Chapter 78: Thirty Years East of the River, Thirty Years West

Several other agents shared Chen Zuhan’s mindset—gamblers hoping to use this agency rights deal to turn their fortunes around and break through their financial bottlenecks.

This wasn’t unprecedented; agents of products like Sanzhu Oral Liquid, Jianlibao, and Zhonghua Bi Jing had all made massive fortunes, and Chen Zuhan and the others were preparing to take the same gamble.

Gamblers aren’t worthy of sympathy—even if Chen Zuhan and the others lost, failed to make a fortune from the electronic pet machines, or even went bankrupt, it had nothing to do with Dongling High-Tech.

But seeing Chen Zuhan’s expression, Zhang Ao still shook his head and sighed inwardly; if Chen Zuhan and the others lost money, it would inevitably affect Dongling High-Tech’s reputation.

Outside the Dongling High-Tech office building, numerous media reporters were waiting; as Chen Zuhan, Ma Yingxian, and the other agents emerged, they were immediately swarmed by the press.

“Thirty-seven million!”

When reporters learned the agency fee had reached thirty-seven million, they erupted in shock: “This sets a new record for agency fees!”

Reporters who got the news scattered immediately, each rushing to call their newspapers, magazines, even TV stations.

“Dongling High-Tech Electronic Pet Machine Sets Record for Most Expensive Agency Rights in History!”

The Huashang Daily broke the story the next day, followed swiftly by the Hanxi Provincial Daily, the Entrepreneur Daily, the Economic Daily, the China Youth Daily, the Industry and Commerce Daily, the Economic Times, and other major domestic media outlets.

Local media, eager for attention, used exaggerated headlines to report the news.

“Thirty-Seven-Million Agency Fee: Electronic Pet Machine Agency Fee Surpasses Sanzhu Oral Liquid, Brain White Gold, and Other Health Product Agency Fees!”

“Record-Breaking Agency Fee Born: Can the Electronic Pet Machine Replicate Its Sales Miracle?”

“Electronic Pet Machine Sets Multiple First Records for Domestic Brands; Retailers Across the Country Are Already Preparing for Sales!”

The domestic launch of the electronic pet machine was a massive spectacle—even though Li Dongling and Dongling High-Tech hadn’t sought it, the agents and retailers who had paid up were now actively promoting it; posters and ads for the machine appeared in malls, supermarkets, and storefronts.

Coupled with relentless media coverage—effectively free advertising—the domestic market’s anticipation for the electronic pet machine had reached its peak.

Naturally, within a short time, malls and supermarkets would begin to see plenty of spoiled children getting beaten by their parents for screaming and demanding electronic pet machines—after all, everyone deserves a proper childhood, don’t they?

After Gao Peng arrived in Yangcheng, the Tianhua Electronics plant, which had previously manufactured silver mink mice for Dongling High-Tech, changed its sign the next day.

Tianhua Electronics’ founder, Yu Yang, watched as the large characters of “Tianhua Electronics” and the entrance sign were removed, replaced by the new sign reading “Dongling High-Tech Industrial Park.”

Looking back at his company, he didn’t feel sorrow—his contract manufacturing plant looked sizable, with over a thousand employees, but it was merely an assembly factory, earning hard-earned money; annual revenue was decent, but net profit rarely exceeded two million yuan per year.

Dongling High-Tech’s offer was simply too high—it equaled several years of his net profit—and Yu Yang simply couldn’t refuse.

For Dongling High-Tech, acquiring Tianhua Electronics saved the time needed to build a new production center; after training Tianhua’s staff and transferring some technicians, they could immediately begin producing electronic pet machines.

In the future, this Dongling High-Tech Industrial Park would expand further, becoming one of Dongling High-Tech’s most important production centers outside Hanxi Province—not just for electronic pet machines, but for other products as well.

Tao Zhiliang, a production line supervisor riding his bicycle through the Dongling High-Tech Electronics Industrial Park, returned home; though exhausted, his face wore a smile.

“Dad, you’re back!”

As Tao Zhiliang inserted his key into the lock, the door swung open—his daughter had already opened it; seeing his little “cotton-padded jacket,” his face lit up.

But the other brat running over wasn’t so easy to please—he dashed straight for the bag in his father’s hands: “What good food did the factory give out today?”

“Eat, eat, eat—all you think about is eating! Did you finish your homework? Why is your exam ranking lower than last month?!”

Tao Zhiliang switched expressions with his son, scolding him impatiently; but the boy was used to it, still grinning as he snatched the bag, opened it, and exclaimed, “Roast chicken!”

For the past one or two months, production at the Dongling High-Tech Electronics Industrial Park had been heavy, with frequent overtime, so benefits were generous—almost every few days, they distributed food, sometimes household goods too.

“Slap!”

Tao Zhiliang swatted away his son’s reaching hand: “Did you wash your hands before touching it? Let your mom reheat it first! You haven’t answered me yet!”

Watching the roast chicken being taken away, the boy reluctantly said, “It’s not my fault—how was I supposed to know the exam was so hard? She didn’t do well either!”

Seeing the brat point to his sister, Tao Zhiliang glared at him: “Your sister had an off day—you’ve never performed normally! You always find excuses. If you can’t get into university, you’ll regret it later!”

“Fine, I’ll just join you at the Dongling High-Tech Electronics Industrial Park—I’ll eat meat every day!”

“You little brat!”

Hearing this, Tao Zhiliang got angry and reached for his shoe to remind his son of childhood discipline; the boy, sensing danger, bolted into his room.

“Honey, why bother arguing with him? You know how his mouth is—he’s driven every teacher at school crazy more than once with his nonsense.”

“Let me warm you up some wine!”

Tao Zhiliang’s wife, Zhu Jing, took the roast chicken to reheat and pulled out a bottle of liquor, pouring half a pot; it wasn’t any branded liquor, just local brew—but for the Tao family, this was liquor Tao Zhiliang had only started drinking in the past one or two months; before, when Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 didn’t pay wages, they struggled to afford meals, let alone alcohol.

Since joining the Dongling High-Tech Electronics Industrial Park, the Tao family’s life had transformed completely; last month, Tao Zhiliang received nine hundred and twenty yuan in salary, bonuses, allowances, and subsidies—nearly equivalent to what he earned in ten months at Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1.

Part of this was his supervisor’s allowance; other line workers earned two or three hundred yuan less, but still far more than workers at other state-owned enterprises in Pingyang.

“You don’t understand—nowadays, you can’t just walk into the industrial park. Do you know how many people are lining up to get in? They’re hiring mainly skilled workers now—what skills does he have? Do you think I can get him in just because of my worthless old face?!”

Tao Zhiliang snapped, “If he can get into university, I’d work myself to death for it!”

“What nonsense are you talking?” Zhu Jing came out, scolding him too.

At dinner, the Tao family’s meal was decent: two vegetable dishes, a tofu soup, and the roast chicken Tao Zhiliang brought home—far more lavish than before.

Though annoyed with the brat, Tao Zhiliang and Zhu Jing only tasted a bit, giving most of the roast chicken to their children.

“This Sunday, the Dongling High-Tech Logistics Department is showing ‘Huang Feihong: The Lion King Battle’ outdoors—you can bring family members. Everyone gets a free bottle of soda—go together!”

Tao Zhiliang took a sip of wine and told the family; the siblings cheered loudly, and Tao Zhiliang, watching with half-closed eyes, felt his fatigue ease slightly.

Dongling High-Tech’s benefits weren’t necessarily the best in all of Hanxi Province, but they were among the best—especially in salary, treatment, and perks; countless people were fighting to get in, not even to work in the office, but just to join the electronics industrial park.

But now, although Dongling High-Tech still needed workers, it wasn’t like before—just signing up wasn’t enough; you had to pass basic exams and skill assessments. Tao Zhiliang felt that even he might not get in now.

Of course, Dongling High-Tech had been continuously raising salaries; even without bonuses, the base wage for anyone entering the electronics industrial park was now three hundred and fifty yuan—a substantial sum in Pingyang, provincial capitals, even Beijing—and drew countless applicants.

“I’ll get the door!”

As the Tao family ate, the doorbell rang suddenly; Tao Zhiliang’s daughter jumped up to open it, and he heard a familiar voice.

“Brother Tao, I came to see you!”

Tao Zhiliang was startled—it was Tang Xinhong, the former shift supervisor from his workshop at Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1, and also a relative of a certain official there.

Tao Zhiliang hadn’t expected Tang Xinhong to show up—and he was carrying two bags of gifts. Tang Xinhong had always been stern in the workshop, looking down his nose at Tao Zhiliang and the others, harshly criticizing or fining them for even minor mistakes.

Now Tang Xinhong wore a beaming smile—Tao Zhiliang had never seen him smile before.

“Brother Tao, it’s been a long time since we last met!”

Tang Xinhong placed a bag of fruit and a box of abalone on the table; when he looked up, he noticed Tao Zhiliang’s home was filled with fruit cans, milk powder, and other items—he knew these must be Dongling High-Tech’s industrial park benefits, since he knew Tao Zhiliang could never afford them himself.

After entering, Tang Xinhong chatted at length, dredging up old ties from Wireless Factory No. 1 and lavishing praise on Tao Zhiliang’s current status.

“Tang supervisor, why are you here?” Tao Zhiliang finally asked.

“Well,” Tang Xinhong rubbed his hands, smiling eagerly, “I heard you’re a supervisor at the industrial park—I want to get in too. I’m counting on you to speak a few good words for me—I thank you in advance, Brother Tao!”

Seeing Tang Xinhong’s humble, pleading expression, Tao Zhiliang felt the old saying was true: “Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west”—he never imagined he’d see Tang Xinhong like this.

He shook his head helplessly: “Tang supervisor, to be honest, Dongling High-Tech has a dedicated HR department for hiring—I can’t just slip people in.”

In truth, Dongling High-Tech did offer special privileges to frontline workers like Tao Zhiliang—they could recommend candidates, and qualified applicants were given priority.

But Tao Zhiliang and Tang Xinhong had no real relationship; Tang Xinhong had always relied on connections at Wireless Factory No. 1, playing politics and scheming, but had no real skills. Tao Zhiliang didn’t want to waste his recommendation slot on him—and most importantly, he didn’t want to vouch for him. It wasn’t worth it.

Though disappointed Tao Zhiliang didn’t immediately agree, Tang Xinhong still begged him repeatedly as he left, but Tao Zhiliang refused the two bags of gifts and made him take them back.

Watching Tang Xinhong’s retreating figure, Tao Zhiliang shook his head—he never imagined someone would come to him with gifts, begging for favors. He felt the times had truly changed—or rather, Dongling High-Tech had changed Pingyang.

“Careful! Handle them gently!”

In Yangcheng, Chen Zuhan, the electronic pet machine agent, received dozens of crates—ten thousand units total—these machines were to be delivered to sales points across Yangcheng, with official sales beginning tomorrow.

Dongling High-Tech had shipped ten thousand units each to Beijing, Shanghai, and Yangcheng as a trial run; not only were the agency rights holders watching these three cities, but the media was watching too!

One more chapter

(End of Chapter)