; otherwise, Founder wouldn't have developed a faction of loyalists who saw him as their spiritual mentor.

"Academician Wang is too modest. The significance of Founder's laser typesetting system wasn't just transforming China's printing industry—it was the first time the nation realized domestic products could match or surpass imports. That may be harder than developing a product better than foreign ones."

"Exactly!"

Hearing this, Academician Wang's expression grew animated: "I want Founder's laser typesetting system sold in Japan, Europe, even America—not just for profit, but to prove to more people that domestic typesetters are better than imports!"

"Back then, my wife and I developed a Chinese laser typesetter whose performance matched foreign models—and was even better suited for Chinese print shops—but people still preferred paying high prices for imports rather than using ours!"

Recalling those days, Academician Wang couldn't hide his emotion; he'd fought against all odds to develop the domestic system—it was never part of any plan, never given priority, yet he broke through anyway.

After chatting briefly, Academician Wang looked up at Li Li Dongling: "You didn't come here just to talk about these things, did you?"

Li Li Dongling smiled and said, "I came because I need your help with something."

"Go ahead."

"I'd like you to serve as honorary advisor to Li Dongling High-Tech."

Li Li Dongling said; Ni Guangnan and Academician Wang were currently the most renowned scholars in China, closely tied to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with significant overseas influence.

If Academician Wang would lend his name as advisor to Li Dongling High-Tech, it would greatly benefit the company—helping recruit top engineers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and elsewhere.

Academician Wang paused, then chuckled: "Never thought an old man like me would still be sought after."

After a moment's thought, he said to Li Li Dongling: "I can accept the title of advisor, but I'm an old man—I won't be able to help Li Dongling High-Tech much…"

"Academician Wang, you're too modest. Just your willingness to serve as advisor, and your future recommendations when we recruit other academicians or talents, will be more than enough!"

Academician Wang shook his head with a smile, pointing at Li Li Dongling—he understood Li Li Dongling's intentions perfectly.

After reaching an agreement with Academician Wang, Li Li Dongling didn't linger and took his leave; Academician Wang was famously a workaholic—his retirement made no practical difference.

Only after Li Li Dongling left did Academician Wang, who had intended to resume research, find himself unable to focus.

Thinking of how Li Li Dongling had come all the way to recruit talent for Li Dongling High-Tech, while Zhang Zhang Yufeng at Founder remained suspicious of him and planned to invest funds in golf courses and real estate, Academician Wang sighed—he feared that Founder, once the national pride and symbol of China's highest technological achievement, would soon be left far behind by Li Dongling High-Tech.

But Academician Wang felt helpless; he was a researcher, not a manager. Besides, if he intervened in Founder's management now, Zhang Zhang Yufeng's temperament would spark immediate, irreconcilable conflict—and Founder would collapse into chaos.

"Big brother!"

After leaving Yan University's Computer Research Institute, Li Li Dongling called Li Dongyue; moments later, she ran over.

Li Li Dongling pinched her cheek: "How's it going here? Are you adjusting well?"

"Very well," Li Dongyue said. "Professor Shi, the faculty, and my dorm mates have all been kind to me."

Li Li Dongling nodded: "I've nearly finished my business in Beijing—I'm preparing to return to Hanxi."

Hearing Li Li Dongling was going back to Hanxi, Li Dongyue's face showed clear reluctance; she pouted, her mood sinking: "I miss Mom and Dad too."

This was Li Dongyue's first time traveling far from home; initially thrilled by Beijing, now that the novelty had worn off, she naturally missed Pingyang and her family.

Li Li Dongling stroked her hair: "When you get your vacation, go back to Hanxi—or I'll bring the family to Beijing to visit you."

"Deal!"

Li Li Dongling clapped his palm against hers in promise, then pulled out a stack of tickets: "These are a gift for your dorm mates!"

Holding the tickets for the Super Girl semifinals and finals, Li Dongyue—who should have been thrilled—now felt listless; she softly called out, "Big brother…"

Li Li Dongling gave her a few more instructions, then placed a bank card in her hand. She frowned: "Big brother, I really don't need this—I don't spend money in Yan University. Big brother just sent me money the day before yesterday."

"Aunt Yao and Aunt An are also sending me money—I really don't need so much…"

While others worried about insufficient balances, Li Dongyue worried about her balance growing too high—Li Dongshan, Yao Yao Luoying, and An Ruxue were all depositing money into her account.

Watching Li Dongyue skip away with her ponytail, Li Li Dongling stood still for a moment, then said to Yang Gao Zhiyuan: "Back to Hanxi!"

…

"Ah!"

A scream erupted suddenly from Yan University's six-woman dorm, followed by more cries.

"Little rich girl, where did you get these tickets? These are Super Girl semifinal tickets!"

Cui Chen Qianqian hugged Li Dongyue tightly, ignoring her protests, and planted several loud kisses on her cheeks.

After Cui Chen Qianqian, Fan Wang Xiaomeng rushed over; Li Dongyue scrambled backward, hiding behind another roommate, only to be kissed again by Fan Wang Xiaomeng before she relented.

The girls in this dorm came from relatively good families: two from Beijing, one from Shanghai, one from Northeast China, and one from Shandong.

Their family backgrounds varied from affluent to ordinary, but Li Dongyue's was clearly superior—after all, in this era, few students carried IBM laptops worth over ten thousand yuan.

Cui Chen Qianqian was the girl from the Northeast—outgoing and generous. She was a few years older than the others and acted as dorm leader, handling all external matters and looking after Li Dongyue and the rest.

"Dongyue, where did you get these tickets? I heard scalpers are selling Super Girl semifinal tickets for seventy or eighty yuan—more than a concert!" Fan Wang Xiaomeng flipped through the tickets, still excitedly asking Li Dongyue.

Super Girl was currently the most popular variety show—without competition. Since the top ten competition began, viewership ratings had soared, media and public discussion had exploded, and each qualifying round now drew over a million text votes—imagine how many were watching and voting.

Originally, the central media had distributed Super Girl semifinal and final tickets for free, but so many wanted to attend in person that scalpers had inflated their value.

(End of Chapter)