Chapter 52: A Myriad of Flowers Dazzle the Eyes

Hearing Li Dongling's words, Gao Peng's throat moved, but before he could speak, he was glared at by Yao Luoying. He gave a dry laugh and swallowed the words back.

Li Dongling saw this scene, but didn't say much. As for Yao Luoying's identity, Li Dongling could guess a few things.

However, regardless of Yao Luoying's background, she had indeed helped Li Dongling handle many troubles at Dongling High-Tech. Now, Dongling High-Tech really needed her to handle things!

"I wouldn't dare take the credit!"

Gao Zhiyuan said with some shame. He hadn't handled the lawsuit against the *New Tech Express* very well this time. This wasn't a question of Gao Zhiyuan's level; even if another lawyer were replaced, the situation would likely be similar, and the lawsuit would still be dragged out.

But comparing it, Li Dongling had won the lawsuit against Microsoft in America, while he hadn't even won against the *New Tech Express*. There is no harm without comparison. How could Gao Zhiyuan not feel ashamed?

Coughing, Gao Zhiyuan said to Li Dongling, "The trial with the *New Tech Express* has ended. The court is inclined to have the *New Tech Express* compensate Dongling High-Tech 1.5 million. In addition, the Guangzhou Industrial and Commercial, Cultural, and Propaganda departments will fine the *New Tech Express*, suspend its operations for rectification, and pause the newspaper's publication!"

Although the compensation didn't seem like much, the *New Tech Express* was completely finished. Once the newspaper stopped publication, it was basically impossible to issue it again. The *New Tech Express* had essentially disappeared from the media industry, and no one would believe its reports anymore.

For the domestic media industry, this was also a warning. In the future, when other media outlets maliciously fabricated news about Dongling High-Tech, they would have to weigh whether they would also be forced to close down!

Li Dongling nodded, then remembered Lin Shiman, who had published many grand articles bombarding Dongling High-Tech. "What about that Lin Shiman?!"

"She has already been fired by the *New Tech Express* and fined. Her press card may also be revoked. No newspaper or media outlet will dare to hire her in the future, but..."

Originally, the punishment for Lin Shiman might not have been so heavy, but when Dongling High-Tech brought back a large amount of foreign exchange and might earn even more in the future, the punishment for the *New Tech Express* and Lin Shiman became the maximum penalty.

Seeing Li Dongling's gaze, Gao Zhiyuan said, "Since she was fired, no one has seen her. There is news that she has gone abroad. I heard she went overseas to study!"

Lin Shiman could no longer survive in the domestic media industry, so running overseas to study, or rather, to avoid the limelight, was more appropriate.

Li Dongling frowned slightly upon hearing this news. He wasn't worried about the "if you don't kill the snake, you'll suffer its bite" scenario; Lin Shiman couldn't stir up any big waves.

It was just that Lin Shiman's move showed no intention of admitting defeat. It was like a toad that doesn't bite but doesn't know when it will jump out to disgust you again!

But thinking about this now was useless. Lin Shiman had already run abroad, and Li Dongling couldn't go to great lengths for her.

"Regardless, thank you, Lawyer Gao, for this time. I wonder if Lawyer Gao is interested in being the legal advisor for Dongling High-Tech?!" Li Dongling asked Gao Zhiyuan.

Gao Zhiyuan was stunned, then couldn't help but show joy on his face. For this rising tech star, Dongling High-Tech, being its legal advisor would definitely be a major change for Gao Zhiyuan's legal career.

Regardless of Gao Zhiyuan's legal level, Li Dongling needed a "trusted person" in this position, which was crucial.

Dongling High-Tech would definitely form a legal department in the future, but it also needed a trusted person in this position to guard the gates in terms of contracts, so that no messy business would occur.

"It would be an honor. I will definitely handle Dongling High-Tech's legal affairs well!"

Gao Zhiyuan also guessed Li Dongling's thoughts. In the past few years in the country, various laws were not yet perfect, and all sorts of messy business, even embezzlement and collusion between internal and external parties to hollow out company accounts, had occurred. Without a trusted person staring at the key position, any kind of disaster could happen.

The plane from Guangzhou to the provincial capital of Hanxi soared into the sky. Compared to the Guangzhou airport, the scene Li Dongling encountered upon returning to Hanxi was even larger. Famous reporters and media from the provincial capital had all run over.

Flowers, applause, interviews, and speeches all rushed toward Li Dongling. It felt quite like the feeling of being a young man in fine clothes and on a fast horse, seeing all the flowers of Chang'an in one day.

It wasn't just media interviews; many companies, universities, and units in the provincial capital invited Li Dongling to give speeches. Many companies even applied to visit and learn from Dongling High-Tech. This was also the style of this era.

Whenever a company became famous, or a state-owned company on the verge of bankruptcy was saved, a large group of people would come to learn and visit, wanting to "replicate" the success.

As for being invited to give speeches at universities and major units, that was even more common. When talking to Hu Zixian on the phone yesterday, Hu Zixian told Li Dongling that before he had even returned to Pingyang, many people had already come to join him.

Just like Boss Wang of Vanke, Boss Feng of Vantone, and Boss Pan who joined Boss Mou back then, they all gained fame after joining Boss Mou and then set up their own businesses. Now, many people also wanted to join Li Dongling, wanting to rely on him to make a name for themselves.

Being praised by the masses, having media and public opinion follow your lead, having every sentence you say analyzed and speculated upon by countless people, and having constant applause during speeches—this feeling of being at the center of the world stage would likely make people intoxicated.

But Li Dongling didn't accept many interviews, nor did he accept invitations to give speeches. After arriving in the provincial capital, he returned to Pingyang in a low-key manner.

Standing at the center of the world stage and being praised for every word and action would indeed make people intoxicated, but Li Dongling knew that it was just a flash in the pan, a false illusion that dazzled the eyes. Dongling High-Tech was far from being worthy of such praise, and it was only a step away from falling into hell.

The lawsuit with Microsoft looked like a great victory in the domestic tech industry, but for Microsoft, it wasn't even a drop in the bucket. And if Dongling High-Tech couldn't continue to develop new mouse technology and new patents for the mouse patents it held, it would soon be surpassed by companies like Logitech and Microsoft.

As for the other project, digital cordless phones, if it didn't meet expectations, then Dongling High-Tech would fall into a state of sitting and eating away its reserves.

The louder the praise for Dongling High-Tech today, the louder the ridicule would be if Dongling High-Tech failed. The gap between Dongling High-Tech and tech companies in Japan, America, Germany, and other European countries was simply too large. Whether it was mice or digital cordless phones, key components had to be purchased from abroad. Popping champagne early wouldn't bring any benefits.

When Li Dongling left Pingyang for America, it was after the New Year, and Pingyang was still in the middle of winter. Now, Pingyang had already reached spring, and the two trees in the courtyard had faintly sprouted tender buds.

Returning to the courtyard behind Dongling High-Tech, Li Dongling rested for a night. Getting up in the morning, he and Yang Zhi Gao went to a breakfast shop.

Aside from the warming weather, Pingyang seemed to have no changes compared to before. It still had a slow pace of life, completely different from the ever-changing big cities like New York, Guangzhou, and Beijing. Perhaps only a wanderer who left this city and returned years later could feel its huge changes.

After finishing breakfast, Li Dongling arrived at Dongling High-Tech. Compared to before Li Dongling left, Dongling High-Tech's office building was now packed. Just walking in, he could hear the constant sound of phones, and it could be seen that Dongling High-Tech's business was quite good.

"Chairman Li!"

Entering the company, the "old" employees who had joined since Dongling High-Tech was founded stood up and called out to Li Dongling upon seeing him.

With this call, everyone in the office stood up. Some new employees who had just joined looked at Li Dongling with even more excitement. These new employees weren't just from Pingyang University; there were even university students who had run over from the provincial capital to join. In their eyes, being able to defeat Microsoft, which was seen as an idol by countless youth around the world, made Li Dongling a tech hero who carried the domestic brand!

After Li Dongling arrived at the office on the second floor, Hu Zixian, Chen Tao, Yao Luoying, and other Dongling High-Tech supervisors arrived one after another. Unlike the previous gloom, having survived the bankruptcy crisis, the Dongling High-Tech executives now had relaxed expressions and smiles on their faces.

"Currently, the OEM factory for Silver Mink mice, Tianhua Electronics, has its production lines running at full capacity. Domestic computer manufacturers, including Lenovo, Great Wall, and those representing foreign brands, are all purchasing Silver Mink mice from Dongling High-Tech.

This year, domestic computer sales are estimated at 500,000 units. In the mouse industry, the Silver Mink mouse is expected to take over 40% of the market, with sales reaching over 200,000. This is limited by production capacity and overseas component supply; otherwise, production capacity could be increased further!"

Hu Zixian was the first to report to Li Dongling. In these two months, Li Dongling, Yao Luoying, Gao Peng, and others were all away. Li Dongshan helped out the most, but Dongling High-Tech was mainly managed by Hu Zixian. After two months, Hu Zixian had lost a layer of weight.

Currently, in the domestic computer mouse industry, no brand could compete with the Silver Mink mouse, not even foreign goods. If one only looked at the domestic sales of the Silver Mink mouse, the performance was quite eye-catching. Relying solely on domestic sales, the Silver Mink mouse's revenue this year was expected to exceed 30 million.

However, Li Dongling didn't show much joy upon hearing this, but instead asked, "What about overseas orders? Are there no overseas computer distributors who want to represent the Silver Mink mouse?!" ===== CHAPTER 53 =====