Chapter 414: Good News 2.0

"Xiao'e, who came up with this lottery scheme of yours?" Zhang Ping'an, at the headquarters of the Oriental Group in Xiangjiang, asked.

"Brother-in-law, it was me. It was Wei Chun and Wei Xia buying lottery tickets that gave me the inspiration. I thought it had potential, so I found people to do it."

"Hmm, the idea is quite good; it's made our Oriental Residential Complex a hit once again."

"Hehe, it's a pity I didn't have time to go over, but the photos have already been sent over. I've seen them; it really is just like when people were rushing to buy houses back then."

"Hmm, I saw that there were television station interviews on-site. I reckon we might even make it onto the Pengcheng Livelihood News tonight."

"That would be great. Our five residential complexes next month can also bask in the reflected glory."

"Hmm, not bad. Have the prices been set?"

"After conducting market research, we have tentatively set two prices: 919 and 888."

"Hmm... that's a bit expensive. The buildings they've constructed are too dense, and the greening rate isn't high either. Let's set it at 818. Prioritize the Mainland first, and we can release a hundred or so units to Xiangjiang every day to stimulate consumption in Pengcheng."

"Mm, okay."

Right now, many people in Xiangjiang are waiting for the residential complexes under the Oriental Residential Complex to open for sale. If there were truly no purchase restrictions, they would buy them all up directly.

Then, by reselling them at a higher price or renting them out, the Oriental Group would essentially be working for them for free. Zhang Ping'an naturally would not allow such a situation to occur.

"Fen Lan, is there any news back from there?"

"Yes, but it's also about the infighting between the old and new factions. Brother-in-law, is it necessary for us to get involved?"

"Of course, it is absolutely necessary. This is a major industry of the future."

Zhang Ping'an was getting impatient. When he came over from Pengcheng, his good son Zhang Weidong called to say that Nokia had already established an office in Sijiucheng. Although it wasn't for the mobile phone business, this was still not a good sign.

"Let Qian Xiaoming start winning over the old fogies. We can't wait any longer. If they really see the prospects, they won't sell even if we want to buy."

"Okay."

"Ring-a-ling, ring-a-ling."

"Hello, General Manager Lou, it's me, Xiaoming. I have good news. They have agreed to sell the mobile phone business as a package, but the price is too high. It's practically an exorbitant demand."

"Good, good, good. What is the price?"

"Is this General Manager Zhang? They are asking for three billion US dollars."

"It's me. Damn, they really dare to ask. Nokia didn't spend more than two billion when they acquired them back then, and that included the talent and the entire market for Salora."

"Drive the price down. We only want the technology and the talent. Two billion—if they can sell, they sell. Forget it, just agree to it directly."

"Really, General Manager Zhang?"

"Mm, delays lead to complications. Do it. Of course, don't agree all at once. Try to haggle so they feel they've gotten a great deal."

"Regarding the talent, if they are willing to come to Xiangjiang, provide housing, double their salaries, and arrange jobs for their family members."

"Understood, General Manager Zhang."

A week later, Qian Xiaoming sent word again. Unexpectedly, he had managed to cut the price down to 2.7 billion, and now a bunch of old fogies were chasing after Qian Xiaoming to sign the contract.

"Good, then stop while you're ahead, so as not to be counterproductive."

"Understood, General Manager Zhang. The main development team will also return to Xiangjiang with us."

"Hahaha, good! Xiaoming, you've performed a great service. When you return, tell me what you want; I will grant you anything."

"Thank you, General Manager Zhang. I was raised by the Group, and the Group has treated me well, so I naturally must repay it."

"Good, good, good. Then we'll talk when everything is finished and you return. The Group will not mistreat those who have rendered meritorious service."

"Understood, General Manager Zhang."

"Beautiful, hahaha."

Zhang Ping'an hung up the phone and couldn't help but strike his left fist into his right palm. Now, the Oriental Group's mobile phone business had a landing spot.

"Xiao'e, buy land quickly. Prepare to build a research and development center. How many high-end villas do we have left?"

"Mainly the townhouses are left; I think there are about twenty units."

"Alright, keep those for now. Focus on the land first. We are going to take off within three to five years."

"Mm, okay."

It was the first time Lou Xiaoe had seen Zhang Ping'an so excited in public. It seemed this mobile phone business really would be the mainstream in the future.

Yet, Lou Xiaoe looked at the Big Brother in her hand; the big brick wasn't convenient at all, not to mention it was heavy and the signal wasn't very good either.

"Xiao'e, don't look at the Big Brother of today. Future mobile phones will only be the size of a palm and half a finger thick."

"How is that possible?"

"Hahaha, just you wait and see. Within ten years, there will definitely be such things."

Zhang Ping'an was very happy. In later generations, everyone had a mobile phone, carrying it with them everywhere—adults and children alike—and they couldn't help but fiddle with it when they held it in their hands.

The market prospects were limitless; it was one of the pillar industries of the future.

Zhang Ping'an also began learning the Fen Lan language. In any case, he had to be able to handle daily communication, otherwise, he wouldn't know if people were talking behind his back.

As for Jinghai, Gao Qiqiang got up even earlier. Every day, besides selling his own, he had to prepare two hundred jin of fish for the breeding farm and the Group branch cafeteria.

When Qian Xiaoniu brought it up to Gao Qiqiang, he agreed without hesitation. Now, he only felt that every day was more fulfilling.

A month later, the main R&D team led by Qian Xiaoming returned to Xiangjiang. Looking at the villas the Group had prepared for them, everyone was very satisfied, and then they called their families to come over.

Lou Xiaoe had also bought the land, just waiting for their team to come over and study how to build it.

The sales offices for the five residential complexes in neighboring Pengcheng already had long queues. The price of just over eight hundred shocked both sides of the strait, just as popular as the Oriental Residential Complex.

In the evening, Zhang Ping'an personally came out to receive the thirteen of them. His fluent Fen Lan language made them feel very close.

"Xie, you are the most special BOSS I have ever met. You make people feel very comfortable when you speak."

"Hahaha, Vitaning, believe that our cooperation will be very pleasant."

"That is natural. You are the BOSS. As long as you don't interfere with our R&D, we will listen to everything you say."

"Mm-hm."

Next was the construction of the R&D center. Zhang Ping'an granted everything they asked for, striving to build it as quickly as possible so that they could compete with the Big Brother for the market.

During this period, Zhang Ping'an also discussed mobile phones with the thirteen people from the perspective of a layman; many of Zhang Ping'an's viewpoints were very inspiring to them, and they couldn't wait to immediately dive into research and development.

After Zhang Ping'an finished signing the employment contracts with them, he compiled some of what he had seen and heard in later generations, including but not limited to phone models, into a booklet and handed it directly to them.

"Oh my god, Xie, your imagination is simply unconstrained; you are too suitable to be a creative director."

"Hahaha, I've just read too many science fiction books; it's all just wild imagination, not worth mentioning."

"No, no, the future you described is very likely to be realized," Vitaning said with a serious face.

"Haha, alright, then I will wait for your surprise."

Zhang Ping'an and Vitaning and the others discussed things every few days until the end of April, when Zhang Ping'an and Wang Xiaoling took the children back to Sijiucheng, as the date of Weiping's wedding was fast approaching.

"You've finally returned; you two haven't put your hearts into the children's wedding at all."

"Ahem, Dad, Xiao Ling and I have been busy the whole time; we rushed back the first moment we were free, didn't we?"

"Alright, except for the meat, I've prepared almost everything else."

"Good, good, good, I will prepare the meat and fish."

At four o'clock in the morning on May 5th, Zhang Xile set off from Sijiucheng with a group of nephews and nieces, and arrived at the Textile Factory Family Quarters by eight o'clock.