Chapter 557: Changing the Name

Upon hearing Yao Zhengru's words, Li Dongling nodded. Based on his understanding of this future "father-in-law," as long as he promised something, he would certainly see it through.

Or rather, anyone with ambitions in politics and an official career would keep their word and fulfill promises made to allies and supporters. Even if they couldn't complete them, they would at least make a show of effort. This was a matter of accountability. If someone in an official position lacked accountability, who would dare trust their words?

Admittedly, there were "old foxes" who could play both sides and still hold high positions, but generally, no one dared to bet on them. Once they left, their families and the influence they had accumulated would basically fall apart.

The most famous example was the Alliance at the Luo River. Sima Yi certainly had his fun, but ever since then, no noble clan in the entire Central Plains was willing to ally with the Sima family, nor would any clan risk their lives for them. After all, who knew if they would be sold out by the Sima family the very next day!

Generally, when a dynasty came to an end, some loyalists would emerge to try and turn the tide, and their demise would evoke pity. But in the case of the Jin Dynasty, not a single person felt sorry for the Sima family; some even couldn't help but celebrate.

In the end, the Sima family's fate fulfilled the oath Sima Yi had made at the Luo River: the entire family, young and old, was slaughtered without a single survivor. Even the egg yolks were shaken apart, and ants were sliced in half, for fear of leaving a single living soul behind.

The meal was served, and Li Dongling, Yao Zhengru, Shen Qingyuan, Ren Yuefeng, Hu Zi, Gao Peng, and the others all raised their glasses.

"This time, Dongling Gao Ke landed quite a few major projects in America. Feiyan Technology is also about to become the first company from Pingyang to list on the NASDAQ. We should celebrate with a drink!"

Yao Zhengru said as he raised his glass. Feiyan Technology's NASDAQ listing would not only cause the net worth of its shareholders to skyrocket.

For Pingyang, and even the Hanxi Provincial Government, this was a major achievement. Supporting a company to become the first in the country to list on the NASDAQ was a pioneering feat. For the Pingyang Municipal Government, this was a massive credit.

Feiyan Technology's IPO brought not just fame, but also tangible benefits. From now on, when officials from the Pingyang Municipal Government were interviewed by the media, they could brag about this extensively. When reporting to the provincial capital or even Yanjing, they could stand a bit taller than others.

"Feiyan Technology's successful NASDAQ application is inseparable from the support of the Pingyang Municipal Government and the Hanxi Provincial Government. Without Mayor Yao's support, Feiyan Technology likely wouldn't have been so smooth!"

Since people help those who help them, Ren Yuefeng also flattered the Pingyang Municipal Government. Dongling Gao Ke would have to deal with the Pingyang Municipal Government for many years to come, not to mention the relationship between Yao Zhengru and Li Dongling. Dongling Gao Ke and Feiyan Technology certainly needed to praise the Pingyang Municipal Government in front of the media.

After three rounds of drinks, the President of Pingyang University, Shen Qingyuan, said to Li Dongling, "Mr. Li, Pingyang University is about to welcome new students. We would like to invite you to attend the opening ceremony as a guest speaker. What do you think?"

This year, Pingyang University was definitely the most eye-catching among all the universities in Hanxi. There was constant news: giving out scholarships, making grand promises, claiming to find jobs for Pingyang University graduates, and even having them enter companies like Dongling Gao Ke for high salaries.

Other news included giving large scholarships to students with excellent grades, installing air conditioning and heating in the entire dormitory area, and the cafeteria giving every student pig trotters—in short, there was constant news.

The main reason these stories could appear was that Pingyang University had undergone a complete transformation. Starting this year, it appeared wealthy and generous. Only with funding could things get done!

Starting this year, Pingyang University's funding was primarily covered by Dongling Gao Ke and the Pingyang Municipal Government, rather than being allocated by the Hanxi Education Department as before. This immediately made Pingyang University's funding abundant.

Now, over 60% of Pingyang University's funding was donated by a group of local Pingyang companies, with Dongling Gao Ke alone covering nearly half of the university's total budget.

Meanwhile, Feiyan Technology, Changling Air Conditioning, Hongtashan, and other local Pingyang companies, together with the Pingyang Municipal Government, covered nearly 30% of Pingyang University's funding.

The remaining 10% was what Shen Qingyuan had to beg from the Hanxi Education Department and the Hanxi Provincial Government. If he could get the funding, that was naturally good; if he couldn't, he wouldn't feel heartbroken.

In any case, Pingyang University's funding this year had increased five or six times compared to last year. With money, they could build new teaching buildings, purchase new teaching equipment, and build new dormitories for students and faculty. Only then could they poach PhDs and professors from other universities to teach at Pingyang University!

For a major benefactor, Shen Qingyuan certainly had to build a relationship. He couldn't let the benefactor spend money without feeling any sense of appreciation. After all, this wasn't a one-off deal; Dongling Gao Ke would need to be generous every year.

Although Pingyang University was the only university in the area and it would be unreasonable for Dongling Gao Ke not to support it, Shen Qingyuan knew that the relationship with Dongling Gao Ke had to be maintained well!

Ren Yuefeng, Hu Zi, Zhang Ao, and the others couldn't help but feel a sense of envy upon hearing Shen Qingyuan's invitation to Li Dongling.

Being invited by a university to give a speech was definitely a symbol of success and achievement. Generally, only "successful people" had such treatment, representing fame, social status, influence, and so on. This was the same principle as returning home in glory.

Ren Yuefeng and the others had not yet received any speaking invitations from their alma maters or other universities.

"Since President Shen is so kind with his invitation, I cannot refuse. I only hope I won't disappoint President Shen's expectations!" Li Dongling thought for a moment and said.

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingyuan couldn't help but laugh a few times. "Seeing Mr. Li is something countless Pingyang students look forward to. If this news were announced, I'm afraid the spots to attend Mr. Li's speech would be snatched up instantly!"

Shen Qingyuan knew very well that inviting Li Dongling to speak was no easy task. Over the years, the number of times Li Dongling had publicly accepted media interviews and given speeches was few.

Furthermore, with Li Dongling's current status—being the richest person in the country for consecutive years was basically a certainty—and looking at the wave of people rushing to the Special Economic Zones over the years, Li Dongling had already surpassed Boss Shi of Giant, Lei Jun of Jinshan, and Bill Gates, becoming the number one idol worshipped by countless entrepreneurs and young people in the country.

If news spread that Li Dongling was going to Pingyang to give a speech, let alone Pingyang University, it was estimated that people from other universities would flood into Pingyang University to catch a glimpse of the top 20 richest person in Asia, and by the way, see if they could learn the secret to getting rich. What if they received some guidance from Mr. Li and suddenly achieved enlightenment, becoming millionaires or multi-millionaires?

Although everyone knew that listening to a speech wouldn't lead to enlightenment or becoming a millionaire, countless people were still eager to try. What if? What if they were guided and suddenly "got it"? What if they found an opportunity to get rich?

It was just like the various success-oriented books and celebrity memoirs that were global bestsellers every year. If reading success books and following the experiences of people in those books could lead to success and a net worth of over ten million, wouldn't the wealthy be mass-produced? Everyone understood the principle, but every year, countless people still diligently read that "toxic chicken soup."

"President Shen, I also have a small request, and I hope you can support it!"

Li Dongling agreed to attend the speech, but in reality, he also had something he needed Shen Qingyuan and Pingyang University to help with.

"Mr. Li, please speak!"

Shen Qingyuan said, unable to help but speculate on what Li Dongling wanted to say to him. Pingyang University was just starting to gain momentum; to become a top-tier national university would take ten or twenty years of effort, and they absolutely could not lose Dongling Gao Ke's funding and support.

"I hope that Pingyang University can rename the semiconductor major established this year to the Lin Benjian Semiconductor College!"

This was what Li Dongling had promised Lin Benjian: to name a semiconductor college after him, giving Lin Benjian the highest level of treatment in the global semiconductor industry.

Compared to other universities, it was easier to operate at Pingyang University. Many universities still carried a sense of "arrogance," or rather, flexibility wasn't that easy, and they weren't easily willing to play these kinds of flashy moves.

Last year, when Li Dongling and Shen Qingyuan reached an agreement for Dongling Gao Ke to support Pingyang University, he requested that Pingyang University establish several flagship majors, or rather, customized majors for Dongling Gao Ke, specifically to cultivate professional talent for Dongling Gao Ke.

Pingyang University previously didn't have any particularly strong majors. The teaching level wasn't necessarily bad, but there were no majors where graduates were snatched up by major organizations and companies.

Among the majors established through the cooperation between Dongling Gao Ke and Pingyang University, the two most important were the Communication Engineering major and the Semiconductor major. Both of these majors were just starting in the country, and there weren't many top-tier talents.

If Pingyang University could make these two majors the most top-tier in the country, then Dongling Gao Ke's money wouldn't have been spent in vain; it might even have been a profitable investment!

"If President Shen is willing to let Lin Benjian serve as the honorary dean of this semiconductor college, Dongxin Semiconductor can donate a new teaching building and some experimental R&D equipment to Pingyang University's semiconductor major!"

Upon hearing the conditions proposed by Li Dongling, a smile couldn't help but appear on Shen Qingyuan's face. What was a little bit of empty fame? Shen Qingyuan had long since seen through such things; otherwise, he wouldn't have lowered his status back then to find Li Dongling and beg for Dongling Gao Ke's cooperation.

"Mr. Li, you are too modest. Pingyang University and Dongling Gao Ke are as close as lips and teeth; naturally, we should cooperate with each other!"

"Regarding the Lin Benjian Semiconductor College, after I go back, I will report it to the Hanxi Provincial Education Department. We will absolutely not let the heart of a talent like Dr. Lin Benjian grow cold!"

Shen Qingyuan patted his chest and agreed. It was just giving an empty title, and in exchange, he could get a teaching building and R&D equipment. If Dongling Gao Ke gave even more, he would even be willing to give Lin Benjian an honorary presidency! ===== CHAPTER 558 =====