Chapter 86: Each Generation Produces Its Talents

Li Dongling looked at Pan En and thought: this journalist from Britain, famed as a “stirrer of shit,” truly had mastered the art of setting traps and fanning flames!

Pan En’s question was full of traps; no matter how Li Dongling answered, he would fall right into them.

If Li Dongling said he would stick to domestic brands, BBC could smear him, labeling Dongling High-Tech as a narrow-minded, radical company that undermined globalization, obstructed free trade, violated trade rules, and engaged in malicious competition—all accusations they could heap onto Dongling High-Tech to ruin its overseas reputation and draw targeted hostility from America and Europe.

Whether it’s Dongling High-Tech’s current electronic pets or future products, all are meant for overseas markets; once branded this way, the company would face constant constraints and hostility abroad, and overseas users would grow hostile toward its products.

But if Li Dongling denied continuing to support domestic brands, it would be a nuclear strike against China’s already crumbling domestic brands.

Dongling High-Tech already has the aura of a leader among domestic tech brands—not because its revenue surpasses Sitong, Giant, Chunlan, Changhong, Haier, or Gree, but because it is one of the few domestic companies still insisting on independent R&D and representing China’s technological innovation.

If Dongling High-Tech knelt down and abandoned self-developed tech, merely leveraging its past reputation to promote foreign brands, China’s already fragile tech industry would face total collapse, likely taking a decade or more to recover its confidence—Pan En was aiming to kill not just the body but the soul.

As one of BBC’s earliest reporters sent to China, Pan En understood China far better than other foreign media.

Right now, foreign brands are flooding into China to seize market share; Dongling High-Tech’s emergence is somewhat “untimely” for them. Even though Dongling High-Tech is still nowhere near a threat to American or European giants, if this unstable factor can be casually eliminated, they’re more than willing to do so.

Pan En smiled as he watched Li Dongling; he held no ill will toward Dongling High-Tech, even a touch of admiration.

Especially after visiting Hanxi and investigating Dongling High-Tech, he felt the company was undeniably promising—under such rudimentary R&D conditions, it had successively launched the Silver Mink mouse and electronic pets, products that would cause a sensation even in Europe.

If Dongling High-Tech were European, it would already be hailed to the skies, with a market cap exceeding a billion pounds, possibly more.

But now, Dongling High-Tech is a Chinese company—and that makes it intriguing. Though Europe and America don’t see China as a rival, they still must target it, especially when facing a potential future threat that might rise up.

Isn’t it said that when an elephant walks by, it doesn’t care if there are ants beneath its feet? Pan En’s targeting of Dongling High-Tech was merely incidental.

In the past, when targeting rivals in Argentina, Brazil, and other South American countries, BBC and other European and American media always acted as vanguards, launching information wars to undermine those companies, after which European and American giants would swoop in to acquire them—a tactic that had never failed.

An Ruxue gave Li Dongling a glance, signaling he could choose not to answer the question; after the interview, they could edit out Pan En’s query and omit it from domestic broadcasts.

But domestic media not reporting it couldn’t stop BBC from broadcasting it overseas; Pan En had already asked, and if Li Dongling refused to answer, BBC would fabricate anything—they could slap on any accusation, just as history: if official records omit it, the unofficial tales run wild.

“Europe has a saying: art knows no borders!”

Li Dongling said to Pan En, “As I just said, Dongling High-Tech aims to develop products like works of art—art should be seen and used by the entire world!”

Right now, products from IBM, Microsoft, Intel, Siemens, Ericsson, and others are treated like art, sold worldwide—including in China.

I hope one day China’s tech industry can also create more such art, letting the whole world enjoy them.

I also hope that when China’s art eventually appears globally, it won’t be blocked under pretexts like security, dumping, or unfair competition—after all, art knows no borders!”

Li Dongling’s words were clearly a sleight of concept, yet Pan En had no rebuttal—how could one claim only IBM and Siemens were allowed to play at art, while others weren’t? How could one permit IBM to sell art worldwide but forbid domestic brands from doing the same?

But hearing the final part, Pan En couldn’t help laughing bitterly—he felt Li Dongling was far too arrogant; that last statement meant domestic brands would someday storm into Europe, crush the old European brands, and force Europe to use every means possible to block Chinese products from selling there.

“I hope to see that day!”

After saying this, Pan En sat down; he thought Li Dongling’s words were pure fantasy. With China’s current tech level, he doubted it could catch up to Europe or America even in thirty years, let alone twenty. Moreover, with Li Dongling’s vision and perspective, Dongling High-Tech wasn’t even a real threat—he suspected it might collapse soon on its own.

“What kind of company do you think Dongling High-Tech will become in the future?” An Ruxue continued asking Li Dongling.

“I hope that in ten, twenty, or even longer years, someone will remember Dongling High-Tech—that it once existed!”

Sitting in the studio, Li Dongling paused, then said, “If possible, I want more users in China and around the world to use Dongling High-Tech’s mice, keyboards, even computers—and perhaps someday, cars—so they can feel proud to use these products!”

“Cars?”

“Is Dongling High-Tech entering the auto industry?!”

Hearing Li Dongling mention cars, An Ruxue and others recording the interview were stunned.

“If the chance arises, why not?”

“Isn’t this a special era?”

Li Dongling chuckled, his gaze turning profound. “Every generation believes their time is the most special—without exception. But the era we live in now may be especially unique!”

“This is a vast, sweeping era—we’re all caught in the current. Many, through effort or luck, stand atop the wave. The view from the crest is dazzling, tempting, and perilous—how one grasps it determines everything.

Excitement and confusion intertwine in every heart. This is an age of miracles—each generation produces its talents, each leading the trend for decades!”

Looking at Li Dongling before her, An Ruxue felt a momentary daze—as if she saw again the young man who once stood on the grass of Hanxi University, gesturing wildly with classmates, pointing out the Jiangshan . But since he visited her home and spoke alone with her mother, Du Fengying, she had never seen this Li Dongling again.

After the interview, Wang Huikang, in charge of this feature, rushed over—he was extremely satisfied. Though the interview touched no sensitive topics, it was enough to help viewers rediscover Dongling High-Tech’s founder.

Wang Huikang said to Li Dongling, “Director Li, this interview was too short. If there’s a chance, our provincial station will do a solo interview with you next time!”

“Should we edit out BBC’s questions?”

Wang Huikang asked Li Dongling’s opinion—whether to air the foreign media segment depended entirely on the subject’s preference.

“No need. Just air it as-is.”

Li Dongling said directly. After this interview airs, voices will surely emerge accusing him of overreaching by challenging foreign giants—but Dongling High-Tech’s next step is to launch digital cordless phones overseas; whether he challenges them or not, the fact remains unchanged.

(End of Chapter)