[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-reborn-starting-from-1993":3,"chapter-reborn-starting-from-1993-reborn-starting-from-1993-chapter-67":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Reborn Starting from 1993",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2357051,4611,"Chapter 67","reborn-starting-from-1993-chapter-67",67,"\u003Cp>As Ning Wenke was on her way to Pingyang, the Dongling High-Tech Electronics Park suddenly became bustling with activity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Zhiliang had previously been a technician at Xicheng Wireless Plant One, and now he had joined Dongling High-Tech; he could operate molding machines and welding equipment, perform basic machine maintenance, and had been appointed as a production line team leader. The workshop supervisor also told Tao Zhiliang and his team that once the production line started, he would receive over a hundred yuan more per month in subsidies and bonuses than ordinary line workers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at Xicheng Wireless Plant One, team leaders in the production workshops and labor model selections had never involved Tao Zhiliang or his peers—those positions and awards always went to the bosses’ relatives or were directly claimed by the bosses themselves, never reaching the likes of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Dongling High-Tech Electronics Park, none of those old problems existed; there was no state-owned enterprise mentality. Now, promotions depended solely on individual technical skill, education level, learning speed, and personal performance. Many former obscure workers from Xicheng Wireless Plant One, like Tao Zhiliang, had now been promoted to team leaders or technicians in the electronics park.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Zhiliang was very satisfied with Dongling High-Tech Electronics Park. Although he was still only receiving training stipends and hadn’t yet received a formal salary, the training stipend alone was nearly as high as his wage at Xicheng Wireless Plant One.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The park’s cafeteria required Tao Zhiliang and others to pay for their meals, unlike the free meals previously provided by Xicheng Wireless Plant One, but the prices were cheap, and the food quality was vastly superior to that of Xicheng Wireless’s canteen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Xicheng Wireless Plant One’s canteen, all the cooks were relatives of the factory bosses—the food tasted awful, and no complaints ever helped; in fact, those who complained were often found and barred from entering the canteen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now Tao Zhiliang was full of energy, and many other former workers from Xicheng Wireless Plant One felt the same. But since their hiring over a month ago, they had been stuck in training—the production line still hadn’t started, and Tao Zhiliang couldn’t help but worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone knew that if the electronics park failed to start production soon, how long these workers’ jobs would last was uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Tao Zhiliang found the fatty meat slices in his mouth less appetizing. Every Wednesday, the park’s cafeteria improved its meals: for the same price as usual, workers could buy a large bowl of braised pork slices. For people in this era—even state-owned enterprise workers—eating meat daily was rare, let alone getting not just seven or eight thick slices of fat, but also a free chicken leg or sausage, plus a bottle of local-brand drink, sometimes even big-name drinks like Kinley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many electronics park workers packed up these improved meals, along with the free chicken legs, sausages, and drinks, to take home for their families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Zhiliang was no different—he ate only two slices of fatty meat to taste, then packed the rest of the meat, the chicken leg, and the drink to take home for his two school-age children, who were in middle school and growing fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just for the fatty meat slices, sausages, and drinks, Tao Zhiliang didn’t want Dongling High-Tech Electronics Park to shut down—he needed this job to support his family. Every time he thought the production line still hadn’t started, he lost his appetite, worrying more than even Dongling High-Tech’s executives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone, work hard today—today we’re doing a trial run. If it goes well, formal production starts tomorrow!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Tao Zhiliang was lost in thought, he suddenly heard the voice of Song Gong, Song Yajun, from the production workshop, and instantly perked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since Li Dongling called him “Song Gong” and hired him into the electronics park, Old Song had acted as if he were willing to die for a true friend—he was always the first into the workshop and the last to leave, rushing to the front whenever technical issues arose, working so hard he forgot to eat or sleep just to solve problems, and he was now the deputy director of the production workshop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Song Yajun’s words, Tao Zhiliang mixed his rice into the soup, finished it in a few bites, and headed toward the makeshift workshop. Many others did the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after losing something do you learn to cherish it. Having experienced the decline of Xicheng Wireless Plant One, the halting of wages, and its near-collapse, Tao Zhiliang and the others now understood more than ever what Dongling High-Tech Electronics Park meant to them—it was a matter of life and death for their families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the car entered Pingyang’s urban area, Ning Wenke got out to rest and bought several newspapers. Reading the news, she gained a deeper understanding of Dongling High-Tech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Hong Kong, Ning Wenke had seen media reports on the conflict between Sitong Group and Dongling High-Tech, but Hong Kong media knew little about it—they mostly speculated and sensationalized to attract attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the newspapers in her hands, Ning Wenke now had a clear picture: after being rejected by Dongling High-Tech, Sitong Group had reacted with angry embarrassment. Ning Wenke understood exactly why.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitong had originally hoped to boost its stock price by acquiring Dongling High-Tech, but instead of rising, the stock price had plummeted after the failed deal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most critically, this failed acquisition exposed Sitong Group’s hollow strength. Sitong appeared to be a giant, and acquiring a small company like Dongling High-Tech should have been effortless—but it had failed spectacularly, like a great empire losing a battle it was certain to win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before this, especially among Hong Kong investors, there had already been complaints about Sitong Group’s condition. This failure only laid bare all those problems. Sitong’s stock price was now hopeless, and raising capital from Hong Kong would be much harder—no wonder Sitong Group was furious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet from these media reports, Ning Wenke could also see that Dongling High-Tech was now on the defensive. Many believed Li Dongling’s rejection of Sitong’s offer was a blunder. Coupled with Sitong’s subtle targeting of Dongling High-Tech, Ning Wenke felt Dongling High-Tech’s current situation was far from easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for Ning’s Trading Company, this was good news—it could now push down agency fees and claim a larger share of profits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ning Zong, you’ve worked hard—welcome to Pingyang!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the entrance of the Dongling High-Tech office building, Yao Luoying and Zhang Ao came out to greet Ning Wenke and several senior executives from Ning’s Trading Company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ning Wenke, General Agent of Ning’s Trading Company!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Dongling!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking up to the second-floor office, Ning Wenke and Li Dongling shook hands, introduced each other, then sat on opposite sides of the conference room. Ning Wenke studied Li Dongling, and Li Dongling studied her in return—Ning Wenke had refined features, fashionable attire, a short haircut, and a no-nonsense demeanor, giving her the air of a powerful businesswoman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Wenke was surprised that Li Dongling looked even younger than in his newspaper photos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dongling, meanwhile, recalled the information he’d gathered about Ning’s Trading Company—now managed by Ning Wenke. Despite recent turmoil, as a long-established Hong Kong trading firm, its strength and distribution channels were still solid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, looking across at Li Dongling, Ning Wenke spoke first, with a hint of annoyance: “Mr. Li, cooperating with Dongling High-Tech is truly not easy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good things take time; noble deeds face trials. Before reaching the peak of a mountain, one must endure hardship,” Li Dongling replied, unfazed by her irritation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Ning Wenke’s gaze sharpened. “So you’re certain the Silver Mink mouse will sell massively overseas?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Wenke had originally intended only to distribute the Silver Mink mouse in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. She hadn’t heard of any other new brands from Dongling High-Tech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Silver Mink mouse is currently the most technologically advanced mouse in the world—and it will remain so forever!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Distributing the Silver Mink mouse isn’t just for this model—future generations of Silver Mink products will also be sold. This will become the most popular mouse product in history!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Ning Wenke didn’t fully believe it. When Ning’s Trading Company had distributed other products, those companies had boasted even louder than Li Dongling—but without seeing the product, without actual sales data, she remained skeptical. These were hard-earned lessons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hope so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Five million Hong Kong dollars. Ning’s Trading Company demands the five-year exclusive distribution rights for the Silver Mink mouse in Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, Siam, and other Southeast Asian regions. We require a 30% share of the mouse’s profits!” Ning Wenke stated directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Wenke’s terms weren’t excessive by industry standards—typical international brand distributors usually received 20% to 30% profit share. This 30% covered transportation, warehousing, tariffs, and the use of Ning’s Trading Company’s sales channels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were also hidden connections and relationships—unspoken but real. When a brand faced scandal or trouble, an agent with strong connections could quickly suppress the issue before public opinion spiraled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, these weren’t fixed—they depended on the power dynamics between the brand and the distributor, on how strong the brand was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For well-known luxury goods, cars, and electronics, distributors often received very low profit shares—sometimes none at all. Yet agents still flocked to these brands, willing to pay huge sums for distribution rights, because even without rebates, they could mark up prices significantly and earn more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for the Silver Mink mouse, the profit margin was only about 50%—a unit sold for 150 yuan, with roughly 75 yuan profit after costs. Giving Ning’s Trading Company 30% meant the distributor still needed at least 20% to 30% profit for themselves. Every company handling the product had to make some profit—otherwise, who would bother?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That left Dongling High-Tech with only 40 to 50 yuan per unit. This showed just how powerful distributors had become—they were essentially collecting tolls while lying down, yet product makers couldn’t sell without them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking across at Ning Wenke, Li Dongling said, “Dongling High-Tech can offer Ning’s Trading Company a 20% profit share…”\u003C\u002Fp>",1684,"2026-06-21T04:42:08.057Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","2cc44019e5670da75e00840e71ab39e307e9099e6abf2e6c0c983d0a8fb2dd52","reborn-starting-from-1993-chapter-68","reborn-starting-from-1993-chapter-66",989,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Freborn-starting-from-1993-cover.jpg"]