[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-reborn-starting-from-1993":3,"chapter-reborn-starting-from-1993-reborn-starting-from-1993-chapter-73":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},2357057,4611,"Chapter 73: Airdrop","reborn-starting-from-1993-chapter-73",73,"\u003Cp>America is indeed the world’s largest empire today and possesses the strongest consumer power, but the old Russians had only just fallen, and America had not yet extended its influence globally—even Hollywood had not gone global yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for entertainment and gaming, Sony and Nintendo’s consoles dominated the American gaming market, while Microsoft had not yet entered the console industry, clearly illustrating America’s current strength in entertainment and gaming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The electronic pet device, which had sparked a craze in Japan—a region where electronics and gaming were extremely advanced—was equally applicable to Americans who had never even tasted fine rice, and could even be described as a dimensional strike!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first batch of 20,000 electronic pet devices, distributed through Bandai and Toys “R” Us retail outlets in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston, sold out completely in less than three days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the trial results, Toys “R” Us no longer hesitated and began aggressively promoting the electronic pet device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>America’s media channels were far more mature than Japan’s; images of the electronic pet device appeared on TV stations, newspapers, magazines, and outdoor advertisements across New York and other major cities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as in Japan, this egg of an electronic pet device transcended age, region, skin color, and language, igniting a frenzy across America.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second batch of electronic pet devices, air-freighted to New York, was distributed to major stores; immediately, long queues formed outside Toys “R” Us and Bandai outlets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a cultural invasion!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The New York Times cover used the hundred-meter-long queue outside Toys “R” Us’s New York store to define the storm the electronic pet device had stirred in America; yet, after its sensational headline, the New York Times also reported, “The electronic pet device, or Tamagotchi, has pioneered an entirely new human-machine interaction framework for nurturing-type games—a completely new gaming model!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The New York Times’ commentary on the electronic pet device did not affect its sales in North America; instead, it made countless people even more curious about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just five days, the 300,000 electronic pet devices air-freighted to America were sold out; when Toys “R” Us and Bandai stores announced they were out of stock, the electronic pet device sparked a frenzy on America’s black market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After stores ran out of stock, a $15 electronic pet device in New York’s black market was inflated to over a hundred dollars!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Americans were even more extreme than the Japanese at cutting the grass; in Japan, the electronic pet device was at most inflated to 30,000 or 50,000 yen—roughly thirty to forty dollars—but these American scalpers were even greedier, driving prices up to over a hundred dollars per unit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such high profits led some American scalpers to rush to Japan to snatch up stock, regardless of the language version; once brought back, they could be sold at premium prices, and suddenly, flights from America to Japan were fully booked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Strengthen security—no mistakes allowed! Send another patrol team here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if all of Pingyang loses water and power, this place must never be cut off!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All departments under the Transportation Bureau must coordinate with Mayor Yao’s Commerce Department…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the entrance of Dongling High-Tech Electronics Park, Luo Junwu arrived with a group of city leaders and addressed the heads of various departments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the overseas revenue from the electronic pet device was credited, neither the Pingyang municipal government nor the Hanxi provincial government had paid attention to Dongling High-Tech, since the electronic pet device had not been sold domestically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after the sales revenue—amounting to $10.5 million in a mix of Japanese yen, Korean won, and Singapore dollars—was repatriated, the Pingyang municipal government, and even the provincial Department of Industry, began turning their attention to Dongling High-Tech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was impossible to ignore: in this era, companies spending foreign exchange were everywhere, but those earning it were rare; coupled with this year’s tax reforms, a local company like Dongling High-Tech that earned foreign exchange could not escape attention—not just from Pingyang, but from the provincial government as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing at the entrance of Dongling High-Tech Electronics Park and looking across several hundred meters to the closed gates and decaying appearance of Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1, the contrast was stark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the electronics park, Luo Junwu, Yao Zhengru, and others saw a bustling scene: construction teams were still working furiously, and the recruitment office continued hiring new staff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mayor Luo!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dongling emerged with Hu Zi, Yao Luoying, Zhang Ao, and others, shook hands with Luo Junwu, then gave a slight nod to Yao Zhengru.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yesterday, Director Li of the Provincial Department of Industry called me to ask about Dongling High-Tech’s status; even Beijing’s Economic and Trade Department called. You’ve been silent, yet you’ve launched a giant satellite!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing Li Dongling, Luo Junwu wore a full smile; just a month ago, he had regretted that Dongling High-Tech had rejected the investment from Sitong Group and missed the chance for a listing assisted by Sitong Securities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, Dongling High-Tech had earned ten million U.S. dollars in foreign exchange in a single month—truly a giant satellite launch. Even companies already listed in China with market caps of billions mostly dominated only the domestic market; how many could actually earn foreign exchange?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the production workshop and watching the electronic pet devices roll off the assembly line, Luo Junwu asked Li Dongling, “These are really being sold to Japan, Korea, Singapore, and elsewhere?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’ve now entered the North American market; sales in North America have already exceeded 320,000 units!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that the electronic pet device had reached North America, Luo Junwu, Yao Zhengru, and others were stunned; for so long, American brands—from airplanes to cars, computers to soft drinks, even burger joints—had lined up in China, flooding the market with goods, so much so that the CEO of General Motors had praised the Chinese market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The saying that it took eight million shirts to trade for one American airplane—true or false—still revealed the overwhelming dominance of American and European brands in China.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to this year’s statistics, China’s top exported products last year were leather shoes, shirts, clothing, and plastic goods—all of them manufactured as OEM for foreign brands; computers, airplanes, cars, and chips were almost entirely imported.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances, Dongling High-Tech’s ability to sell the electronic pet device to Japan, America, and Korea—and reverse-cut the grass—was a shock to Luo Junwu, Yao Zhengru, and others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dongling picked up an electronic pet device: “Dongling High-Tech has now launched English, Japanese, and Korean versions; the next step is German and French versions to enter the European market!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The electronic pet device’s peak popularity would last at most one or two years, and within months, pirated and counterfeit versions would emerge; Dongling High-Tech must sell the device as fast as possible to high-consumption regions like Japan, America, Britain, Germany, and France—to earn money for one or two years, cut a few rounds of grass, and be done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The foreign exchange earned from the electronic pet device was sufficient for Dongling High-Tech to purchase numerous R&D devices, advanced equipment, and production lines, providing cash flow for many projects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Pingyang municipal government will fully support Dongling High-Tech and guarantee the production of the Dongling High-Tech Electronics Park!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyone who causes trouble for Dongling High-Tech is challenging the Pingyang municipal government—and even the provincial government! I, Luo Junwu, will never let this go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Luo Junwu’s tone was fierce, his gaze fixed on the group of Pingyang municipal staff—he intended for their mouths to spread his words, making everyone aware of his stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the previous lawsuit against Microsoft had only granted Dongling High-Tech fame and established it as a banner of domestic tech brands with a golden shield, this time Dongling High-Tech had gained a second golden shield: it was earning foreign exchange. Domestic authorities, like the world over, highly valued companies that earned foreign exchange and provided large-scale employment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With these two golden shields, any demons or monsters wanting to make trouble for Dongling High-Tech or harbor ulterior motives must weigh the consequences; as Dongling High-Tech’s hand of cards grows stronger, any demon or monster daring to reach out will have its claws severed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, Dongling High-Tech is in the critical phase of earning foreign exchange; if any problem arises, not only will the provincial capital take notice, but even Beijing’s Economic and Trade Department will intervene. Anyone who dares to reach out to Dongling High-Tech is truly trying to kill Luo Junwu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Junwu was not a man obsessed with power; at his age, if he could not advance further in the next one or two years, his political career would effectively end at his current position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the emergence of Dongling High-Tech stirred Luo Junwu’s ambitions: if Dongling High-Tech truly became a major taxpayer for Pingyang and even Hanxi Province, it would become one of his most significant achievements during his term.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if his political career remained unchanged, Luo Junwu, a military man, still had the drive to get things done; if Dongling High-Tech grew and provided countless job positions, helping many Pingyang families solve employment issues, filling bellies and leaving behind a clean reputation, that would be enough for Luo Junwu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In London, England, after class, Feng Miaoyu returned to her rented apartment near the University of London. She was from Beijing, a self-funded international student; her father was among the first to dive into business, making a fortune trading goods in the former Soviet Union, then building his own factory—otherwise, she could never have afforded tuition of five thousand pounds per semester.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Combined with the high cost of apartment rent, only a family like the Fengs, who owned a factory, could afford such expensive tuition and living expenses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Miaoyu’s academic performance in China was average; although Chinese universities still allowed self-funded enrollment, her father sent her abroad to “gold-plate” her resume. Paying out of pocket, the value of a “sea turtle” now far exceeded that of a self-funded Chinese university graduate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In England, Feng Miaoyu found the food and lifestyle hard to adapt to; after class each day, she stayed in her apartment watching TV and listening to music to pass the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning on the TV, she saw the BBC channel; she picked up a book mailed from China and occasionally glanced up at the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Today, we feature a product sweeping North America—and potentially about to spark a trend in Europe: the electronic pet device, or Tamagotchi!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The British company Hamleys has officially imported this product, which is currently the most popular electronic item in America, Japan, and elsewhere!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The BBC presenter’s voice continued in Feng Miaoyu’s ears: “This product is currently selling fifteen units per minute in North America; in New York, Los Angeles, and other major cities, its price has been inflated to over four hundred U.S. dollars!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Feng Miaoyu finally looked up from her book, drawn by the news; but the next words from the BBC presenter made her open her mouth in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Currently, the electronic pet device is sold by three companies: Bandai, the world’s fifth-largest toy giant from Japan; America’s Toys ‘R’ Us; and a Hong Kong-based agent named Ning’s Trading Company!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But according to our BBC reporters’ investigation in Hong Kong, this product—now selling over two million units worldwide—is actually developed and manufactured by a company in Hanxi, China!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1905,"2026-06-21T04:42:08.057Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a33820a98e81a1ebfefe2d5ddfcc3dc7d6e08cf83b3f3c6ddc03cabc4bc00d8f","reborn-starting-from-1993-chapter-74","reborn-starting-from-1993-chapter-72",989,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Freborn-starting-from-1993-cover.jpg"]