Chapter 62

After Hu Ziyang left, Li Dongling flipped through Dongling Gao Ke's business documents. Currently, Dongling Gao Ke has three main business projects: mice, digital cordless phones, and electronic pet machines.

The mouse has already been released, and what needs to be done now is to increase production capacity and promote it overseas. If the Silver Mink mouse cannot go abroad, then by cooperating with manufacturers like Lenovo and Great Wall in the domestic market, if sales reach expectations, this year's revenue is expected to reach about 40 million. It seems like quite a lot, and the profit is also over 15 million.

But this depends on who the Silver Mink mouse's opponents are—they are Logitech, Microsoft, and mouse brands from Japan and Germany. To be on par with these opponents in technology, or even surpass them, requires a continuous stream of R&D investment; otherwise, once the current reputation is exhausted, it will soon be eliminated!

Relying solely on the domestic mouse market, the Silver Mink mouse will likely find it difficult to compete with Logitech and Microsoft mice. It definitely needs to go abroad or reach cooperation with those big-brand computer companies, which requires investing more capital in R&D technology and advertising overseas.

The digital cordless phone is still in R&D, and it won't be until its release in the middle of the year that we will know whether the sales are good or bad. The electronic pet machine will be released after being developed in the next month or two.

The digital cordless phone, as well as the acquired Feiyan radio production line—which will be transformed into mini-radio and car radio projects in the future—are all long-term projects. If they can be done well and the brand is established, allowing users to accept the name, it will continue to provide cash flow to Dongling High-Tech for at least ten years or more in the future!

Once the digital cordless phone, mini-radio, and car radio projects are successful and there is stable cash flow, Dongling Gao Ke will basically be stabilized.

Li Dongling is also considering what kind of company Dongling Gao Ke should become in the future. In the vast ocean of time, fame is something for later generations to evaluate, but how to act now is something he decides himself!

The pen in his hand kept sliding across the paper, and various thoughts flashed through Li Dongling's mind.

Finally, several circled words appeared on the paper in front of Li Dongling: computers and mobile phones took the lead, followed by several other terms.

Li Dongling frowned, looking at the words written by the pen. Whether it's computers, mobile phones, or the products of the other few words, entering the industry is simple, but how to do it is a matter of great learning.

In the domestic tech industry today, most are just assembling machines. Even a certain computer that claims to be a domestic brand—the computer company where Academician Ni works—is actually importing parts from abroad, then assembling them and sticking on a label, starting to sell them under the banner of domestic goods!

Selling such a computer, most of the profit is taken away by foreign processor, graphics card, memory, motherboard, and screen manufacturers. Added to that are the patent fees, technology fees, and licensing fees paid to foreign companies, and what's left in the end is just a bit of hard-earned money.

And within this bit of money, it also includes production costs, management fees, logistics costs, labor expenses, equipment maintenance, etc. This is also why so many companies have to fight with employees over that bit of wages, because the profit is just that small, and either the boss or the employee can make money!

Taking this path is the simplest. If Dongling Gao Ke is also willing to work for foreign companies, it could also import parts, assemble them, stick on a label, and start claiming independent R&D. Relying on the reputation of the Silver Mink mouse, it might even be able to harvest a large crop of leeks.

However, to eat this bowl of rice, you can't stand while eating, nor can you look up; otherwise, as soon as the foreign parts company stops selling parts, you'll immediately be out of business.

Or, if Dongling Gao Ke wants to develop its own parts to replace imported ones, it would likely be immediately surrounded, intercepted, and wiped out by foreign manufacturers.

Whether to kneel to eat, or to take the most difficult path, even facing the risk of losing everything, was placed before Li Dongling.

Taking a long breath, Li Dongling looked at the paper that had been written on for more than half a page with deep eyes, and finally picked up his pen and wrote a few more words heavily on the paper.

Taking the second path requires a large amount of R&D funding. With Dongling Gao Ke's current stature, it can't even beat those few large domestic tech companies, let alone challenge foreign tech giants.

Building high walls, storing grain widely, and claiming the throne slowly is the most suitable thing for Dongling Gao Ke to do now. If it starts by shouting that it wants to challenge those giant companies directly, it will likely be slapped to death.

Dongling Gao Ke needs to become an existence that other tech companies cannot do without, like Intel or Qualcomm, in order to gain a foothold in the tech industry. A mechanical mouse is far from enough; in the future, it will also need to launch products like memory cards, solid-state drives, and USB flash drives. Even if those companies want to break away from Dongling Gao Ke, it will be difficult.

Li Dongling hopes that Dongling Gao Ke will eventually earn money while standing tall!

Li Dongling came to the courtyard behind Dongling Gao Ke used for entertainment and leisure. It was much livelier here than before; Gao Peng, Zhang Ao, and their familiar friends from the family compound sometimes ran over to join in the fun.

When Li Dongling went in, Yao Luoying and several girls were playing billiards. In the room with the karaoke machine, there were people howling like ghosts every day.

Entering the room where the video recorder was placed, there were sandbags and other exercise equipment placed recently; Li Dongling sometimes came here to exercise.

Zhang Ao, Gao Peng, Fan Xugang, and a group of men were watching the video on the recorder with rapt attention. Li Dongling glanced at it; it wasn't some movie passed down from Japan or America, but two men fighting hand-to-hand.

Tyson faced Smith, known as the "Bone Crusher." Smith's punches were fierce, and those who fought him never walked off the ring in one piece. But when he met Tyson, Smith couldn't escape the outcome of defeat, finally handing over the victory to send Tyson to become the WBC/WBA dual world heavyweight champion.

This boxing tape was a recording of a boxing match that flowed from overseas to the domestic market. Although Hollywood movies attract attention, when it comes to stimulating men's nerves, it has to be this kind of violent aesthetics where fists hit flesh and blood spills on the ring. Of course, trimming donkey hooves, Ode Biao's 38-style bicycle carrying bananas, forging competitions, container blind boxes, etc., are also men's romance...

Coming to the sandbag, under the guidance of Yang Zhi Gao, Li Dongling began to practice boxing. Yang Zhi Gao was not a professional boxer, but his practical combat ability was stronger. When cameras had not yet covered the streets and alleys, public security was really not very good; otherwise, the Mad Dog Fist founded by Master Chen wouldn't have been so famous.

After breaking into a sweat, Li Dongling returned to the residence next door. After taking a hot shower and just sitting down to turn on the TV, there was a sudden knock on the door.

Opening the door and seeing the pretty person standing at the door, Li Dongling was surprised for a moment. Seeing Li Dongling's expression, Yao Luoying, who had her hands behind her back, tilted her head slightly and looked at Li Dongling in front of her. "What, don't you welcome me?"

"Please come in!" Li Dongling laughed, opened the door, stepped aside, and said to Yao Luoying.

Yao Luoying walked in and looked at the courtyard in front of her. This was her first time coming to the courtyard where Li Dongling lived.

The exterior was that kind of old-fashioned house, but upon entering, Yao Luoying found that the living room was completely modernly decorated. There were more electrical appliances and furniture than she had seen in homes in Hong Kong when she was studying at the University of Hong Kong.

"What fruit would you like to eat?!"

Standing next to the audio equipment beside the TV in the living room, Yao Luoying was looking at a stack of records from The Beatles, Nirvana, Suede, as well as domestic bands like Beyond and Black Panther. Hearing Li Dongling's words, she turned her head and raised the record in her hand. "Anything is fine. You have quite a lot of records here!"

"Gao Peng got them for me!"

These records are indeed not common in the country, but as long as you have money, you can still collect them through various channels.

Sitting on the sofa, Yao Luoying felt her body sink into it. She knew that this sofa was definitely expensive. With the status and salaries of Yao Zhengru and Han Liuping, buying a set of imported high-end sofas was not a problem at all. But the Yao family often had guests visiting, and sometimes city leaders like Luo Junwu would go there. If the Yao family put out a set of high-end imported sofas, it would be too conspicuous.

She twisted her body, leaned comfortably on the sofa, and ate a piece of orange. The slightly sour taste made Yao Luoying squint her eyes.

She exhaled, took a sip of water, and Yao Luoying's eyes turned around the room. Her body leaned slightly toward Li Dongling. "You live here alone?!"

Li Dongling nodded. "My little sister, Li Dongyue, also comes to stay on her days off."

Yao Luoying looked at Li Dongling with her eyes and asked seemingly casually, "What about your girlfriend at Hanxi Jiaoda? You must have one there, right?"

Hearing this, Li Dongling looked at her. Yao Luoying met Li Dongling's gaze, but her eyes looked to the side unconsciously.

The atmosphere was slightly silent. Thinking of An Ruxue, whom he hadn't been in contact with for some time, Li Dongling finally shook his head and asked Yao Luoying, "What about you?!"

"Me?!"

Yao Luoying pouted. "When I was studying in Hong Kong, Old Yao and Ms. Han would call every few days, fearing that I wouldn't come back. The coursework was also busy, so where would I have the time!"

Yao Luoying stretched, showing her curves in front of Li Dongling, which made Li Dongling take a few extra looks.

While tucking in her waist, Yao Luoying caught a glimpse of something placed in the corner. She got up, went over, and picked up a harmonica. "Can you play this?!"

Seeing that harmonica, Li Dongling was slightly stunned, remembering the summer nights at Hanxi Jiaoda when he had also played the harmonica on the grass for someone.

Yao Luoying returned to the sofa with the harmonica, handed it to Li Dongling, and looked at him with anticipation.

After hesitating for a moment, Li Dongling took the harmonica and put it to his lips. A desolate tune came out. Yao Luoying recognized that this was "Hometown's Original Scenery." After this piece came out a few years ago, it was used as an interlude in many TV dramas.

When the song ended and Li Dongling put down the harmonica, Yao Luoying finally woke up. She looked up at Li Dongling, and the two looked at each other. Yao Luoying's red lips parted slightly, and her throat moved.

Looking at Yao Luoying's increasingly red cheeks, Li Dongling couldn't help but lean toward her. Seeing Li Dongling's face getting closer and closer, Yao Luoying wanted to avoid it, but felt her body stiffen intentionally, and finally closed her eyes.

When Li Dongling leaned over, a softness came from their lips. Their lips were pressed together, and Yao Luoying's breathing became a bit rapid.

"Luoying!"

Someone outside the courtyard suddenly called Yao Luoying's name. It was a sister Yao Luoying was familiar with, asking her to return to the municipal family compound together. This sound startled Yao Luoying. She got up with a red face, hurriedly tidied her clothes, and said, "I'm going back first!"

"I'll have Old Yang drive you back!"

Watching Yao Luoying's departing figure, Li Dongling wiped his lips, feeling that he would have to take another cold shower tonight before he could fall asleep.