Chapter 63: Absorption?

"Brother Li, Li Zong!"

When he arrived at the office the next day, someone was already waiting there; it was Zhang Xiaocheng, the factory director of the Shangguan Town Component Factory.

Li Dongling saw Zhang Xiaocheng. After not seeing him for a period of time, Zhang Xiaocheng had returned to the state Li Dongling saw him in during their first meeting: his face was full of exhaustion, and there were even quite a few more gray hairs on his head.

Pouring a glass of water for Zhang Xiaocheng, Li Dongling looked at him and smiled, "Brother Zhang, it seems you haven't been doing too well lately!"

Zhang Xiaocheng did not deny it, his face full of worry, "You know the situation at the Component Factory. The satellite dish has stopped production now, and the entire Component Factory has no new projects, but there are still two thousand mouths to feed!"

From last year to March of this year, it was the hottest half-year for satellite dishes. The Component Factory had obtained a large amount of revenue from the satellite dish project; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was like grabbing money.

At that time, with good efficiency, the Shangguan Town Component Factory recruited many employees. Coupled with the Pingyang municipal government stuffing people in, the Component Factory, which originally only had five or six hundred people, swelled to over two thousand people in a few months. These people were all permanent staff, meaning regardless of whether the Component Factory could make money or not, these people could not be laid off and had to be supported!

However, fortunately, there was still a large amount of cash sitting in the Shangguan Town Component Factory's account. Even if they weren't making money, they could temporarily support these two thousand people. But sitting and eating away at their savings, seeing only outflows and no inflows, the money in the account was being consumed bit by bit while they weren't making money, which made Zhang Xiaocheng anxious and frantic.

"This is the brand authorization for the Guanxing satellite dish, and the final dividend belonging to Dongling High-Tech!"

Taking out two documents and placing them in front of Li Dongling, Zhang Xiaocheng had come today to return the Guanxing brand. The Shangguan Town satellite dish had already stopped production, and they no longer had use for the Guanxing brand.

Additionally, this was the final dividend after clearing the inventory. Li Dongling took a look; this final dividend was less than 1.5 million. It was evident how dismal the satellite dish project had become; it was likely that the remaining goods in the warehouse were all sold off at a loss during the clearance.

After accepting the two documents, Li Dongling looked at Zhang Xiaocheng. He knew that Zhang Xiaocheng hadn't come today just to deliver two documents; sending a supervisor could have handled such a matter, and there was no need for him to run over personally.

"Brother Li, you know the situation at the Component Factory. I hope that if Dongling High-Tech has any good projects, you can give the Component Factory a hand!"

Zhang Xiaocheng rubbed his large hands, a slightly embarrassed expression on his face as he spoke to Li Dongling. He also knew that although Dongling High-Tech had earned quite a bit from the satellite dish project, the Component Factory had certainly taken advantage of it, as nearly half of the satellite dish revenue had been taken by the Component Factory.

But Zhang Xiaocheng had no choice. During this time, he had also thought about letting the Shangguan Town Component Factory enter other industries, but he felt the risks were too great. There were indeed many companies that had successfully transformed, but those companies that could appear in news reports had certainly succeeded. There were countless others whose transformation failed and became piles of bones; the Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 was the best example!

Compared to rashly transforming into other industries, Zhang Xiaocheng still felt that following Li Dongling was more reliable. The satellite dish and the Silver Mink mouse projects had already proven Li Dongling's ability.

Therefore, Zhang Xiaocheng ran over today, putting aside his pride, wanting Li Dongling to help the Component Factory. As for whether it was embarrassing, Zhang Xiaocheng knew very clearly whether his face or the rice bowls of over two thousand people were more important.

Zhang Xiaocheng's words made Li Dongling silent for a moment, then he shook his head, "Brother Zhang, Dongling High-Tech has important projects to do right now; I really can't help the Component Factory!"

Hearing Li Dongling's words of refusal, Zhang Xiaocheng felt no dissatisfaction; instead, his spirits lifted. It was true that Li Dongling had refused, but he hadn't said he definitely wouldn't help the Component Factory, nor had he said there were no projects for cooperation!

Without a clear refusal, there was still hope. Regardless of what Li Dongling was thinking, Zhang Xiaocheng could only think this way. Cooperating with Dongling High-Tech was much more reliable than the Component Factory rashly entering other industries.

Not until he watched Zhang Xiaocheng leave did Li Dongling withdraw his gaze. Li Dongling understood Zhang Xiaocheng's intentions; Zhang Xiaocheng was the kind of man who truly wanted to accomplish something.

What the Component Factory needed were projects that could accommodate a large number of jobs. Li Dongling knew of a few such projects from his past life, but they weren't what he needed to consider right now. At the moment, Dongling High-Tech had more important things to do!

"The pattern needs to be redesigned, the colors must be vibrant, and the pattern must be that cartoon-style product!"

"This product of ours is meant for young people!"

"At the very least, design over ten patterns, and the packaging must be exquisite!"

In the Dongling High-Tech technical building, when Chen Tao passed by a laboratory, he heard the familiar roaring sound coming from inside and knew that the "Technical Tyrant" had returned.

Not daring to linger, Chen Tao quickened his pace and left in a hurry. This time, Chen Tao did not join the electronic pet machine project team and was still leading the team to develop digital cordless phones.

Hearing Li Dongling's demand for rework, the group of designers for the electronic pet machine could only pull bitter faces and redesign the product patterns.

Over at the joint laboratory, they were responsible for developing the motherboard chip for the electronic pet machine, while the Dongling High-Tech technical department was mainly responsible for pattern design and product function development. With the continuous investment of funds, the electronic pet machine project advanced rapidly.

"Chairman Li, I'll toast you!"

"That's right, Chairman Li, you are a rare guest. No matter what, you must have a good drink today!"

"After finishing this meal, there are programs arranged for the evening. Chairman Li must do us the honor..."

Inside a luxurious villa-style hotel in the provincial capital of Hanxi, the dining table was filled with a large spread of delicacies. This table alone likely cost more than ten thousand yuan.

The person being toasted by everyone was Li Wenjun, Vice Chairman of the Sitong Group. He had been sent by the Beijing headquarters to audit the business and projects of the Hanxi Sitong Group branch.

In recent years, the Sitong Group had opened too many branches. Every year, they had to send senior executives like directors to various places to audit projects; otherwise, the branches might disappear!

It was a physical disappearance. For example, a certain Sitong Group executive would take Sitong's money to invest in a branch and then directly announce a split from Sitong, making the branch his own!

Such things were not isolated cases because there were too many branches to manage. This was a characteristic of this era: wild growth.

Of course, similarly, if the Sitong Group headquarters felt that a branch had potential, they would snatch the branch back and manage it directly.

The Sitong Group implemented a diversification strategy, entering real estate, securities, electronics, medical care, and bond and stock investment industries, which caused it to develop the "big company disease" of Western giant corporations, with all sorts of chaotic things happening.

For example, the securities department of the Sitong Group in Jiangcheng was actually contracted out by someone who forged the official seal and used the money from Sitong Jiangcheng Securities to earn over 200 million in the treasury bond market. As a result, the money went into his own pocket. After the incident was exposed, the Sitong Group had to repay those illegal profits, and they still had to treat the person who forged the seal well because they still needed him to explain where those 200 million went!

Regarding the crowd toasting him, Li Wenjun waved his hand, "Today, let's not drink this wine first. When I came, there was a matter that President Duan personally entrusted to me. Until the matter is handled, I dare not slack off!"

Hearing that it was a task entrusted by Sitong Group President Duan Yongji, the group of Hanxi Sitong branch executives dared not toast him again. This President Duan's methods were quite superb. This didn't refer to his ability to manage the company and make money, but his skills in palace intrigue and office politics, which were maxed out. Everyone knew that Sitong's internal management was chaotic, but Duan Yongji's position remained as stable as Mount Tai, his status in the industry continued to rise, and those who opposed him had all been driven away.

"I wonder, what does President Duan want Chairman Li to do this time?!" someone at the table inquired.

"Go to Pingyang. President Duan has some interest in Dongling High-Tech and that Li Dongling and wants to meet him."

Hearing Li Wenjun's words, several people showed surprised expressions, "Is Sitong going to acquire Dongling High-Tech?"

"It can't be called an acquisition," Li Wenjun laughed, "President Duan is just interested in this young man and Dongling High-Tech; whether to acquire or not is another matter."

Although Li Wenjun said so, the group of Sitong branch executives still congratulated Li Wenjun, "Wishing Chairman Li success in absorbing Dongling High-Tech!"

When Li Wenjun arrived in Pingyang, it caused quite a sensation in the local media. After all, this was the Sitong Group. Although Dongling High-Tech was quite famous now, it was just fame. The Sitong Group, however, was a giant in the domestic technology industry, with an annual revenue exceeding 5 billion.

Especially when Li Wenjun publicly announced that he was coming to Dongling High-Tech for "exchanges," it made many media outlets fantasize, and even media from the provincial capital and other places started rushing over after hearing the news.

"Chairman Li, may I ask, are you representing Sitong to start cooperation with Dongling High-Tech this time?!"

Pingyang Daily, Pingyang City News, Pingyang TV Station, and the newly established Financial Window, West Qin Observer, and other media outlets all crowded around to ask Li Wenjun questions.

"I can only say, everything is possible!" Li Wenjun smiled.

Hearing that Li Wenjun had come representing the Sitong Group, Li Dongling, who was still in the technical department laboratory, was also quite surprised when Yao Luoying came to tell him the news.

"People from Sitong, what are they here for?"

Li Dongling was a bit puzzled, but he still walked out of the laboratory, preparing to welcome Li Wenjun's arrival. Regardless of what the other party wanted to do, when facing such a domestic giant-level company, he still had to be thorough in his etiquette. ===== CHAPTER 64 =====