[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-reborn-starting-from-1993":3,"chapter-reborn-starting-from-1993-reborn-starting-from-1993-chapter-91":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},2357075,4611,"Chapter 91: The Alien","reborn-starting-from-1993-chapter-91",91,"\u003Cp>Ren Yuefeng’s management system certainly couldn’t match the one IBM built for the Chrysanthemum Factory with two hundred million dollars, dozens of engineers, and management gurus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the management system Ren Yuefeng established for Dongling High-Tech now gave every department—both internally and externally—standardized procedures, eliminating finger-pointing, blame-shifting, and evasion, clearly defining each department’s responsibilities and their respective heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Between production, procurement, and sales departments, coordination improved, though how much efficiency rose was hard to say; at least there were now clear norms and processes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This change wouldn’t be immediately obvious, but over time it would sharply contrast with the previous makeshift setup, and at critical moments, it might prove invaluable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the new management system gradually rolled out, Ren Yuefeng also began to solidify his position at Dongling High-Tech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dongling High-Tech’s management layer was now essentially formed by General Manager Ren Yuefeng, Finance Manager Hu Zi, Marketing Director Zhang Ao, Technology Director Chen Tao, and Logistics Directors Li Dongshan and Gao Peng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the Technology Department, it was now directly managed by Li Dongling—this was currently the department with the largest budget at Dongling High-Tech. The Technology Department included not only the internal tech division but also the joint laboratory in the provincial capital; both now and in the future, the Technology Department would remain Dongling High-Tech’s largest expense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Shen Zhou digital cordless phone has already entered trial production; if the trial is successful, mass production will begin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next, the most important thing is distribution and promotion: produce promotional videos for the domestic market, and find a spokesperson overseas!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his first mission at Dongling High-Tech, Ren Yuefeng couldn’t afford to be careless. He had indeed stabilized his position, but he knew exactly how he got there—if Li Dongling hadn’t backed him wholeheartedly, how could Hu Zi, Zhang Ao, and others have cooperated so smoothly? Without Li Dongling’s support, chaos would’ve erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren Yuefeng was an outsider appointed as General Manager; how much influence he retained afterward would depend entirely on how well he performed in this first project. If he failed, even with Li Dongling’s backing, his voice at Dongling High-Tech would be severely weakened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, before he arrived, Dongling High-Tech had been riding a wave of momentum, continuously achieving what outsiders saw as miracles. If he, as the new General Manager, immediately underperformed, who would believe in him? He’d likely be shouted down and forced to step aside, forcing Li Dongling back into the spotlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dongling knew Ren Yuefeng spoke the truth: Dongling High-Tech had sufficient recognition domestically, but in Europe and America, a spokesperson was essential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For the overseas launch of the Shen Zhou digital cordless phone, we’ll first release it in Southeast Asia and Europe, then enter the North American market.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for the spokesperson, choose him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dongling opened a copy of “Football Club” magazine beside him and pointed to a young European football prospect, saying to Ren Yuefeng, “Him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Europe was a region where football was wildly popular; selecting a football star as the Shen Zhou digital cordless phone’s spokesperson would greatly benefit its promotion in Europe, and if it were a superstar, the impact would be even greater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Him?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren Yuefeng stared at the teenager on the magazine cover with a youthful face. He didn’t follow football closely, but even he could tell this player wasn’t yet famous—he looked far too young and inexperienced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we’re choosing a football star as spokesperson, shouldn’t we pick an established one? It might cost more, but…” Ren Yuefeng cautiously suggested to Li Dongling, assuming Li was worried about the high cost of a star’s endorsement fee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eight million U.S. dollars—sign him for ten years at eight million U.S. dollars!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dongling named a figure that left Ren Yuefeng stunned: eight million U.S. dollars was an astronomical sum in this era. Domestic celebrities earned only twenty to thirty thousand RMB for endorsements—top-tier stars at most. Even Hong Kong’s biggest singing queens earned no more than a million.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now Dongling High-Tech was paying eight million U.S. dollars for a spokesperson—it sounded downright terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This fee is absolutely worth it. Last year he made Brazil’s youth team; this year he’s in the national team. We’ll design a signature goal celebration for him—‘making a call’—and every time he scores, audiences across Europe and the world will see the Shen Zhou digital cordless phone ad!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dongling explained to Ren Yuefeng: eight million U.S. dollars equaled sixty-four million RMB—terrifying on paper, but spread over ten years, it was roughly eight hundred thousand U.S. dollars per year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though still expensive now, once the eighteen-year-old player on the magazine cover became a superstar and won the World Footballer of the Year award, this endorsement fee would seem like a bargain—unbeatable value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even his nickname “The Alien” could be trademarked by Dongling High-Tech; later, they could launch phones, computers, and mobile devices under the “Alien” brand. One endorsement fee could yield a decade—or longer—of returns. The cost-to-benefit ratio was simply too good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After this endorsement deal, the whole world will know you’re a hardcore football fan. This will be the craziest move of my entire career!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren Yuefeng had only been in Hanxi for a short time, but he’d already felt the raw, unrestrained tactics of these Chinese entrepreneurs. In Hong Kong, bosses investigated thoroughly, negotiated with agents, haggled over prices, then signed deals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who did this—spot a spokesperson and drop millions in one go? It was pure gamble: win, and the eighteen-year-old becomes a football legend, and Shen Zhou becomes an overnight sensation; lose, and eight million U.S. dollars vanish. This all-or-nothing thrill made Ren Yuefeng’s heart race.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now Ren Yuefeng finally understood why so many legendary entrepreneurs emerged in China: these extreme, high-stakes moves either led to heaven or hell. Only those who succeeded left stories behind; the rest? Long buried, forgotten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dongling smiled at Ren Yuefeng. “When are you bringing your wife over?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In a while. Things are too hectic right now—just getting things off the ground. Even if she came, I wouldn’t have time to see her!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Ren Yuefeng prepared to return to his office, Li Dongling put a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t rush. Tonight’s on me. Zhang Ao, Gao Peng, and others are grilling—come eat with us. You need to get to know them. You’ll be working with them long-term.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren Yuefeng being a “lonely minister” was good for Li Dongling. If the company became a unified bloc, it would actually be worse for Li Dongling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if Ren Yuefeng had zero interaction with Dongling High-Tech’s other executives, factions would soon form, leading to bitter infighting. Everything needed balance—and as the major shareholder, Li Dongling had to maintain that equilibrium.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arriving at the courtyard used for recreation, even before approaching, faint music and laughter could be heard. This entire area had been bought by Dongling High-Tech, so no one would complain about noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you only showing up now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yao Luoying opened the door and naturally grabbed Li Dongling’s arm—but seeing Ren Yuefeng beside him, she quickly let go. “Manager Ren, welcome!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Director Yao!” Ren Yuefeng acted as if he’d seen nothing, his face still stern. He understood social etiquette—he’d seen Hong Kong tycoons arrive at parties with actresses. Hong Kong’s social norms were far looser than mainland China’s; just look at how many entertainment gossip outlets thrived there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big Brother Li!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing Li Dongling enter, Zhang Ao, Gao Peng, and several men and women all stood up and called out to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Manager Ren, have a drink!” Hu Zi, Chen Tao, and others also raised their glasses to Ren Yuefeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s sail the same boat from now on!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren Yuefeng glanced at the group, took the glass, and raised it in salute. Once he downed the drink, the atmosphere instantly warmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pingyang had little nightlife—not just Pingyang, but most Chinese cities were similar. The bar culture hadn’t taken off yet; the liveliest spots were karaoke lounges. But karaoke was too expensive for ordinary people. Dance halls existed, but most played slow music, which young people didn’t like—except for black dance halls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those places weren’t for dancing. Halfway through, the lights would suddenly go out, and the two people dancing together would do… whatever they wanted. Who’d go to such a place? Were the people who went there even decent?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, high-energy disco music would surge, sparking dance halls across major Chinese cities, followed by bars—nightlife would become part of entertainment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, neither dance halls nor bars had taken off. Once movie theaters closed at night, young people had nothing to do but go home and watch TV.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This courtyard, however, had a VCD player, video recorder, sound system, and karaoke machine—it naturally became Zhang Ao, Gao Peng, and their friends’ top nighttime destination. Every evening, it turned into one of Pingyang’s busiest spots. Attendees were friends from Gao Peng and Zhang Ao’s municipal compound and unit housing estates, forming an informal circle. Many young people in Pingyang wanted to join, as if being part of this group meant entering an elite circle, gaining status and prestige…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few drinks, the atmosphere grew lively. Someone played a song, and many stood up, dancing and swaying. After dancing a while, Yao Luoying suddenly pulled Li Dongling to his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dongling tried to refuse, but Yao Luoying dragged him up. Now, men and women danced only ballroom style—not wild, chaotic dancing. Li Dongling hadn’t danced in years; he’d only done it a few times back at Hanxi Jiaotong University in his past life, and he’d forgotten everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yao Luoying wasn’t much better. After Li Dongling stepped on her foot, she giggled. They stepped on each other’s feet several times before gradually syncing with the rhythm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After one song, the music switched to a fast-paced dance track. Li Dongling and Yao Luoying danced a bit longer, then stepped away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m done!” Wiping sweat from his forehead, Li Dongling watched Gao Peng and others dancing wildly. Yao Luoying handed him a drink; he clinked glasses with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1680,"2026-06-21T04:42:08.057Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a93046136be205f81ffe02a5627e9712f4099dcafd1ab1b2fece84065f413107","reborn-starting-from-1993-chapter-92","reborn-starting-from-1993-chapter-90",989,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Freborn-starting-from-1993-cover.jpg"]