Reborn on Hong Kong Island - Leading the Tech War #1-100
Author: 八刃贤狼
Date: 2025-10-31T20:35:48+00:00

Chapter 1: Reborn into the Hu Family of Hong Kong

Hong Kong Island, Victoria Peak, Lishan Apartments.

Hu Jiangshan sat on the balcony, reading the latest issue of the Sing Tao Daily.

[Huayao Executives Denied Entry to the Beacon Country for Unknown Reasons]

“Is this happening so soon?”

Hu Jiangshan murmured to himself and placed the newspaper on the small table.

Without needing to read the article, Hu Jiangshan already knew what was going on.

But the timing seemed to be earlier than he remembered.

It was currently 2018.

In his memory, Huayao’s executives were supposed to be barred from entering the Beacon Country across the ocean next year.

Huayao was the foremost technology company in China. It had started with telecommunications equipment and was now a renowned mobile phone giant.

Huayao phones sold well globally, and the company was already ranked among the top three in Blue Star’s mobile phone sales charts.

If nothing unexpected happened, Huayao would claim the top spot for global phone sales in just a few more months.

But something unexpected was bound to happen.

Huayao was being targeted. The company’s business divisions, especially its mobile phone segment, were about to take a heavy blow.

The reason Hu Jiangshan knew all this was because he was no ordinary person.

His body was now inhabited by a different soul—that of a top-tier scientist who had traveled back from the future.

Several months had passed since his soul took over this body. Now, spirit and flesh had fully merged, and he had completely adapted to his new life.

He was Hu Jiangshan, the grandson of Hong Kong tycoon Hu Yingxiang.

Hu Yingxiang was a famous patriotic businessman from Hong Kong, much like Henry Fok. In the early years, he had done many bold things to help China through difficult times.

He had also been the one to spearhead the famous Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge project.

Recently, however, the Hu family’s influence had waned considerably. They were not as prominent as the Huo family, let alone Hong Kong’s four great families.

But even a weakened giant is still a giant. The Hu family remained a powerhouse in Hong Kong, owning numerous properties, including the Lishan Apartments, which boasted an extremely prime location.

From the apartment balcony, one could see the bustling and beautiful Victoria Harbour—the single most iconic landmark of Hong Kong.

Of course, the name “Victoria Harbour” itself was a remnant of the colonial era and not particularly glorious, but the view was undeniably spectacular.

The apartment Hu Jiangshan lived in was a thousand-square-foot suite.

Though that was less than a hundred square meters in mainland China, this apartment had no common area included in its square footage, making it quite spacious for one person.

More importantly, this was halfway up Victoria Peak, where every inch of land was precious. The location was superb.

At this moment, Hu Jiangshan felt a sense of unease. An event from his past life had occurred ahead of schedule. Did this mean that subsequent events would also be brought forward?

If that was the case, he had to start thinking about a counter-plan.

As a top-tier scientist transmigrated to this era, Hu Jiangshan definitely wanted to achieve something, but he currently had no clear direction.

After all, he was just one person. Even with his vast scientific knowledge, he was powerless on his own.

Just then, a flash of inspiration struck him, a thought that felt like a premonition.

Hu Jiangshan picked up his phone from the table, unlocked the screen, and was surprised to find a new app.

[Technology Engine]

He froze. When had he installed this?

He tapped on the app. The interface was simple, yet it contained a massive amount of information.

Hu Jiangshan was completely baffled.

A semiconductor production line?

Could it really be done with an investment of ten million Hong Kong dollars and a construction period of thirty days?

He noticed a red button at the bottom and couldn’t resist pressing it.

[Construction conditions not met. Program cannot be initiated.]

So that was it. This must be the ability that came with his transmigration.

To build a semiconductor production line, he needed a space of at least one thousand square meters and ten million Hong Kong dollars in seed money.

It was embarrassing to admit, but even as a young master of the Hu family, he couldn’t produce ten million dollars. Finding a one-thousand-square-meter factory space was even harder.

Then again, while the two conditions were difficult, they weren’t impossible to meet.

If he could build an advanced semiconductor production line at this very moment, what would happen?

It would undoubtedly change the course of history!

He, Hu Jiangshan, would have made a monumental contribution.

After some thought, Hu Jiangshan made a call.

The person he called was a foreigner named Kevin.

Kevin was a sharp man from Britain who had lived in Hong Kong for over a decade, making him practically a local.

He worked as a broker—a middleman with extensive connections and access to information. Things that couldn’t be handled through official channels, he could likely sort out.

Hu Jiangshan wanted Kevin to help him find a suitable place to build the semiconductor production line.

The call connected, and Kevin’s slightly accented Cantonese came through the line.

“Hey, Mr. Hu, are you well?”

“I’m fine, Kevin. I need you to find a place for me.”

“What kind of place?”

“I have only three requirements. First, it must be large. Second, it must be sufficiently discreet. And third, it needs to be as accessible as possible.”

Kevin chuckled. “Mr. Hu, a place like that won’t be easy to find.”

“If it were easy, I wouldn’t be calling you, Kevin,” Hu Jiangshan said coolly.

“You’re right, Mr. Hu. I’ll get back to you soon.”

After hanging up, Hu Jiangshan picked up the Sing Tao Daily again. In a small corner, he spotted another news item.

[Recently, renowned Chinese physicist Zhang Zhicheng went missing in the Beacon Country.]

The article was short, but its content was shocking.

Hu Jiangshan knew that the Chinese tech executives being denied entry to the Beacon Country and Zhang Zhicheng’s disappearance were connected.

Zhang Zhicheng was an outstanding scientist, particularly known for his immense achievements in semiconductors. He had been hailed as a genius in the field.

It wasn’t unusual for people to go missing in the Beacon Country, but Zhang’s special status made it hard not to read between the lines.

Anyone who wasn’t a fool knew what had happened!

He had to get the semiconductor production line built as soon as possible to seize the initiative.

Now, it all depended on how reliable Kevin was.

As for how to get ten million Hong Kong dollars, Hu Jiangshan’s plan was simple.

He would get a bank loan.

Although the Hu family was not as powerful as before, they still had a solid reputation in Hong Kong.

Of course, he wasn’t entirely sure how much he could actually borrow.

Just one day later, Hu Jiangshan received a call from Kevin.

“Hello, Mr. Hu. Is this a good time to talk?”

“It is. Go ahead.”

“I’ve found a suitable location. When would you be able to take a look?”

“Where is it?” Hu Jiangshan asked.

“It’s an island,” Kevin replied.

“…An island?”

“Yes, a deserted island. It’s not far from Hong Kong, very secluded. It meets your requirements.”

“Good. Take me to see it.”

Chapter 2: Building a Semiconductor Production Line on the Island

An hour later, Hu Jiangshan and Kevin met.

Kevin was dressed in a suit and tie, looking quite the part.

“Mr. Hu, would you like to get something to eat?”

Hu Jiangshan shook his head. “No, thanks. Let’s go straight there. Is it far?”

“Not far. If it were too far, the transportation would be inconvenient, and you wouldn’t be satisfied.”

Kevin drove Hu Jiangshan to a small fishing village.

This fishing village was called Duckbill Village. It wasn’t large, very simple, with only a small pier.

Kevin found a motorboat, and he and Hu Jiangshan set out to sea.

There were many outlying islands near Hong Kong Island, hundreds of them, large and small, and countless deserted ones. But not many were substantial; most were tiny, no different from a reef.

Kevin said the island he had found was different. Although it was a deserted island, it was of top quality.

Hu Jiangshan remained noncommittal. He could only take Kevin’s words with a grain of salt. He’d have to see it for himself to know if it was any good.

After the fishing boat had traveled for half an hour, an island appeared in the distance.

Kevin said, “Mr. Hu, that’s the one.”

And what do you know, the island didn’t look small at all. By visual estimation, it could be considered a medium-sized island, and there was even a lighthouse on it.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “Why is there a lighthouse? Isn’t it a deserted island?”

Kevin said, “Mr. Hu, that lighthouse hasn’t been used in a long time.”

“Were there people on the island before?”

“Yes, people did live on this island before, but they all left later. It’s been deserted for decades.”

Hu Jiangshan found this strange and asked, “Why did people stop living here? Is there a problem with it?”

“Well…” Kevin hesitated.

“Just say what’s on your mind. I don’t want any surprises.”

Kevin quickly said, “It’s like this, Mr. Hu. During World War II, the Japanese army was stationed on this island.”

Hu Jiangshan understood immediately. He looked at Kevin. “The people on the island were all killed?”

Kevin nodded.

Well, I’ll be. So it’s a ghost island. No wonder it’s been deserted for so many years.

The people of Hong Kong Island are very superstitious about such things. Even if someone had taken a fancy to the island, they would surely have given up on it after hearing about the massacre that occurred there.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “What’s the name of this island?”

Kevin replied, “General’s Island.”

Hu Jiangshan was taken aback for a moment.

That’s a good name. Quite imposing.

A moment later, the motorboat docked.

There was a pier on the island, but it was dilapidated. Half the wooden planks on the jetty were gone, barely serviceable for a small boat.

But Hu Jiangshan made a point of noting that the water near the pier was relatively deep. With some repairs, it should be able to accommodate large ships.

That makes sense. The Japanese army was stationed here before, so the draft conditions of the pier must have been adequate.

The two men set foot on the island, and Kevin began his presentation.

Kevin was a slick talker, his words flowing endlessly like a torrent.

“Mr. Hu, this is no small island. Just look, you can’t see the end of it.”

“And what’s more important? The island is very flat. Reefs only make up a small part. There’s a small forest in the middle of the island, and mangrove forests on the opposite shore.”

“Mr. Hu, look over there. There’s a small hill, but it’s not high. The overall terrain is still quite flat.”

While listening to Kevin’s chatter, Hu Jiangshan observed his surroundings.

The natural environment on the island did indeed look good. It was a truly habitable island.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “Is there fresh water on the island?”

Kevin was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head. “I’m not sure about that. But people used to live here, so there probably is.”

Hu Jiangshan wasn’t that naive.

Some inhabited islands genuinely lack fresh water resources, requiring water for daily use to be transported from the mainland or other islands.

As they talked, the two arrived at the foot of the hill.

Hu Jiangshan saw the entrance to a cave. He could vaguely make out a door inside, but it was broken, with one half of it fallen down.

“What’s that place?”

Kevin immediately said, “Oh, Mr. Hu, that’s a warehouse.”

“A warehouse? What for?”

Kevin swallowed. “It was probably… a place where the Japanese stored things.”

So that was it. It was a Japanese military warehouse, which might have been used to store munitions, rations, and other military supplies.

Hu Jiangshan walked to the mouth of the cave and looked inside.

It was pitch-black. He could see electrical wires, but there was no power.

Although he couldn’t see the interior space clearly, it didn’t seem small.

It had to be at least a thousand square meters.

Hu Jiangshan said, “This place is good.”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

Kevin had an awkward smile on his face and even took two steps back.

Judging by his reaction, Kevin didn’t want to enter the cave.

It made sense. Who knew what terrible things might have happened inside a cave warehouse like this.

“Is it large inside the cave?”

Kevin said hurriedly, “Very large, really large. At least a hundred thousand-plus square feet.”

Ten thousand square feet is about one thousand square meters in the mainland.

So over a hundred thousand square feet would be more than ten thousand square meters.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “How much for this island?”

“Very cheap. Ten million Hong Kong dollars for perpetual use rights.”

Ten million. Another ten million.

Hu Jiangshan glanced at Kevin.

Kevin quickly added, “Mr. Hu, I think there might be a discount. I’m not sure how much yet. If you’re interested, I can go ask for the details.”

To be honest, ten million Hong Kong dollars was indeed very cheap to buy this island. You could even call it a bargain-basement price.

There was a reason it was so cheap.

As mentioned before, people had died on this island, and certainly more than just one or two.

Especially in this pitch-black cave, there might even be quite a few skeletal remains inside.

But Hu Jiangshan didn’t care. He was a scientist who only believed in science, not ghosts and gods.

Hu Jiangshan made the decision on the spot: he would buy it.

Kevin beamed with joy and quickly said he would help Hu Jiangshan inquire about the detailed terms of the island purchase.

“Mr. Hu, you get the money ready. I’ll go to the Hong Kong government office tomorrow to clarify the terms. If everything goes smoothly, we can start the paperwork.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded in agreement.

The next day, Hu Jiangshan went to a Hong Kong Island bank to apply for a loan.

Just as Hu Jiangshan expected, when he revealed his identity, the bank took him very seriously. A senior loan manager received him.

This loan manager’s name was Fan Luosheng, and he looked extremely professional.

Fan Luosheng asked, “Mr. Hu, how much would you like to borrow?”

Hu Jiangshan said calmly, “Thirty million.”

Ten million to buy the island, ten million to build the semiconductor production line, and the remaining ten million as working capital. A very reasonable plan.

Fan Luosheng then asked, “And what do you intend to use this money for?”

“To start a business.”

Fan Luosheng nodded and looked at Hu Jiangshan. “And the guarantor…”

“My guarantor is my grandfather, Hu Yingxiang.”

Hu Jiangshan was calm and composed.

As expected, Fan Luosheng didn’t ask any more questions.

With Hu Yingxiang’s reputation, a loan of a few tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars was a drop in the bucket!

Just two hours later, Hu Jiangshan received the thirty million Hong Kong dollars.

The bank’s efficiency is really high.

Of course, Hu Jiangshan also felt the pressure. The interest rate on this loan was not low.

Chapter 3: The Amazing “Technology Engine” App

A few more days passed, and General’s Island was successfully transferred to Hu Jiangshan’s name, making him an island owner.

Hu Jiangshan’s purchase of the island had cost him nine point five million Hong Kong dollars, which amounted to a five percent discount. It was better than nothing.

Hu Jiangshan still breathed a sigh of relief. He had finally found a suitable place to build the production line.

Although building on an island had its inconveniences, it was safer and offered more privacy.

On this day, Hu Jiangshan went to a small eatery downstairs for breakfast, then drove out.

Today, Hu Jiangshan was going to General’s Island.

Hu Jiangshan went to Duckbill Village again and found the fisherman who had taken them to General’s Island before.

This fisherman was called Uncle Fu, a very honest and simple man.

When Uncle Fu heard that Hu Jiangshan wanted to go to General’s Island again, he was quite surprised and muttered, “What’s so good about that ghost island anyway?”

Hu Jiangshan didn’t pay it any mind, simply asking Uncle Fu to take him, and naturally, he wasn’t stingy with the boat fee.

Uncle Fu naturally didn’t say anything more.

The motorized fishing boat soon set out to sea.

Hu Jiangshan suddenly thought that since he would be going back and forth to the island, he should probably buy a boat.

But that wasn’t urgent. He would take care of the more important matters first.

Half an hour later, the fishing boat arrived at the pier on General’s Island.

Hu Jiangshan informed Uncle Fu and then stepped onto the island.

To be honest, Hu Jiangshan’s mood as he set foot on the island again was completely different. After all, he was now the owner of General’s Island and had a sense of ownership.

Hu Jiangshan first walked a circuit around the island.

He had to admit, the conditions on General’s Island were surprisingly good.

The terrain was very flat, and the landscape was quite varied.

However, Hu Jiangshan didn’t find any water source. But since there was vegetation on the island, there must be fresh water underground, so he wasn’t too worried.

Besides the abandoned lighthouse, there was also a small, two-story building on the island, presumably left behind by the Japanese.

Hu Jiangshan went to the cave entrance again.

Standing here alone, it did feel a bit gloomy, and he could feel a cool breeze blowing out from within.

Without much thought, Hu Jiangshan took a flashlight from his backpack, switched it on, and walked into the cave.

Kevin wasn’t wrong. This place was indeed a warehouse, and it had been excavated very neatly.

The floor, walls, and ceiling were all concrete.

There was a lightbulb on the ceiling every ten meters.

The interior was huge, definitely more than ten thousand square meters. You could fit an entire armored company in here without any problem.

What made Hu Jiangshan sigh in relief was that there were no skeletal remains inside the cave.

Hu Jiangshan came out of the cave and turned on his phone screen. The “Technology Engine” app was still there.

The objective information was the same as last time, unchanged.

Hu Jiangshan noticed that the button below had changed color. It was red before, but now it was green.

Did this mean the conditions had been met?

Hu Jiangshan pressed the green button.

[Basic semiconductor production line construction program initiating]

[10 million successfully deducted]

[Program initiation successful]

The interface changed, and a progress bar appeared.

It would take the full thirty-day construction period for the semiconductor production line to be completed.

This speed was already incredible.

You have to understand, under normal circumstances, building a functional semiconductor production line takes at least two years.

And that’s not even counting the time for debugging and calibration.

Building one in just thirty days was nothing short of a miracle.

What was even more outrageous was the cost: only ten million Hong Kong dollars.

A normal semiconductor production line? Forget ten million Hong Kong dollars; even ten times that amount wouldn’t be enough. It would require at least several billion US dollars.

Once the semiconductor production line was built, it would be as if Hu Jiangshan had hit the jackpot.

Hu Jiangshan thought of another problem. There was no electricity on the island. How would the semiconductor production line operate?

Could the production line have its own built-in power system? That didn’t seem likely.

Hu Jiangshan opened the “Technology Engine” app again, and to his surprise, new objectives actually appeared.

An idea sparked in Hu Jiangshan’s mind. Since it was on an island, he should choose Objective Two.

Good heavens. Hu Jiangshan’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Who would have thought that building a tidal power station would only take five days?

One hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars—the cost was frighteningly low.

Even if it was only a basic tidal power station, the technology involved couldn’t be that simple.

Hu Jiangshan immediately pressed the green button.

[Basic tidal power station construction program initiating]

[100,000 successfully deducted]

[Program initiation successful]

Another progress bar appeared, but this one was shorter.

This meant that in five days, General’s Island would have electricity.

Hu Jiangshan decided to come back to General’s Island in five days to check on the situation.

He could use these few days to do some preparatory work.

The next day, Hu Jiangshan didn’t open his eyes until nine in the morning.

For a top scientist, this quality of sleep was perhaps a bit too good.

In his previous life, Hu Jiangshan only got half as much sleep.

There was no helping it. Hu Jiangshan’s current physical condition wasn’t good. His previous lifestyle habits were too poor, and his body was somewhat drained.

Also, he had walked a large circuit around General’s Island yesterday and was genuinely tired.

Hu Jiangshan began to plan his next steps.

First, Hu Jiangshan needed to buy a boat.

Buying a boat on Hong Kong Island was easy, but it required a lot of money. Even a regular yacht would cost over two million Hong Kong dollars.

The boat itself was one thing, but the key was renting a mooring spot at a pier, which wasn’t cheap on Hong Kong Island.

Additionally, he needed to repair the pier on General’s Island.

The pier was currently dilapidated; if one wasn’t careful, they could fall into the sea. It was inconvenient and unsightly.

Hu Jiangshan also tried using the “Technology Engine” to find new objectives, wondering if the app could help him renovate the pier, but after checking several times, no new objectives appeared.

Hu Jiangshan figured that only technology-related facilities would generate corresponding objectives. A basic structure like a pier probably didn’t qualify.

Since he couldn’t take a shortcut, he would have to have it repaired manually.

Hu Jiangshan had less than ten million Hong Kong dollars left, and he would need to spend a lot more later. He didn’t know if it would be enough.

Furthermore, Hu Jiangshan thought of another very important matter.

How would he solve the water problem?

Yesterday, when he walked around the island, he really hadn’t found a water source—no rivers, lakes, or streams, not even a single spring.

Having water underground was one thing, but being able to conveniently extract it was another matter entirely.

Did he have to hire people to dig a well on the island? That would be too inefficient and wouldn’t solve the problem.

He knew that semiconductor manufacturing required a massive amount of water; one or two wells would be nowhere near enough.

Thinking of this, he opened the “Technology Engine” app again, but there were still no new objectives.

Chapter 4: The Legacy of the Tycoon Hu Family

As a top scientist, Hu Jiangshan had at least a hundred ways to desalinate seawater, but they all required large-scale equipment and funding, which were currently out of reach.

Distant water couldn’t quench a nearby thirst. It seemed he would have to wait until the semiconductor production line was finished before considering it.

Perhaps the production line would even come with its own water supply.

Just then, Hu Jiangshan’s phone rang.

【Caller ID: Mom】

Hu Jiangshan stared at it for a moment, taking a while to register.

It was a call from his mother, Yuan Caihua.

Since his soul transmigration, Hu Jiangshan had only seen his mother, Yuan Caihua, a handful of times. He spent most of his time in this apartment.

However, because he had completely fused with the original owner’s memories, Hu Jiangshan felt no sense of unfamiliarity with Yuan Caihua.

Hu Jiangshan answered the phone, and Yuan Caihua’s gentle voice came from the other end.

“Hello, Jiangshan, are you free today?”

“I am. What’s up?”

“Your father and I are planning to visit your grandpa today. If you have time, you should come with us.”

Hu Jiangshan’s grandfather was, of course, Hu Yingxiang.

Like Huo Yadong, the former head of the Huo family, Hu Yingxiang was a legendary patriotic businessman from Hong Kong Island.

Back when China faced difficulties, Hu Yingxiang had defied pressure more than once to provide his full support, helping the nation overcome its crises.

As mentioned before, even a project as crucial as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge was first proposed by Hu Yingxiang, who also participated in its promotion.

Over this matter, Hu Yingxiang had even had a major falling out with Superman Li, the head of Hong Kong Island’s Four great families.

For a grandfather like him, Hu Jiangshan really should visit more often.

“Okay, Mom. I’ll get ready and head over in a bit.”

Yuan Caihua acknowledged and told Hu Jiangshan to be careful on the road.

Hu Jiangshan changed his clothes and drove out.

A short while later, Hu Jiangshan arrived at a mansion on Perkins Road.

This was his parents’ home.

Perkins Road was a renowned luxury residential area on Hong Kong Island, home to only the wealthiest families.

For instance, his parents’ mansion was built halfway up the mountain, spanning over ten thousand square feet. Its current value exceeded one billion Hong Kong dollars.

When Hu Jiangshan entered the living room, he saw Yuan Caihua sitting on the sofa.

Yuan Caihua looked young. At just fifty years old, she was still full of grace and charm, the very model of a gentle and elegant lady.

This was hardly surprising. Yuan Caihua had been a TVB actress, starring in several high-quality television series and films, and had built up considerable popularity on Hong Kong Island.

It was only after she married Hu Jiangshan’s ‘new’ father, Hu Wenxin, and joined the tycoon family that she gradually faded from the screen.

Upon seeing Hu Jiangshan, Yuan Caihua’s face lit up with overwhelming joy.

Yuan Caihua called over the Filipina domestic helper, asking her to pour coffee and prepare a fruit platter, then pulled Hu Jiangshan to sit beside her.

Even though Hu Jiangshan was in his twenties, Yuan Caihua still doted on him, which made him feel a little touched and warm inside.

Just then, Hu Jiangshan asked, “Mom, where’s Dad?”

“Your father is on the phone. He’ll be here in a moment.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded.

Hu Wenxin was currently the executive chairman of the Hu family’s Hezhong Group. His phone rang endlessly every day; he was a very busy man.

Yuan Caihua said, “By the way, be careful what you say to your father later. Be cautious and don’t just say whatever comes to mind.”

Hu Jiangshan was taken aback. “Huh?”

Yuan Caihua explained in a low voice, “Your father has been in a bad mood lately. Don’t push his buttons.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded.

His relationship with his father was indeed not what one would call good.

According to the original owner’s memories, Hu Wenxin had rarely ever smiled at his son. He always wore a stern expression, as if his son owed him a million dollars.

Of course, this was mostly Hu Jiangshan’s own doing.

The original owner of his body had been a dyed-in-the-wool playboy. If he wasn’t eating, drinking, and making merry, he was… eating, drinking, and making merry. He was ignorant and incompetent, never doing anything productive.

Hu Wenxin, who prided himself on being a business elite and a scion of a great house, must have felt utterly disgraced by such a son.

At that moment, a middle-aged man walked in.

This was Hu Jiangshan’s father, Hu Wenxin.

Hu Wenxin wore glasses and was on the thinner side. He had a very scholarly appearance, looking like a standard businessman.

Seeing that Hu Jiangshan had arrived, Hu Wenxin, as expected, said nothing and kept a straight face. It was clear he was not in a good mood; perhaps there was some trouble at the company.

Yuan Caihua kept shooting glances at Hu Jiangshan.

Hu Jiangshan felt helpless. What could he do? He could only take the initiative to greet him.

Hu Wenxin grunted in response. “What have you been up to lately?”

Hu Jiangshan paused for a second. “Nothing, really.”

Hu Wenxin’s expression softened slightly.

For a son like this, doing nothing was a merit, a good thing. Hu Wenxin’s biggest fear was him going out and messing around.

“Oh. The media has been keeping a close eye on our Hu family recently. Keep a low profile and don’t give them anything to latch onto.”

Hu Jiangshan agreed.

Even if the Hu family wasn’t one of the top tycoon families on Hong Kong Island, they were constantly in the spotlight. If anything happened and was dug up by the media, it would certainly cause a stir.

To put it shamelessly, the original Hu Jiangshan had made the front page of some gossip magazines more than once.

Perhaps because of Hu Jiangshan’s cooperative attitude, Hu Wenxin’s expression improved considerably.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Without even taking a sip of his coffee, Hu Jiangshan followed his parents to his grandfather Hu Yingxiang’s home.

Hu Yingxiang didn’t live far, also on Perkins Road.

His grandfather’s residence was quite nice in itself, with a classic, antique charm, but it was relatively low-key compared to the homes of other tycoons.

Hu Yingxiang was used to it. Besides, this was the place where he had officially made his fortune, so it held sentimental value.

Hu Yingxiang was now over eighty years old, but he was still in robust health. He could take care of himself without assistance and could even go for walks around the neighborhood.

Hu Jiangshan greeted him respectfully, “Hello, Grandpa.”

Hu Yingxiang smiled and nodded.

Perhaps because Hu Jiangshan was his only grandson, Hu Yingxiang treated him quite well and was very affectionate, chatting with him about everyday matters for a good while.

Then, they all sat in the tea room, drinking tea and talking.

Hu Jiangshan was very self-aware. He didn’t say much and just sat there, listening to their conversation.

Just then, Hu Wenxin said, “Dad, I heard that the United States might be planning to make another move soon.”

Hu Yingxiang snorted coldly. “I heard. They intend to target the technology sector and start a tech war with our country! A bunch of robbers!”

Hu Wenxin said, “Well, from their perspective, it’s actually quite normal.”

Hu Yingxiang glared at his son. “Normal? From their perspective? Whose side are you on? Whose chair is your butt sitting on?”

Hu Wenxin looked a little embarrassed.

Truth be told, Hu Wenxin was very different from his father, Hu Yingxiang.

Hu Yingxiang was an out-and-out patriotic businessman with a profound love for his country and a strong spirit of dedication to China.

Hu Wenxin, on the other hand, was a pure businessman. He had some patriotism, but not much.

Chapter 5: Chips Are Made by Man, Not by God

If Hu Yingxiang weren’t so old now, with his fiery temper from his younger days, he would have chewed Hu Wenxin out, or even started a fight, for saying such a thing.

Hu Yingxiang said furiously, “Calling America shameless is no exaggeration at all. They started this trade war, fought for years without getting anywhere, and now they want to try a different tactic. They’re relentless, like a stubborn pest that won’t give up until it gets what it wants!”

Hu Wenxin said, “Dad, America is already planning to sanction Huayao. I think Huayao is really in trouble this time.”

Thump!

Hu Yingxiang slammed his hand on the table. “What kind of talk is that? The sanctions haven’t even started, and you’re already declaring Huayao a lost cause? Who taught you to be so rash?”

Steeling himself, Hu Wenxin said, “Dad, we’re talking about the US Department of Commerce. The resources they can mobilize are beyond what any single company can fight against.”

What Hu Wenxin said was true. Any company sanctioned by the US Department of Commerce had met a grim fate.

The most typical examples were Matsuo and Alstom. They were once global tech giants, but after being sanctioned by America, they were either dismantled or acquired, and have now faded into obscurity.

Hu Yingxiang countered, “Huayao is still very strong, and it has the country’s backing. It won’t be defeated so easily. I don’t believe Huayao is that fragile.”

Hu Wenxin shook his head, a hint of disagreement in his expression. He clearly didn’t share his father’s view.

In Hu Wenxin’s opinion, even with the Chinese government’s support, Huayao couldn’t escape its fate of being crushed.

He had inside sources in the US Department of Commerce. America was very determined this time; they wouldn’t even give Huayao a chance to surrender.

Hu Yingxiang’s words were too emotional, lacking rational and objective analysis.

Just then, Hu Yingxiang glanced at Hu Jiangshan and asked, “Jiangshan, what do you think?”

Hu Jiangshan was stunned. He hadn’t expected his grandfather to ask for his opinion. He was, after all, just a good-for-nothing rich kid.

Hu Wenxin very nearly rolled his eyes. He thought his father must be getting senile.

What kind of opinion could Hu Jiangshan possibly have? He was the landlord’s foolish son. It was a wonder he even knew a company called Huayao existed; he probably didn’t even know what Huayao actually did.

But then Hu Jiangshan spoke up, “Grandpa, I think Huayao will be hit hard, but it won’t fall.”

“…Oh?”

No one had expected Hu Jiangshan to give such an answer.

Hu Wenxin’s face fell. “Jiangshan, you don’t know anything. Don’t talk nonsense.”

Hu Yingxiang frowned. “Let Jiangshan finish.”

Yuan Caihua was feeling uneasy. She was also worried that Hu Jiangshan would say the wrong thing and displease the old man.

Hu Jiangshan thought for a moment, then answered seriously, “Grandpa, there are two points. First, Huayao’s research and development capabilities are formidable, and it has strong resilience. It’s the kind of company where the greater the resistance, the stronger its unity becomes. There aren’t many companies like that left in the world. You could say that if even Huayao can’t withstand America’s so-called sanctions, then no company on Blue Star can.”

Hu Wenxin’s expression grew solemn, with a hint of anger. He felt his son was just spouting nonsense.

But then again, the boy’s demeanor was surprisingly good—he looked earnest and serious, as if he knew what he was talking about.

Still, Hu Jiangshan’s viewpoint was too naive.

The strongest tech companies on Blue Star were, without a doubt, in America.

China’s tech companies could only be considered to be on the rise, with good momentum, but they were still outwardly strong and internally weak.

Hu Wenxin believed that if America launched full-scale sanctions, Huayao absolutely wouldn’t last two years, even with the Chinese government’s support.

How could a single company fight against the most powerful nation on Blue Star?

It was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, an ant trying to shake a great tree. A dwarf challenging a giant.

However, Hu Yingxiang was surprisingly pleased.

“Go on,” he said. “What’s the second point?”

Hu Jiangshan replied, “Second, China’s market is large enough. Even if Huayao loses its external markets, the domestic market alone is more than enough to sustain the company.”

“Wow, excellent, excellent! I agree with that.”

Hearing this analysis from Hu Jiangshan, Hu Yingxiang was clearly gratified.

The Chinese market was Huayao’s bedrock. With a massive market of over a billion people and government support, keeping Huayao afloat would be no problem at all.

Hu Wenxin couldn’t help but interject, “And then what? A company like Huayao can’t just be expected to stick to the domestic market, can it?”

Without waiting for Hu Jiangshan to respond, Hu Wenxin continued, “The key point, you have to understand, is that Huayao will soon run out of chips. Without chips, Huayao will have nothing to sell. Without earning money, how can it maintain its normal operations? That company has two hundred thousand employees!”

Hu Yingxiang fell silent for a moment. What Hu Wenxin brought up was a very real problem.

If Huayao’s supply of processor chips was cut off, it wouldn’t just be unable to produce phones. It might not even be able to continue selling its flagship product, telecommunications equipment.

Even if the Chinese government wanted to help, its hands would be tied.

Just then, Hu Jiangshan said calmly, “The chip problem can be solved. Given enough time, China can definitely develop its own semiconductor manufacturing capabilities.”

Hu Wenxin waved his hand dismissively. “You make it sound too simple.”

To Hu Wenxin, his son’s idea was utter nonsense.

Right now, there were only three companies in the world capable of producing advanced chips: Island Foundry, Samsang, and Intel.

This was practically a technological monopoly, which showed that the barrier to entry for advanced chip manufacturing was extremely high.

It wasn’t that China hadn’t tried to develop semiconductor manufacturing. It had invested enormous sums for many years but had yielded no results.

This proved that China simply didn’t have the right environment or the aptitude to produce advanced semiconductor companies. No matter how hard they tried, it was useless.

Hu Jiangshan looked at his father and said slowly, “Dad, chips are made by man, not by God. And as long as it’s something made by man, there’s no reason why we Chinese can’t make it.”

Hu Wenxin was dumbfounded.

Yuan Caihua’s jaw dropped, utterly speechless.

Who would have thought that this kid, Hu Jiangshan, would say something like that?

That was Absurdity’s mother opening the door for Absurdity—the height of ridiculousness.

Was this kid, Hu Jiangshan, joking?

No, looking at his expression and tone of voice, he was completely serious. He wasn’t joking at all, as if he truly believed that the Chinese people could accomplish anything.

At that moment, Hu Yingxiang burst out laughing.

“Excellent, excellent! Jiangshan is truly my grandson! You said that with such resolute force. Your courage and confidence alone make you much better than your father!”

Hu Wenxin felt a bit uncomfortable. The old master’s words were quite harsh.

But Hu Yingxiang was genuinely happy, so Hu Wenxin didn’t want to spoil his mood.

Fine, it was better to change the subject.

After chatting about other things for a while, Hu Yingxiang asked his precious grandson, “By the way, Jiangshan, what have you been busy with lately?”

Yuan Caihua’s expression froze. She glanced at her son, worried he would say the wrong thing again.

Chapter 6: Take Your Pick of the Hu Family’s Yachts

A parent, of course, knows what their son is made of.

What could Hu Jiangshan be busy with? Eating, drinking, and making merry would be a good day for him. For a while, he was even causing trouble everywhere and had ended up at the police station.

If it weren’t for the Hu family’s connections, Hu Jiangshan might still be locked up.

Hu Wenxin coughed. “Dad, Jiangshan isn’t up to anything worth mentioning right now. You know how it is—he’s too fond of playing around. I’m planning to have him find some time to move back home so we can push him to improve and do something productive.”

Hearing this, Hu Jiangshan almost jumped to his feet.

Live with them? No way! It’d be inconvenient for everything!

Hu Jiangshan quickly said, “I’m actually busy with something right now.”

Hu Wenxin looked completely baffled. “What could you possibly have going on? If you’ve got nothing, don’t just make things up!”

“I’m not making it up. Right now, I…”

“Right now, what?”

Hu Jiangshan’s eyes darted around, and he quickly said, “I’m planning to lease a fish farm right now.”

Everyone was stunned.

Hu Wenxin frowned and said, “…A fish farm? You want to raise fish? What nonsense!”

Hu Jiangshan replied, “Dad, I’m not fooling around. I’m serious. According to my research, seafood sales in the mainland are growing larger and larger, and demand is increasing rapidly. The way I see it, to meet the mainland public’s growing demand for seafood, seafood farming is a good investment. I want to give it a try.”

Hu Jiangshan spoke with the eloquence of a seasoned salesman, spinning a fantastic tale.

Hu Wenxin wasn’t wrong. Hu Jiangshan was indeed talking nonsense.

It wasn’t that Hu Jiangshan wanted to lie, but he had to come up with an excuse to cover up the fact that he was working on a semiconductor production line.

This matter couldn’t just be casually spread around.

Especially on Hong Kong Island, where all sorts of people mingled, and spies were everywhere. It would be disastrous to be targeted by them.

In extreme cases, Hu Jiangshan’s very life could be threatened.

Unexpectedly, the excuse of raising seafood worked quite well, leaving the others dumbfounded.

Even Hu Wenxin was half-convinced.

Hu Yingxiang burst out laughing. “I think it’s a great idea. Jiangshan, go for it. It doesn’t matter if you lose money. This line of work doesn’t cost much anyway. If you’re short on cash, just tell me. As long as it’s not too much, I’ll help you out.”

“Okay, thank you, Grandpa.”

Hu Jiangshan thought to himself that he had already taken out a thirty million loan from the bank in his grandfather’s name.

Previously, Hu Jiangshan had been quite worried. If his grandfather found out, would he fly into a rage?

Seeing his grandfather’s attitude, it seemed unlikely. After all, he was his only precious grandson.

Hu Yingxiang asked, “Jiangshan, is there anything you want right now? Oh, right, all you young people like cars. Do you want a car?”

An idea struck Hu Jiangshan, and he asked, “Grandpa, I don’t really need a car, but do you have a boat?”

Hu Yingxiang was taken aback for a moment. “A boat? You want a boat?”

“Yes, Grandpa. I’m starting a fish farm, aren’t I? A fish farm needs a boat.”

Hu Yingxiang smiled radiantly. “Right, right! You’ve thought it through. Very career-minded. That’s easy to handle. It’s just a boat. We have plenty.”

…Huh? Plenty?

“I’ve forgotten exactly how many we have, but we’ve got pretty much every kind.”

The Hu family was a tycoon family on Hong Kong Island, so it was natural they wouldn’t lack luxurious modes of transport. Still, Hu Jiangshan had never imagined the family would have so many boats.

Hu Yingxiang said, “Jiangshan, I’ll have someone take you to the marina later to pick one out.”

Hu Wenxin looked at his son. He didn’t believe for a second that Hu Jiangshan would actually start a fish farm. At most, it would just be another one of his shenanigans.

But seeing his father so rarely happy, Hu Wenxin decided not to be a killjoy.

Hu Jiangshan was delighted. He hadn’t expected the boat issue to be resolved so easily, and without even spending any money. He could save a large sum.

Early the next morning, Hu Jiangshan received a phone call.

It was from Zhao Quan.

Zhao Quan’s public identity was a senior executive at the Hu family’s Hezhong Group, but those in the know were aware that he was actually Hu Yingxiang’s bodyguard—one might even say he was the old man’s most trusted confidant.

“Uncle Zhao, what’s up?”

Zhao Quan said, “Young Master Hu, you requested a boat, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have time today? I can take you to the marina to have a look.”

Hu Jiangshan immediately said, “I have time. I can go anytime.”

Hu Jiangshan hung up, changed his clothes, and drove out.

Hu Jiangshan and Zhao Quan arranged to meet at the entrance of the Pak Sha Wan Yacht Club marina.

The Pak Sha Wan Yacht Club was very famous on Hong Kong Island. Its service was excellent and it had plenty of berths, so many wealthy people chose to moor their yachts there, including for routine maintenance.

Pak Sha Wan is located in Sai Kung, which was a bit far from his location.

But Hong Kong itself wasn’t that big, so “far” wasn’t really that far.

A little over half an hour later, Hu Jiangshan drove up to the entrance of the Pak Sha Wan Yacht Club.

Zhao Quan was already waiting there, standing ramrod straight with a stoic expression, looking very cool.

Zhao Quan wasn’t particularly tall, but he looked tough and sharp.

Normally, you wouldn’t notice anything special, but in a crisis, Zhao Quan’s aura would be fully unleashed.

His original body had witnessed it once, seeing Zhao Quan beat several street thugs until they were scattered in disarray, pissing their pants and crying for their mothers.

His original body had been so terrified at the time that he hadn’t dared to leave the house for three days.

When Zhao Quan saw Hu Jiangshan, he was reasonably respectful and greeted him.

Zhao Quan said, “Young Master Hu, please follow me.”

Hu Jiangshan followed Zhao Quan into the yacht club.

The Pak Sha Wan Yacht Club was a very high-end establishment, covering a large area. Plenty of security guards were patrolling both outside and in the courtyard.

These men all greeted Zhao Quan on sight, indicating he was a frequent visitor.

It was a bit embarrassing, to be honest. As the only grandson of the Hu family, Hu Jiangshan had no idea his family’s yachts were docked here.

Perhaps he had been too much of a troublemaker, and they were afraid he would take a boat out and cause chaos, so they had deliberately kept it from him.

Moreover, these yachts were almost all Hu Yingxiang’s personal property and had little to do with the Hu family’s Hezhong Group.

Soon, they arrived at the Hu family’s berths.

Before him were yachts of all sizes, each one looking brand new and reeking of money.

Zhao Quan’s voice came, slow and steady, “Young Master Hu, from here all the way to over there—these eight berths all belong to the Hu family.”

Hu Jiangshan was stunned.

“Eight berths? All of them?”

“Yes, all of them.”

Hu Jiangshan looked them over one by one. Each berth had a boat docked in it.

Good heavens, eight yachts, all lined up neatly.

These yachts varied in size and specification.

The smallest one had a double deck, and the largest was almost the size of a small cruise liner.

This was insane. Hadn’t the Hu family declined? How could they still have so many boats?

The purchase price of a yacht was indeed expensive, but that was secondary. The crucial part was the incredibly high maintenance costs.

Putting everything else aside, the annual rent for just one of these berths was no less than a million Hong Kong dollars.

Routine maintenance also required professional services, and the fees were not cheap.

But on second thought, it made sense. A starved camel is still bigger than a horse. The foundations of Hong Kong Island’s tycoon families were all incredibly deep.

The Hu family’s decline was only relative. in reality, they were still fabulously wealthy.

Chapter 7: Taking the Double-Decker Yacht Out to Sea

Zhao Quan said, “Young Master Hu, his grandfather said you could pick any of these boats.”

“…Pick any? I can pick any of these eight yachts?”

“Yes, whichever one you choose is yours to use as you please.”

Hu Jiangshan looked over the eight yachts again. To be honest, the sight was a little dazzling.

From small and medium-sized yachts to high-end sailboats and large luxury yachts, everything was there except for a submarine.

Zhao Quan asked, “Young Master Hu, which one do you find satisfactory? Shall I take you aboard to have a look before you decide?”

“No need. This one will do.”

As he spoke, Hu Jiangshan pointed to a yacht not far away.

Zhao Quan was a little surprised, because the yacht Hu Jiangshan was pointing at was the smallest of the eight, at least in appearance. Compared to the others, it didn’t look nearly as impressive.

Of course, the Hu family didn’t buy cheap yachts; all of them were luxury models.

Zhao Quan couldn’t help but ask, “Young Master Hu, are you sure you want this one?”

“Yes, this one. It’s just right. It looks the most low-key, and it’s better to be low-key.”

Zhao Quan’s eyes widened. He glanced at Hu Jiangshan a few times, feeling as if the sun had just risen from the west.

He knew exactly who Hu Jiangshan was—a good-for-nothing playboy who did nothing but show off and chase girls.

Didn’t Hu Jiangshan want a yacht for picking up women?

Naturally, the bigger and flashier the yacht, the better. Only then could he show it off.

How could he compete with other rich young masters with a small, double-decker yacht like this?

It was just like driving a car out. If you couldn’t hold your head high, how could you compete with those young masters for the attention of girls?

Then again, Hu Jiangshan’s current demeanor was indeed a little different from before.

Could it be that he’d had a change of heart?

How could Zhao Quan know that Hu Jiangshan was no longer the playboy he once was?

Right now, Hu Jiangshan had no interest in such frivolous matters.

A small boat had its advantages. At the very least, it was agile, maneuverable, and fuel-efficient.

Besides, docking a large vessel at the small pier on General’s Island would be a hassle.

“Uncle Zhao, let’s go with this one. Is that a problem?”

Zhao Quan snapped back to his senses and quickly replied, “Ah, no problem, of course not.”

Zhao Quan asked again, “Would you like to go aboard and have a look?”

“Alright, let’s go see it.”

The two of them boarded the small yacht.

It was only small in a relative sense; in reality, it wasn’t small at all.

This was, after all, a double-decker yacht.

Stepping onto the first deck, it felt spacious and very stable.

Zhao Quan seemed to be quite familiar with this yacht and began to introduce it to Hu Jiangshan.

“This vessel is thirty-one meters long and six and a half meters wide. It’s a small-to-medium-sized yacht.”

“Its top speed can reach twenty-three knots.”

Hu Jiangshan glanced at Zhao Quan. “Oh, twenty-three knots. That’s pretty fast.”

“Indeed. This vessel is even capable of ocean voyages. It can accommodate eight passengers and four crew members.”

Hu Jiangshan was taken aback. The specifications were higher than he’d imagined. A boat like this couldn’t be cheap.

The two arrived at the sky lounge on the first deck.

My goodness, the 360-degree, unobstructed view of the sea was simply breathtaking.

The lounge was very spacious, equipped with a sofa, a bar, a wine cabinet, and even a small massage jacuzzi.

It had every luxurious amenity one could think of.

Zhao Quan said, “The second deck has a sky lounge of the same specifications.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded.

Zhao Quan then led Hu Jiangshan to the master cabin, which was just as lavishly appointed, like a luxury villa.

The master suite even came with a private outdoor foredeck.

They then visited the bridge, the separate dining room, the equipment room, and a few guest rooms.

Zhao Quan had thought Hu Jiangshan wouldn’t be very interested, but to his surprise, he seemed quite engrossed.

After the tour was complete, Hu Jiangshan was extremely satisfied.

Honestly, with a yacht like this, one could easily live on it.

Zhao Quan asked, “Young Master Hu, when will you be needing this boat?”

Hu Jiangshan replied, “The sooner the better. Preferably right now.”

Zhao Quan didn’t hesitate and immediately took Hu Jiangshan to handle the paperwork.

The yacht remained under the Hu family’s name, but the designated user was changed to Hu Jiangshan.

This way, Hu Jiangshan would no longer need to get confirmation or file a report every time he wanted to use it.

Zhao Quan said, “Do you need a crew? I can help you find one.”

Hu Jiangshan waved his hand. “A boat like this can be operated by one person. I’m not planning any ocean voyages, so I don’t need a crew.”

Zhao Quan was stunned. He looked at Hu Jiangshan as if he were looking at an alien.

“You’re going to pilot it yourself?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

“Well… it’s dangerous…”

Hu Jiangshan patted Zhao Quan’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’m very familiar with these things. I’m confident.”

Zhao Quan looked skeptical. He had no idea Hu Jiangshan knew how to pilot a yacht.

But since Hu Jiangshan had said so, Zhao Quan couldn’t object and could only report back to his grandfather first.

In fact, Hu Jiangshan wasn’t bluffing; he was indeed very familiar with this type of small yacht.

In his previous life, Hu Jiangshan had been a scientist and would occasionally go out to sea with scientists from other disciplines for research.

Forget a small yacht; he could even handle a sailboat.

More importantly, Hu Jiangshan had been an excellent swimmer in his past life and even held the highest level of deep-sea diving certification.

Zhao Quan said, “Young Master Hu, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving.”

Hu Jiangshan acknowledged him. “Send my regards to my Grandpa.”

Zhao Quan left.

Hu Jiangshan returned to the boat and went to the bridge.

It was truly a high-end yacht; the specifications of the bridge were also top-notch.

The 360-degree panoramic bridge offered an extremely wide field of view.

The equipment was also comprehensive.

It had a GPS navigation and radar system, an electronic chart display and information system, and was even equipped with an autopilot system.

Piloting a vessel like this alone was absolutely no problem.

Hu Jiangshan tried starting the ship’s power supply.

All the instrument panels lit up.

He checked the operational status. Everything was normal, and the fuel tank was full. He could set sail at any time.

Hu Jiangshan’s hands were itching now.

With such a fine yacht at his disposal, how could he resist taking it out for a few spins?

On a whim, Hu Jiangshan notified the marina’s control room, weighed anchor, and headed out to sea.

Hu Jiangshan’s skill was beyond question. He smoothly navigated the yacht out of the marina.

He set the navigation.

[Destination: General’s Island]

Hu Jiangshan piloted the yacht toward General’s Island.

Once in the open sea, the yacht picked up speed, soon reaching a stable twenty knots.

Hu Jiangshan glanced at the sea conditions. There were some small waves, but the yacht remained very stable.

Even as a small-to-medium-sized yacht, it was a high-end vessel, incomparable to an ordinary motorized fishing boat.

By the way, what was this boat called?

Hu Jiangshan glanced at the registration document—The Seahorse.

The name was pretty standard, but it would do.

Chapter 8: Island Facilities Under Construction

The speed of this high-end yacht was truly impressive. It moved over the sea like a fish, slicing through the wind and waves, far faster than any typical motorized fishing boat.

After only about twenty minutes of cruising, the outline of General’s Island came into view.

One had to know, the distance from Pak Sha Wan to General’s Island was much greater than starting from A-Tau Village.

As General’s Island grew closer, Hu Jiangshan didn’t land immediately. Instead, he piloted The Seahorse on a slow cruise around the island.

The yacht moved very slowly, pausing for a moment in each new stretch of water. Hu Jiangshan wanted to inspect the ecological conditions around the island.

And as it turned out, the area around General’s Island was a real treasure.

The surrounding waters were filled with vast coral reefs, teeming with life.

The visibility in the seawater was extremely high, so clear you could see right to the bottom, even spotting sea cucumbers as they foraged.

It was a sign that this area of the sea had suffered almost no damage or pollution.

Furthermore, there were plenty of deep-water zones nearby. If one were to get into aquaculture here, it would be a surefire path to wealth.

Of course, Hu Jiangshan had no interest in such a venture.

Hu Jiangshan once again docked The Seahorse at the small pier.

As he stepped onto it, the wooden planks creaked loudly.

With a crack, one of the planks actually broke, giving Hu Jiangshan a fright.

Good heavens, he nearly fell into the sea.

He needed to find someone to repair this place as soon as possible; he couldn’t put it off any longer.

Hu Jiangshan took out his phone, intending to call Kevin.

But after several tries, the call wouldn’t go through.

The phone signal was only one bar, and it was unstable.

This was to be expected. The island had been uninhabited for years, so there were no cell towers.

It was a problem, but not a major one. It wouldn’t stump Hu Jiangshan.

Hu Jiangshan was a former scientist and knew a great deal about communications. He just needed some equipment.

He could use the construction time for the semiconductor production line to get these things sorted out.

Hu Jiangshan walked further inland. He was very curious about what was happening at the cave warehouse during the thirty-day construction period.

Were people working on it, or machines?

Or perhaps some kind of supernatural event was taking place.

Hu Jiangshan soon arrived at the entrance to the cave. To his surprise, he found it enclosed by construction hoarding, which sealed the area off completely, hiding everything from view.

Finding this quite bizarre, Hu Jiangshan stepped forward and pressed his ear against the barrier, listening for any sound.

It was dead silent. He couldn’t hear a thing.

Was this some kind of joke? A dark and silent construction site?

As a scientist, Hu Jiangshan had a strong sense of curiosity, but he didn’t dare try to breach the hoarding to see what was going on inside.

If he disrupted the construction process, who knew what might happen.

Besides, the hoarding looked very sturdy. He had no idea what material it was made of, and he probably couldn’t break it open anyway.

He decided to let it be. There were still over twenty days to go. He would find out what was what once the semiconductor production line was finished.

Hu Jiangshan took another tour of the island and eventually found another cordoned-off area.

What was even more peculiar was that this hoarding not only covered a section of the ground but also a patch of the sea surface, with an area of about one thousand square meters.

This must be the Tidal Power Station.

It didn’t take up much space.

This thing was a high-end piece of tech. He hadn’t expected it to be so compact, which indicated a high degree of integration and an advanced design.

And this was just the basic model. Hu Jiangshan couldn’t even imagine what the advanced version would look like.

By his calculations, the Tidal Power Station should be completed by tomorrow.

Hu Jiangshan was quite looking forward to it, eager to see how it would perform.

He was, after all, an expert. A few glances at a high-tech project were all he needed to get a rough idea of its technological sophistication.

Hu Jiangshan made another careful sweep of the island, but he still couldn’t find a source of fresh water.

Could it be that there really was no fresh water here?

He would have to drill a well later, which would be rather awkward.

Feeling a little tired from the sea breeze, Hu Jiangshan returned to The Seahorse.

He went up to the second deck and entered the 360-degree panoramic lounge.

Sitting on the sofa, Hu Jiangshan admired the ocean view.

The vast and magnificent sea, the blue sky dotted with white clouds…

This yacht truly was top-class. The view was absolutely fantastic.

Especially when you sailed the boat into such beautiful, open waters, it was like being in paradise.

There was also a large LCD television in the lounge.

Hu Jiangshan found the remote and turned it on. It actually had a signal.

That was normal. The TV used a satellite receiver that could pick up almost every satellite television channel in the world.

Of course, Hu Jiangshan could also use the yacht to make satellite calls, but the costs were high and it wasn’t necessary.

Contacting Kevin wasn’t urgent. He could do it once he was back at the marina.

The Seahorse was also equipped with a small seawater desalination system, so he didn’t have to worry about a lack of drinking water. It was just that desalinated water didn’t taste very good.

Hu Jiangshan planned to find some time to improve the desalination equipment. The water it produced might taste a little better then.

Without realizing it, Hu Jiangshan had fallen asleep. When he opened his eyes, it was already noon.

He was hungry.

There was food on the boat, but it was all instant meals.

Hu Jiangshan didn’t want to settle for that, so he piloted the boat back to the Pak Sha Wan yacht marina.

He drove to a small nearby eatery and, while he ate, made a call to Kevin.

Kevin answered quickly.

“Hello, Mr. Hu. What can I do for you? At your service.”

“Kevin, I wanted to ask if you know any good pier construction crews. I need a high-quality one.”

“Of course I do, Mr. Hu! Where are you looking to build a pier?”

“Not build, repair. It’s the small pier on General’s Island. I want to have it completely refurbished.”

“Oh, that one. The scope of work isn’t too large. You can rest assured, Mr. Hu, I can find you a reliable crew. I guarantee excellent quality at a great price, and the work will be first-rate.”

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly. “I hope so, Kevin. You know, I’ll have a lot of projects in the future. If we work well together, they’re all yours. So don’t mess this one up for me.”

“No problem, don’t worry, Mr. Hu. When do you need them?”

“The sooner the better, of course.”

“Then give me three days. I’ll contact you as soon as I’ve found a crew.”

“Good. I’ll be waiting for your call.”

After hanging up, Hu Jiangshan finished off his rice noodle rolls and a few shrimp dumplings. With a full stomach, he returned to his car.

He couldn’t just sit around and wait now. There were many things to prepare.

Time was tight, and the tasks were many.

After some thought, Hu Jiangshan drove to the nearest mall—Sha Tin New Town Plaza.

He spent several tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars on a high-spec laptop, then went to a coffee shop inside the mall and got to work.

Hu Jiangshan was going to design a signal booster to solve the communication problem on General’s Island.

The device might seem complex, and in fact, it wasn’t simple.

It needed to cover the full frequency band to support all telecommunications providers, including those in Hong Kong Island, the mainland, and even satellite communications.

To ensure a perfect signal, the booster had to be exceptionally well-designed.

Of course, for Hu Jiangshan, this wasn’t difficult. He was a professional.

Chapter 9: Is This Really Hu Jiangshan?

Hu Jiangshan needed to first draw the design schematics, complete the functional analysis and layout, and then he could order the various components.

However, some components probably couldn’t be bought on the market.

That was no problem; he could just use a 3D printer to handle it when the time came.

3D printing technology in 2018 had just been perfected and should be able to meet Hu Jiangshan’s needs.

Hu Jiangshan skillfully used the design software, drawing the schematics with intense concentration. For a moment, it was as if he had returned to the research institute.

The coffee on the table had gone cold, but Hu Jiangshan hadn’t taken a single sip.

After more than an hour, the design plan for the signal booster was already taking shape.

This was Hu Jiangshan’s work mode: mentally focused, with agile thoughts and extremely high efficiency.

If Hu Jiangshan didn’t have this kind of ability, he wouldn’t have become an outstanding scientist.

Hu Jiangshan was so engrossed in his design work that he was practically cut off from the outside world, not noticing someone approaching.

“Well, look who it is! Young Master Hu! What are you doing in a coffee shop? Busy with something?”

Hu Jiangshan was startled at first. He looked up and saw an old acquaintance—it was actually Feng Hua.

Speaking of which, Hu Jiangshan’s original body used to spend all his days in debauchery, wining, dining, and indulging in all sorts of pleasures, both permissible and not.

He had made quite a few fair-weather friends, and his unsavory companions were as numerous as ox hairs. This Feng Hua, however, was one of the more reliable ones.

Simply put, Feng Hua was a good person, or at least not a bad one.

Of course, anyone who could hang out with Hu Jiangshan was no ordinary person; they were all from families with deep pockets.

Feng Hua wasn’t a native of Hong Kong Island either.

His father was a wealthy businessman from the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region in the mainland.

How rich was the Feng family? Only they themselves knew. In any case, it was enough to know that Feng Hua was a super-rich kid.

Hu Jiangshan was quite generous; when he went out with Feng Hua, he picked up the tab most of the time. This was also the kind of behavior that allowed Feng Hua to integrate into the local upper-class society.

Standing behind Feng Hua was his younger sister, Feng Qiuyi.

Feng Qiuyi was an out-and-out beauty—fair-skinned, pretty, with long legs. Her overall qualities were in no way inferior to a female celebrity’s.

Feng Qiuyi looked at Hu Jiangshan, her gaze a little evasive.

This was quite normal, since Hu Jiangshan’s original body was an ignorant, debauched profligate.

Much of what he said and did was often quite outrageous. What decent girl would like him? They all thought he was a scoundrel and didn’t dare get close to him.

That’s right, Hu Jiangshan’s original body had also harassed Feng Qiuyi, but he just hadn’t succeeded. That was why she was so afraid of him.

Hu Jiangshan didn’t respond for a long time, which baffled Feng Hua.

“Hey, Young Master Hu, Young Master Hu, what’s wrong? Why are you spacing out? Don’t you recognize me? It’s me, Feng Hua!”

Hu Jiangshan snapped back to reality. “Ah, it’s nothing. I was just thinking about something.”

Feng Hua sat down casually. “Young Master Hu, what are you up to?”

“…Me? Making a few diagrams.”

“Diagrams? What kind of diagrams? Oh, it’s not that kind of diagram, is it? As expected of Young Master Hu, what a refined hobby!”

The so-called that kind of diagram was, of course, the unspeakable kind.

Of course, it was no big deal on Hong Kong Island; no one cared if you looked at that stuff.

Hu Jiangshan was speechless for a moment. Even his original body wouldn’t have bothered with that sort of petty stuff.

It was boring; he might as well play with the real thing.

“What are you talking about? I’m looking at a rather professional diagram.”

“Ooh, a professional diagram? What kind of professional diagram? Let me see…”

Feng Hua leaned in front of the computer screen and took a look.

He shouldn’t have looked. The sight gave him a shock.

Displayed on the screen was extremely professional software, showing a drafted line-structure diagram.

Even without specialized knowledge, one could tell it was a structural diagram for some kind of precision instrument.

“Hu… Young Master Hu, I don’t get it. What on earth is this thing?”

Hu Jiangshan hesitated for a moment before answering, “This? This is a type of signal booster.”

“A signal booster? Why are you looking at this?”

“No reason, just a small interest of mine.”

“Huh? Interest? You’re interested in this stuff?”

Feng Hua’s eyes widened, and he stared at Hu Jiangshan as if he were looking at an alien monster.

Unbelievable. Incredible.

Hu Jiangshan and a so-called signal booster were two things that couldn’t be more unrelated.

If it weren’t for Hu Jiangshan’s relatively normal reaction, Feng Hua would have thought he’d gone crazy.

Wait, could this be called normal?

If someone had told him before this that Hu Jiangshan was in a coffee shop looking at this kind of thing, Feng Hua would have thought they were a complete idiot.

Feng Qiuyi, of course, couldn’t contain her curiosity either. She glanced at the screen and, sure enough, her expression turned extremely strange.

What was going on? Why was Hu Jiangshan looking at this?

Feng Qiuyi was a university student, also studying design.

Moreover, this was clearly a piece of design software, currently in edit mode, and the diagram hadn’t been completed yet.

Could this diagram have been made by Hu Jiangshan himself?

No, no, how could that be possible?

Feng Qiuyi immediately dismissed the idea.

She would sooner believe the world was ending tomorrow than believe Hu Jiangshan could create such a professional design schematic.

Hu Jiangshan chuckled, knowing the two of them must be baffled.

“Alright, let’s not talk about this. What are you two doing here?”

Feng Hua replied, “Oh, us? We came to eat.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “Alright, then go ahead and eat.”

Feng Hua said with a smile, “There’s no rush. But you, this isn’t like you.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Young Master Hu, think about it. How long has it been since you came out to have fun? Don’t tell me you’re keeping a woman tucked away somewhere and don’t want to leave the house?”

Hu Jiangshan coughed twice. “Nonsense. I’ve been holed up at home recently, all by myself.”

“Huh? What’s going on? Your father won’t let you out?”

“That’s right, that’s right. It’s not like you don’t know, my dad is strict with me. He won’t let me go out and fool around anymore.”

Feng Hua was stunned. Everyone knew Hu Wenxin was strict with his son, but it couldn’t be to this extent, right?

Feng Hua asked, “So you’re out today?”

“Yeah, I snuck out today to relax a bit here.”

Hu Jiangshan was just spouting nonsense, leaving Feng Hua completely bewildered.

Hu Jiangshan was not the type to hang out in coffee shops; he was born to live in bars and nightclubs!

Feng Hua said in a low voice, “Come on, stop joking around, Young Master Hu. Where are we going to have fun tonight? Name the place, my treat.”

“Huh? Tonight?”

“That’s right, Young Master Hu. There’s a new nightclub in Causeway Bay. Lots of girls, and they’re top-notch. Their faces are almost all natural. Want to go check it out?”

Hu Jiangshan shook his head. “No, I’m not going. I have to go home tonight.”

“…Huh?”

Feng Hua’s jaw dropped, his mouth forming an ‘O’, as if he had just heard the most absurd thing on all of Blue Star.

Feng Qiuyi also stared at Hu Jiangshan in utter shock, suddenly feeling that this man was a complete stranger.

Chapter 10: Seawater Desalination Plant Design

It was clear to both of them that Hu Jiangshan was dead serious—he wasn’t just saying it for show.

As Feng Hua and Feng Qiuyi walked out of the coffee shop, they kept looking back, watching Hu Jiangshan’s every move through the glass door.

To their surprise, Hu Jiangshan was once again staring at the computer screen, his hands flying across the mouse and keyboard. He was serious, focused, and even looked a little handsome.

Hu Jiangshan was good-looking to begin with, but he used to have a roguish air about him. Now, that seemed to have vanished, replaced by an upright and proper demeanor.

Feng Qiuyi couldn’t help but ask, “Brother, do you think he’s… Is he actually editing that design?”

“No way, no way. Why would he be doing something like that? Don’t be ridiculous.”

Feng Hua was rambling, his mind in a state of chaos.

This was like absurdity opening the door for even more absurdity—it was absurdity that had come home to roost!

The way Hu Jiangshan was acting, he really did look like he was working.

Feng Hua couldn’t stop himself from saying, “Is there something wrong with his brain? What screw has come loose?”

“Don’t say that. What if he really is doing something important?”

“He couldn’t possibly have anything important to do! You know that! All his ‘important business’ happens at nightclubs.”

“Hey, don’t talk about that…”

The two of them glanced back at Hu Jiangshan in unison.

He was still just as focused, his expression even more serious now. At times, he would pause, a contemplative look on his face, as if deep in thought.

Feng Hua hesitated. “Is that really Hu Jiangshan? The more I look, the less he seems like himself. Could we have mistaken him for someone else?”

“Brother! Are you the one with a problem in your head? Even if we mistook him, could he have mistaken us?”

“That’s true.”

Still utterly bewildered and with heads full of questions, the two of them finally left.

A short while later, Hu Jiangshan completed the final step and saved the file.

The design for the signal booster was complete.

All he needed to do now was manufacture it and install it on the highest tower possible, and it would work.

That meant he still needed to build a signal tower, which was no small project.

Wait!

Hu Jiangshan’s eyes lit up. Wasn’t there an abandoned lighthouse on General’s Island?

If he installed this thing on top of the lighthouse, the effect would be fantastic. The lighthouse was definitely high enough, far better than any metal tower!

Hu Jiangshan left the coffee shop. It was afternoon, the sun was high in the sky, and there was still time to get things done.

He drove all over Hong Kong Island, buying the components he needed.

Some of the parts were genuinely hard to find. Hu Jiangshan was busy until evening and had only managed to gather a portion of them.

The next day, he spent another half a day running around before he finally bought all the available components.

Then, the 3D printer he had ordered in advance arrived.

This was the most advanced civilian 3D printer of this era.

3D printers of this time were not yet perfected; both their speed and precision left something to be desired. However, it was just enough to meet Hu Jiangshan’s needs.

After inspecting the 3D printer and its consumables, Hu Jiangshan prepared to start printing the next day.

The printing speed was relatively slow, so he estimated it would take five or six days to produce all the necessary parts.

Just then, he glanced at his phone screen. A notification had popped up from the “Technology Pioneer” app.

[Primary Tidal Power Station construction complete]

[Primary Tidal Power Station ready for inspection]

Hu Jiangshan shot up from the sofa.

Right! The Tidal Power Station was finished!

He had been so busy all day that he had completely forgotten about it.

He looked at the sky outside. There was still some time before it got dark.

He thought for a moment. He really couldn’t wait until tomorrow; he had to go see it now.

So, Hu Jiangshan changed his clothes and drove out.

He soon arrived at the Pak Sha Wan Yacht Club marina, where he piloted The Seahorse straight for General’s Island.

The waves were a bit rough at the moment. By nightfall, they would be even stronger and more dangerous.

Fortunately, The Seahorse was no ordinary yacht. It traveled quickly and steadily even in rough seas, arriving safely at General’s Island.

Hu Jiangshan dropped anchor and carefully stepped onto the pier.

The sea breeze on the island was quite strong, blowing his hair completely to one side.

But it was fine. General’s Island wasn’t a small islet; it had some vegetation, and once he walked a short distance inland, the wind died down considerably.

When Hu Jiangshan reached the “construction site” of the Tidal Power Station, his eyes lit up.

Wow, what a transformation!

The original construction barriers had all been removed, revealing the full view of the station.

The Tidal Power Station consisted of two parts, one above and one below the sea’s surface. What Hu Jiangshan could see was the part above the water.

It looked similar to an offshore oil rig, but much smaller.

Hu Jiangshan walked across the connecting bridge toward the platform.

The wind was strong, but luckily the bridge had high, sturdy railings.

When he reached the platform’s entrance, he found a control panel that could be unlocked with a fingerprint or an iris scan. The security was quite good.

Hu Jiangshan scanned his fingerprint, and the door opened.

This was the power station’s control room. It wasn’t large, just over a hundred square meters, divided into an outer and an inner room.

A staircase in the inner room led down to the underwater operations room.

The equipment here was extremely advanced, a product that completely surpassed this era, and was perhaps even more advanced than the technology of his own time.

Hu Jiangshan gave everything a quick look-over and basically understood how it worked.

He walked to the main console and pressed the start button.

Soon, he felt a slight vibration, accompanied by the sound of machinery running.

The Tidal Power Station was finally operational.

The main screen displayed various figures, a diagram of its operation, and a live feed of it running.

Through the live feed, Hu Jiangshan could see the underwater turbines spinning. That was how the electricity was being generated.

It was truly impressive. The noise level was even lower than he had imagined.

Moreover, the power output was substantial—more than enough to run a semiconductor production line.

As for the island’s domestic electricity needs, that was naturally taken care of as well.

Hu Jiangshan breathed a sigh of relief. He had finally sorted out the island’s power system.

He opened the Technology Engine app on his phone and discovered a new Objective!

It was related to fresh water, and there was more than one related Objective.

Hu Jiangshan was taken aback for a moment. A choice between two freshwater facilities: seawater desalination and groundwater.

It was a tough decision.

He actually wanted both. Groundwater would definitely taste better than desalinated seawater.

But then again, this was an island. Seawater desalination was more suitable. There might not be enough groundwater, and tapping into it could damage the ecosystem.

Besides, the facilities from the Technology Engine were very impressive. The desalinated water might not be bad at all.

With that in mind, Hu Jiangshan selected the first Objective.

Chapter 11: The Signal Booster is Ready

Hu Jiangshan was a bit surprised. The Seawater Desalination Facility was quite expensive at five hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars, even more than the Tidal Power Station.

And the construction period was also relatively long—ten days.

Judging by the standard set by the Tidal Power Station, it seemed the scale of this desalination project would not be small.

Without a second thought, Hu Jiangshan immediately had the construction process begin.

A progress bar appeared on the interface and began to run.

Everything was in place. In ten days, a Seawater Desalination Facility would be built on General’s Island.

With this, the water supply problem would be solved.

Having both electricity and water was just too good to be true.

If Hu Jiangshan wanted to, he could even live on General’s Island.

Building a house on General’s Island would make it a proper holiday retreat.

Actually, this wasn’t just a random thought from Hu Jiangshan.

In the future, once the semiconductor production line was built, it would certainly require a great deal of debugging. Hu Jiangshan would really have to live on the island; it would be impossible to commute back and forth.

That would be too tiring and a huge waste of time.

Precision manufacturing was not simple. Even if a semiconductor production line was highly advanced and capable of producing cutting-edge chips, it didn’t mean you could just turn on the machine and have it automatically churn them out.

Chip production involves the concept of yield rates, especially for advanced chips, where it is almost impossible to reach one hundred percent.

In fact, Island Foundry’s technical strength was already formidable in 2018, but its yields were far from perfect.

Island Foundry’s seven-nanometer chip process technology was decent, but its five-nanometer process was just beginning to mature, a far cry from the ninety percent yield rate it would later achieve.

The semiconductor production line created by the Technology Engine app was likely to be very advanced, but Hu Jiangshan didn’t think it would be an idiot-proof production line either.

Otherwise, the construction cost for this line wouldn’t be as high as ten million, which indicated that there was still a high technical barrier to entry.

Hu Jiangshan remained cautious. Instead of leaving immediately, he took another walk around the island but didn’t find any fences suddenly appearing anywhere.

Strange, had construction not started yet?

By now, the sky had darkened. Although he could still make things out, it was actually quite creepy.

After all, this was a deserted island, uninhabited, and one where a massacre had once taken place.

Hu Jiangshan also noticed that the tide was coming in. The island’s only beach was half-submerged, and the entire reef area was underwater.

The pier area, however, was unaffected, which proved that a deep-water port capable of docking large ships could indeed be built here.

The sea wind was particularly strong today. The moment Hu Jiangshan boarded The Seahorse, he immediately felt comfortable.

At night, the sea became very choppy, and sailing felt unsafe.

Hu Jiangshan thought for a moment and decided it was better not to go back tonight; he would just sleep here for a night.

In any case, the yacht had everything he needed. He wouldn’t be cold or hungry.

Hu Jiangshan checked the yacht’s fuel. It was still half-full, which was plenty.

Hu Jiangshan found a box of pre-cooked pasta in the refrigerator, which only needed to be heated in the microwave.

After eating, he went to sleep.

Unexpectedly, the quality of sleep on the yacht was quite high. Hu Jiangshan slept soundly until the next morning.

Hu Jiangshan walked out of the master bedroom onto the private outdoor forward deck and was momentarily stunned by the beautiful scenery.

A blue sea under a blue sky, with seagulls occasionally gliding across the horizon, leaving behind their crisp calls.

It was truly stunningly beautiful. No wonder the rich all wanted to buy yachts. You couldn’t blame them; it was worth it. This was what enjoying life was all about.

Hu Jiangshan went back to the dining area for a bite to eat, then went ashore again.

Finally, Hu Jiangshan saw the new construction site.

Wow, a large area had been fenced off.

Hu Jiangshan was stunned. He hadn’t expected it to be so large, appearing to be at least four or five times bigger than the Tidal Power Station.

But on second thought, it was quite normal.

The desalination of seawater is a major engineering feat. If the facility were too small, it would mean its processing capacity was insufficient. How could it possibly supply a semiconductor production line?

Seeing such a massive construction site, Hu Jiangshan felt a sense of reassurance and reliability.

Hu Jiangshan piloted The Seahorse back to Hong Kong Island.

For the next few days, Hu Jiangshan didn’t leave his apartment, becoming a shut-in as he continuously printed parts for the signal booster.

That 3D printer was less capable than Hu Jiangshan had imagined.

The printing speed was too slow, and the precision was difficult to control, fluctuating constantly. Fortunately, Hu Jiangshan was a top-tier scientist; he was a professional when it came to these precision machines.

Hu Jiangshan personally modified the 3D printer, and it was finally able to meet his requirements.

But this had delayed him by two days, so it took a full week to finish printing all the components.

Hu Jiangshan then spent a whole day assembling all the parts.

The signal booster was finally complete.

Hu Jiangshan looked at the assembled device and breathed a sigh of relief.

The device was as large as a 24-inch suitcase. It wasn’t small, but it wasn’t cumbersome either. The key was its powerful functionality and high level of integration, making it a product that could be considered ahead of its time.

To be honest, Huayao was already a communications giant on Blue Star, with technology that was absolutely dominant. But if Huayao’s top engineers were to study the signal booster Hu Jiangshan had built, they would undoubtedly be shocked.

Hu Jiangshan powered it on and tested its performance. The results were excellent; the signals from all major carriers, including those in China, were at full strength.

The next step was to take this device to General’s Island and install it on the lighthouse.

After being busy for a while, Hu Jiangshan felt quite tired. He poured himself a cup of coffee and started reading the news on his phone.

News websites in Hong Kong were relatively timely, but there was also a great deal of clickbait.

Even for the same news story, various media outlets would offer different interpretations. Rumors flew everywhere, and news filled with blatant lies that twisted black and white were commonplace.

Of course, as a transmigrator, Hu Jiangshan was impossible to mislead. He knew about most of the important events; the things he didn’t know were mostly celebrity gossip.

Just then, a news article caught his attention.

[Huayao is getting anxious, negotiating with Island Foundry to prioritize Huayao’s chip orders]

Hu Jiangshan tapped the headline and read the content, which was more or less consistent with the timeline of events as he knew it.

Although America had not yet officially banned Island Foundry from manufacturing chips for Huayao, the signs were already there.

The news said that a sense of panic was beginning to spread throughout Huayao, and they were now desperately trying to persuade Island Foundry to prioritize the production of Huayao’s chip orders.

This included the Kirin series, Ascend series, Tiangang series…

All of them were renowned chip series.

At this time, Huayao’s chip design capabilities had already surpassed America’s Gaoxin and were catching up to Apple.

If America hadn’t imposed sanctions, Huayao’s IC design would have claimed the top spot in just another year.

Chapter 12: The Pier Renovation Begins

This news was indeed true. Huayao had placed a massive chip order with Island Foundry, including at least ten million Kirin 9000S units, along with many other chips.

Huayao moved swiftly, communicating with Island Foundry to expedite production and even adding to the order. Island Foundry delivered, buying Huayao a significant amount of time.

However, this event also seemed to have happened much earlier than expected—at least three months ahead of schedule.

It looked like time was getting tighter and tighter.

Hu Jiangshan considered it for a moment. The semiconductor production line could probably be completed in about a month.

But completion didn’t mean mass production could begin. The debugging process for a semiconductor production line was also a monumental task, requiring extensive trial and error.

Hu Jiangshan couldn’t estimate exactly how long the debugging would take; it would depend on the sophistication of the production line.

Because of this, Hu Jiangshan felt a great deal of pressure.

Of course, compared to the development process in his previous life, the situation was still more optimistic. After all, Hu Jiangshan himself was a major variable.

Just then, his cell phone rang.

[Caller ID: Kevin]

Hu Jiangshan immediately answered, and Kevin’s voice, tinged with a slight accent, came through.

“Hello, Mr. Hu, is this a good time to talk?”

“Yes, of course. Kevin, did you find a construction crew?”

Kevin chuckled. “Of course. When Kevin’s on the job, there’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“That’s good. When can they start?”

“Mr. Hu, they can start tomorrow.”

Hu Jiangshan thought for a moment. “Then let’s do tomorrow. By the way, how are we settling the payment?”

Kevin was very familiar with the small pier on General’s Island and had likely already discussed the price with the foreman.

Kevin said, “Mr. Hu, it will be five hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars. That’s already with a discount.”

That’s a damn ripoff! Hu Jiangshan thought.

It was such a small pier, and there wasn’t really that much work to be done.

But there was no helping it. Labor was expensive in Hong Kong Island, and construction projects were even more so. Any minor job would start at a hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars.

And this wasn’t even building a new pier. If it were a new construction, it would be impossible without one or two million Hong Kong dollars.

A slightly larger pier could even cost over ten million Hong Kong dollars.

Though reluctant, Hu Jiangshan agreed immediately.

“How long will it take?”

“About… about a month,” Kevin replied.

Hu Jiangshan frowned. “A month? It takes a month for that little bit of work? No, ten days. It must be finished in ten days. If they can’t do it, find someone else.”

“Mr. Hu,” Kevin said quickly, “I don’t think that will be a problem. I’ll have them rush it. Ten days is no problem.”

“Good, let’s do that.”

After hanging up, Hu Jiangshan waited patiently.

Sure enough, half an hour later, Kevin called again. He said they could definitely finish repairing the small pier in ten days, with guaranteed quality, and that they would give Mr. Hu a pleasant surprise.

Hu Jiangshan remained noncommittal. Since Kevin had said so, he would take his word for it for now.

Relatively speaking, Kevin was a fairly reliable broker.

Of course, the money still had to be right.

The next morning, Hu Jiangshan left the house with the signal booster.

He had already arranged with Kevin that the construction crew would head to General’s Island this morning to start the pier renovation.

Naturally, Kevin and his crew were taking a small fishing boat.

When Hu Jiangshan arrived at General’s Island on The Seahorse, he saw that the construction crew had already started working.

There were eight or nine men in total—not a large crew, but they were all experienced craftsmen and looked quite deft.

The leader, named Uncle Gou Ming, was a short, stout, bald man in his fifties. His skin was dark, and his eyes were sharp, giving him a shrewd look.

Hu Jiangshan had bought several cartons of cigarettes beforehand and handed them all to Uncle Gou Ming.

“Please do your best, masters. If the work is done well, I’ll make sure you’re well compensated.”

Uncle Gou Ming was an old smoker himself, and Hu Jiangshan had brought good cigarettes.

Beaming with joy, Uncle Gou Ming said, “Alright, don’t you worry, Mr. Hu. We’ll be diligent. Guaranteed quality and delivery to the highest standard!”

Hu Jiangshan nodded and walked onto the island carrying his case. He spotted Kevin sitting on a rock, constantly wiping away sweat and muttering English swear words under his breath.

It was indeed hot today. The sun was high in the sky, and its rays burned his face.

When Kevin saw Hu Jiangshan arrive, he quickly stood up to greet him.

Hu Jiangshan started chatting with Kevin, mainly about the construction plan for the pier.

The main task was to renovate it based on the existing foundation. Then, if time permitted, they could build a small wooden cabin nearby, which would be convenient for storing things.

Given the limited conditions, this was the best they could do for now.

If he had sufficient funds in the future, Hu Jiangshan was determined to build a larger pier, or perhaps even a harbor.

This wasn’t just idle talk.

Once the semiconductor production line was built and could operate at mass production, chip transportation would be crucial, and that would certainly require large ships.

Just then, Kevin looked around and asked, “Mr. Hu, I’m just curious, what are you planning to do with this island? You’re not building a vacation house, are you?”

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly. “A vacation house would be nice. It wouldn’t be so bad to come here and stay for a while.”

Kevin chuckled. “Right, right. Mr. Hu could even bring a few beautiful women over, play survival on a deserted island. It’d be a blast.”

Hu Jiangshan glanced at Kevin. The guy was full of wild ideas.

If he were still his original body, he might have actually taken Kevin’s suggestion.

But the current Hu Jiangshan had no time for such things. Well, at most, he might bring one person over to play castaway.

“Then again, Mr. Hu,” Kevin added, “vacationing here does have a bit of a downside.”

“What downside?”

“Finding fresh water is…”

Kevin’s words trailed off, and an awkward smile appeared on his face.

As expected, Kevin had known all along that there was no water source on General’s Island.

The guy never mentioned it at the time—so cunning.

One of the main reasons this island was so cheap and no one had bought it was the lack of surface water.

But that didn’t matter. The water problem had already been solved.

Kevin looked at his phone and sighed. “The signal here is terrible. You can’t make a call at all.”

“It’ll be working soon,” Hu Jiangshan said calmly.

“…Huh? Working? What do you mean?”

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly. “Exactly what it sounds like.”

Only then did Kevin notice the large case Hu Jiangshan was carrying.

“What’s that? A change of clothes, Mr. Hu?”

“Hardly. This is a gadget that lets people make calls on the island.”

“Ah? This?”

Kevin was completely baffled.

By this time, Hu Jiangshan was already walking away with the case.

“Mr. Hu, where are you going?” Kevin called out.

“The lighthouse. You should come along, I might need you to lend a hand.”

Kevin’s eyes widened with curiosity. He quickly followed Hu Jiangshan toward the lighthouse.

Chapter 13: The Hu Family Scion, A Changed Man

The lighthouse was built on a small slope on the island, a very deliberate location. The two of them arrived at its base, one after the other.

Hu Jiangshan had already checked out this lighthouse beforehand. Although it was now abandoned, its main structure was still intact. The stairs were metal, had been treated for rust, and were still quite sturdy.

Hu Jiangshan ascended the lighthouse, and Kevin followed, panting.

The lighthouse was quite tall. Standing at the top, the view was excellent, stretching far into the distance.

Of course, the sea breeze was also very strong.

Kevin asked, “Mr. Hu, what are you planning to do up here? It’s quite dangerous.”

Hu Jiangshan replied, “I’m going to install this. It’ll make phone calls more convenient.” As he spoke, he patted the box.

“Huh? Is that a cell phone signal booster?”

“You could say that.”

Kevin was stunned for a moment. He hadn’t expected Hu Jiangshan’s methods to be so unorthodox.

Wasn’t this kind of thing supposed to be handled by communication service providers?

Kevin said, “Mr. Hu, that won’t work, will it? This thing needs electricity, right? There’s no power on the island right now!”

There were indeed electrical wires in the lighthouse, installed by The Japanese during World War II, but back then they had used diesel generators for power.

When The Japanese withdrew, they had long since dismantled all the generators.

The wires were still there, but there was no power source.

Hu Jiangshan said, “There wasn’t before, but there is now.”

Kevin was completely baffled, having no idea what Hu Jiangshan was talking about.

Where would the electricity come from? Unless Hu Jiangshan had installed a diesel engine here, but there was clearly no sign of one.

He watched as Hu Jiangshan opened the box. Inside was truly an instrument, one that looked exceedingly complex and precise.

Hu Jiangshan called Kevin over, and they placed the instrument in a spot sheltered from the wind and rain.

In truth, this signal booster was waterproof and even had a certain level of shock resistance, but to be on the safe side, it was best to put it in as secure a location as possible.

Hu Jiangshan set to work connecting the wires. The circuit breaker was right beside them.

He flipped the switch—power on!

Incredibly, there was power!

Kevin exclaimed, “Oh! My God! What’s going on? Why is there electricity?”

Hu Jiangshan glanced at Kevin. “I told you, the electricity problem has been solved.”

“Good heavens, how did you solve it, Mr. Hu?”

“It was nothing. I just built a power station.”

Kevin was dumbfounded. It had only been a few days, and Hu Jiangshan had actually built a power station on General’s Island.

Hu Jiangshan didn’t elaborate. “Alright, check your phone’s signal.”

Kevin snapped back to his senses, immediately pulled out his phone, and glanced at the screen, letting out another cry of surprise.

“My God! Great! Full bars!”

But of course. Hu Jiangshan’s technical skills were no joke.

Hu Jiangshan said, “The wind is too strong up here. Let’s go down.”

Watching Hu Jiangshan’s retreating back, Kevin felt more and more that this young master, Hu Jiangshan, had become extraordinary.

Thinking it over, Hu Jiangshan really was like a completely different person from before. He had become calm and steady, even showing hints of wisdom.

Was this a complete change in personality?

That seemed impossible!

This wasn’t a movie; things like this didn’t happen in real life.

One after the other, Hu Jiangshan and Kevin descended the lighthouse.

Hu Jiangshan checked the signal on his own phone as well. There was no problem at all—full bars.

In fact, this signal booster was something Hu Jiangshan had rushed to build; it wasn’t perfect.

If he had more time, he planned to build a more powerful signal receiver, one that could even pick up satellite signals.

For now, though, there was no need. As long as it worked, it was fine.

Hu Jiangshan clapped his hands together and said, “That’s done.”

Kevin asked, “Mr. Hu, who did you get to make this? It must have been very expensive, right?”

Hu Jiangshan glanced at Kevin. “It was alright. I just threw it together.”

“You made it?”

Hu Jiangshan gave a noncommittal response, not planning to clarify.

Kevin scratched his head, feeling that Hu Jiangshan had become even more enigmatic.

This was just bizarre. Since when was the Hu family’s young master so capable?

You had to understand, there were many outlying islands near Hong Kong Island, and a lot of them either had poor cell signal or no signal at all.

General’s Island was so far from Hong Kong Island, yet the problem had been solved so easily.

Incredible. Unbelievable.

“Mr. Hu, you’re really amazing. You even solved the cell signal problem. Thinking about it, now we have everything but water. Are you really going to build a large villa on the island later?”

Hu Jiangshan waved his hand. “We’ll see about that. For now, let’s just focus on getting the current job done.”

“Alright, Mr. Hu. If you need anything later on, just let me know. I’ll arrange the best construction crew for you, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.”

“Okay, no problem.”

Hu Jiangshan was also a considerate person. He had brought plenty of food and water on the boat, and he had Kevin get some people to unload everything and lay it out on the ground.

The moment the construction crew saw this, they worked with even more gusto.

For the next few days, Hu Jiangshan’s focus wasn’t on General’s Island. He only occasionally took the boat over to check on the construction progress of the small pier.

The quality of Uncle Gou Ming’s construction team was quite good. They worked methodically and didn’t cut corners. At least, Hu Jiangshan couldn’t find any faults.

Hu Jiangshan didn’t stay idle in his apartment either. He was continuously planning the specific processes and plans for semiconductor production.

Although Hu Jiangshan didn’t yet know what the semiconductor production line would look like or how advanced it would be, the processes and required materials should be more or less the same.

Hu Jiangshan possessed a level of knowledge and technical ability that surpassed this era. If he planned well, he was confident he could achieve twice the result with half the effort.

In 2018, the mainstream chip manufacturing process was seven nanometers, with the most advanced being five nanometers. Hu Jiangshan was confident he could make three-nanometer chips right now, though it would be a bit more troublesome.

A few days later, while Hu Jiangshan was planning the material configuration for wafer manufacturing, his phone rang.

It was Kevin again.

“M-Mr. Hu, something’s wrong! Something’s wrong!”

Kevin’s tone sounded extremely anxious, as if the sky was falling.

Hu Jiangshan was startled too. “Kevin, speak slowly. What happened?”

“On the island… a lot of things suddenly appeared on the island! Mr. Hu, you have to come and see!”

“A lot of things appeared?”

Hu Jiangshan thought for a moment, then calmed down. He wasn’t alarmed; in fact, he was pleased.

That’s right, it should be the tenth day now!

Hu Jiangshan said, “It’s fine. I’ll be right over.”

“Alright, Mr. Hu. Please hurry. This feels very unusual.”

“Alright, no problem.”

Hu Jiangshan hung up and looked at his phone screen.

A new message had appeared on the “Technology Engine App”.

As expected, the Seawater Desalination Facility was complete.

Hu Jiangshan drove straight to the Pak Sha Wan Yacht Club marina.

He had been so focused these past few days that he had lost track of what day it was.

Hu Jiangshan was full of anticipation, wondering what the Seawater Desalination Facility would look like and how high-tech it would be.

Chapter 14: Seawater Desalination Can Begin

Hu Jiangshan soon arrived at General’s Island on his yacht.

By this time, the small pier on General’s Island was already starting to look quite impressive.

The originally dilapidated wooden dock had been repaired to look brand new. Almost all the timber had been replaced with new, specially treated wood that was sturdy, moisture-proof, and aesthetically pleasing.

Uncle Gou Ming and his men were now building a small wooden cabin on the shore. Hu Jiangshan went over to take a look. The cabin was quite spacious, divided into an inner and outer room, and could comfortably house one or two people.

Just then, Kevin came up to greet him.

“Mr. Hu, Mr. Hu, you’re finally here! Something’s changed over there!”

As he spoke, Kevin pointed in another direction on the island, his expression one of utter shock.

That was the location of the Seawater Desalination Facility.

Hu Jiangshan, of course, wasn’t in a hurry. He asked, “How has it changed?”

Kevin swallowed hard and said, “A bunch of strange-looking buildings have appeared on that side of the island. I have no idea who built them.”

“Oh.”

Kevin didn’t notice Hu Jiangshan’s noncommittal expression and immediately ushered him in that direction.

Sure enough, the Seawater Desalination Facility had been completed.

Hu Jiangshan looked out, and his eyes widened in amazement.

Although Hu Jiangshan had been mentally prepared, he couldn’t help but be astonished by the sight of the completed desalination facility.

The scale was much larger than he had imagined!

He saw more than twenty structures standing on the sea’s surface—some tall, some short, some large, some small—all looking incredibly complex.

A large pool, filled with seawater, was enclosed in the middle of the main facilities.

Hu Jiangshan knew the principles of desalination. Once the equipment was activated, the seawater in this pool would gradually be converted into fresh water.

This pool was not small at all; it was like having a freshwater lake built by the seaside.

Kevin couldn’t help but ask, “Mr. Hu, have you offended someone?”

“Hmm? What do you mean? Who would I have offended?”

“Who built this thing here? They’re clearly trying to squat on your land.”

Only then did Hu Jiangshan understand what Kevin was thinking. He was worried someone was trying to take over their territory.

Hu Jiangshan waved his hand. “I had someone build this.”

Kevin was dumbfounded.

“What? You had it built? …What… what is it for?”

“Can’t you tell? It’s a seawater desalination plant.”

Kevin’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.

A seawater desalination plant was just built so casually? That was way too easy!

The key thing was, this wasn’t some small-scale desalination facility. A single glance told you the investment had to be over a hundred million!

You have to understand, there weren’t any seawater desalination plants on the whole of Hong Kong Island. Almost all the fresh water comes from the mainland.

“But when did you hire people to build it? I’ve been here several times and haven’t heard a thing!”

“You just didn’t notice.”

Kevin was completely bewildered.

It was certainly possible that Kevin simply hadn’t seen it, since he hadn’t come over to this part of the island before. In fact, it was the construction crew who had discovered it today.

But how could such a massive project be built without any large construction vessels coming and going?

But it was completed now, standing right before his eyes as if it had appeared out of thin air. Kevin had no choice but to believe it.

Kevin suddenly realized something. This was a seawater desalination plant, a facility that could turn seawater into fresh water.

“Oh, my heavens! Mr. Hu, this means General’s Island will have fresh water!”

“Of course. I think if this entire pool is filled with fresh water, it will definitely be enough.”

Kevin scratched his head.

“More than enough? This could supply ten thousand people! Mr. Hu, are you really planning to build a villa here? No, wait! Are you going to build a hotel on the island? A resort? Develop this into a resort island?”

Hu Jiangshan glanced at Kevin.

To be honest, Kevin’s mind was quite sharp.

General’s Island wasn’t small. With fresh water, electricity, and communication facilities, it could easily be developed into a resort island by building one or two hotels.

Hu Jiangshan waved his hand dismissively. “I haven’t thought that far ahead. We’ll talk about that later.”

“Mr. Hu, how much must you have invested in this? I’ve heard that desalination equipment is incredibly expensive, astronomically so. A project of this scale must be the price of all prices!”

Kevin felt that Hu Jiangshan was just incredible.

Securing electricity, water, and communications on a deserted island like this was something no ordinary person could accomplish.

Hu Jiangshan remained noncommittal, just humming in agreement.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “By the way, Kevin, it looks like the pier is mostly done. Will it be finished today or tomorrow?”

“Yes, the pier is almost finished. All that’s left is that wooden cabin. I heard from Uncle Gou Ming that it should be completed today.”

“Good, very good.”

Hu Jiangshan chatted with Kevin as they walked back.

Hu Jiangshan inspected the construction quality of the pier again and was quite satisfied. There were no obvious flaws, and even if there were, he just had to tell Uncle Gou Ming, and they would be fixed.

The sun was scorching, so Hu Jiangshan returned to The Seahorse.

The yacht was very comfortable, with a first-class view. He only had to turn his head to see the clear, blue-green sea and the beautiful, sunny sky.

If he wanted, he could even go sea fishing right here—a life many people dream of.

But Hu Jiangshan had no time for such leisure. He continued to study wafer manufacturing schemes and processes on the yacht.

After a burst of work, Hu Jiangshan breathed a sigh of relief.

He had temporarily settled on a few plans, which he would need to test after the semiconductor production line was completed.

That evening, the pier on General’s Island was finally completed.

After inspecting and accepting the work, Hu Jiangshan promptly paid the final balance and even gave them an extra bonus for their hard work.

Hu Jiangshan was generous and decisive with his money, so the construction crew naturally thought well of him.

Uncle Gou Ming said, “Mr. Hu, if you have any more projects in the future, you must call us. Whatever you want done, we’ll do it. Guaranteed quality, we won’t let you down!”

Hu Jiangshan naturally agreed.

After Kevin and the construction crew left by boat, Hu Jiangshan entered the control room of the Seawater Desalination Facility.

As expected, the various systems in the control room were largely the same as those in the Tidal Power Station, and the technology level was basically identical.

Of course, there were some differences. The seawater desalination system was indeed more complex.

Hu Jiangshan suddenly understood why the Objective for the Seawater Desalination Facility hadn’t appeared in the Technology Engine App before.

These Objectives had prerequisites.

The prerequisite for the Seawater Desalination Facility was a power system.

Interesting. The Technology Engine App truly was a magical little program.

After studying it for a bit, Hu Jiangshan quickly activated the seawater desalination system.

The main screen dynamically displayed the desalination process and the flow rate.

The desalination speed astonished Hu Jiangshan.

A rough estimate put the hourly desalination volume at several tens of thousands of liters of water.

And this was just after the equipment had started up; it wasn’t even running at full power yet.

Hu Jiangshan watched for a while. Everything was running normally, and he was finally able to relax.

The main support facilities were all ready. Now, all that was left was for the semiconductor factory to be built.

Chapter 15: The Semiconductor Production Line is Complete

In truth, there were still many problems on the island that needed solving.

The most obvious was the roads. Right now, the island was almost entirely covered in dirt roads, with no paved surfaces.

The dirt roads had been hardened and were fine for walking, but they couldn’t handle large trucks.

Once the semiconductor factory started shipping products, vehicles would be essential. How could they operate without paved roads? They would definitely have to be built.

And if they were going to build them, they couldn’t just build one. The road network would have to cover the entire island.

Even if built in stages, the scale of the project would be massive.

Besides the roads, they also needed to construct an office building and even dormitories.

No matter how advanced the semiconductor production line was, it couldn’t be one hundred percent automated. It would still require employees; it was just a matter of how many.

However, these projects could wait. Hu Jiangshan was tight on funds at the moment and didn’t have the extra money for such large-scale endeavors.

Several more days passed in a flash, and Hu Jiangshan didn’t remain idle.

He spent most of his time cooped up at home, researching the wafer chip manufacturing process and adjusting his plans.

Occasionally, Hu Jiangshan would visit General’s Island to inspect the power and desalination facilities.

All he could say was that everything was normal.

The Tidal Power Station and the Seawater Desalination Facility were operating smoothly. The desalination facility, in particular, had processed nearly an entire large pool of seawater into fresh water.

Hu Jiangshan even tasted the freshly produced water. It was cool and crisp with a hint of sweetness, much like well water or mountain spring water. It tasted quite good.

During this time, Hu Jiangshan’s fair-weather friends and unsavory company had contacted him, asking him to go out and party.

Without exception, Hu Jiangshan turned them all down.

He was in no mood to go out and fool around. His mind was consumed with the chip manufacturing process, and he had no interest in anything else.

One day, Hu Jiangshan was in his apartment eating pizza and scribbling on a piece of paper.

Just then, his phone received a message.

[Basic Semiconductor Production Line Construction Complete]

Hu Jiangshan’s eyes nearly popped out of his head as he shot up from the sofa.

It’s done! The semiconductor production line is complete!

Without a second thought, Hu Jiangshan quickly changed his clothes and drove out.

He could hardly wait to see what the semiconductor production line looked like.

When Hu Jiangshan arrived at the Pak Sha Wan Yacht Club marina and was about to board The Seahorse, a staff member ran over.

“Mr. Hu, the boat is low on fuel.”

“Oh,” Hu Jiangshan replied. “Then please fill it up for me.”

“Right away, sir. It should take about half an hour.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded and handed the staff member a bill.

Tipping was normal for yacht fueling and maintenance; it ensured the job was done well.

Hu Jiangshan had been taking The Seahorse back and forth constantly during this period and had only refueled it once.

The yacht was quite fuel-efficient.

Just then, someone approached.

It was a young master in his thirties, dressed casually with a slightly lazy expression on his face.

He had a massive entourage, with people bustling around him and shouting orders. The yacht club staff were bowing and scraping before him.

More importantly, the man had several women with him. They all had great figures and pretty faces, and they were dressed flamboyantly in revealing attire.

Anyone who appeared here was either rich or powerful, and this man was no exception.

In fact, his background was formidable. He was Li Changxi.

The name Li Changxi might not be widely known, but everyone in China knew of Superman Li.

Superman Li was once the richest man in Asia, and even now, his economic power was immense.

He had always been the head of Hong Kong Island’s Four great families, a man who could command the wind and rain.

Now that Superman Li was older, he made fewer public appearances, but his descendants were anything but low-key.

Take this Li Changxi, for example. He was Superman Li’s grandson, the son of Li Zeju.

Among the playboys of Hong Kong Island, Li Changxi was truly top-tier.

As mentioned before, Hu Yingxiang and Superman Li had a major falling out over the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. But in a place like Hong Kong Island, where you were bound to run into people, completely cutting ties was unrealistic. So the great families still had some interaction with each other.

But interaction was just that; they were by no means on good terms.

Li Changxi rather looked down on Hu Jiangshan. The Hu family was in decline, and Hu Jiangshan himself was a good-for-nothing, just drifting along waiting for death.

Seeing Hu Jiangshan now, Li Changxi was both surprised and contemptuous.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the Hu family’s eldest young master. It’s quite a rarity to see you here!”

Li Changxi was playing dumb.

The old Hu Jiangshan had never once set foot in the Pak Sha Wan Yacht Club marina.

Hu Jiangshan replied coolly, “Oh, just a coincidence today.”

Li Changxi found Hu Jiangshan’s attitude strange. In the past, if he spoke to him like this, Hu Jiangshan would get quite flustered. Why was he so calm today?

But Li Changxi didn’t pay it too much mind. In his eyes, Hu Jiangshan couldn’t be taken seriously, so he decided to tease him a little.

“By the way, is your Hu family’s yacht here?”

Hu Jiangshan nodded without a word.

Li Changxi didn’t get angry and smiled faintly. “Are you heading out to sea today?”

“Yes, I am.”

Li Changxi looked around. “Where are the others?”

“It’s just me.”

“What? …Are you kidding me?”

“I have no reason to kid you.”

Li Changxi was genuinely stunned.

Fine, so you’re going to play it this way, huh? Completely off-script.

He refused to believe Hu Jiangshan would take a yacht out to sea by himself. That would be insane!

Li Changxi asked again, “Which one is yours?”

Hu Jiangshan glanced at Li Changxi and pointed to The Seahorse. “That one.”

“What?”

Li Changxi put on an exaggerated look of astonishment, though it was all an act.

“This one? It’s so small! Is it any good?”

The women around Li Changxi started to giggle and whisper among themselves.

“That boat really is tiny!”

“Yeah, it’s so miniature.”

“It doesn’t look like much fun. Not impressive at all.”

“Out at sea, won’t a single wave just flip it over?”

Hu Jiangshan, however, acted as if he hadn’t heard a thing, saying flatly, “Small is good. A small boat is easy to turn around. It’s enough for one person.”

Li Changxi wasn’t an idiot; he sensed something was wrong.

Why had Hu Jiangshan suddenly become so taciturn?

And the feeling this Hu Jiangshan gave off was different, completely different. The contrast was just too great.

“I say, Hu Jiangshan, your Hu family may be going through a rough patch lately, but there’s no need to give up on yourself like this.”

Hu Jiangshan looked at Li Changxi again and said, “Excuse me, I’m going to rest on my boat for a bit.”

With that, Hu Jiangshan boarded The Seahorse, not giving Li Changxi a second glance.

Li Changxi’s face turned ugly. He was left in an incredibly awkward position.

The women around him fell silent, looking at each other, not daring to even breathe.

Chapter 16: The Technology Level Exceeds Imagination

Li Changxi snorted coldly, “Let’s get on board.”

The girls breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Changxi led the girls onto his own luxury yacht.

This yacht was a gift from Superman Li to his beloved grandson. It also had a double deck, but it was more than two sizes larger than Hu Jiangshan’s The Seahorse.

The yacht was even equipped with a swimming pool, making it quite extravagant.

Of course, the price of this yacht was also quite stunning. It was a custom model, with a base price of eighty million US dollars.

The configuration of Li Changxi’s yacht was top-of-the-line; it couldn’t possibly have been cheaper.

Right now, Li Changxi was in no mood to enjoy himself. His mind was filled with the image of Hu Jiangshan’s arrogant expression.

How bizarre. What was with Hu Jiangshan’s attitude just now?

Li Changxi pondered it. The more he thought, the more something felt wrong. He had a feeling something was going on with Hu Jiangshan, and it wasn’t trivial. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be acting so abnormally.

Li Changxi remained silent, so the other girls could only whisper among themselves, not daring to speak loudly.

“What’s wrong with Young Master Li? Is he in a bad mood?”

“Who knows? Maybe that guy named Hu got on his nerves.”

“…On his nerves? Why? What on earth happened?”

“Hah! Of course you wouldn’t understand the affairs of these rich guys.”

“Heh, as if you understand them.”

In fact, many of them knew about the old feud between Hu Yingxiang and Superman Li, but it was something you kept to yourself. No one dared bring it up in public.

It would easily cause trouble, and not just minor trouble, so everyone naturally remained tight-lipped.

Suddenly, Li Changxi picked up his phone and dialed a number.

The other person answered quickly.

“Hey, Feng Hua, I need to ask you something.”

So, Li Changxi was calling Feng Hua.

Everyone in their circle knew that Feng Hua’s relationship with Hu Jiangshan was decent. They interacted quite a bit, so if something was up with Hu Jiangshan, Feng Hua would likely know something.

But after a few words about Hu Jiangshan, Feng Hua couldn’t say anything.

It seemed Feng Hua didn’t know much either. He just felt that Hu Jiangshan’s state had indeed been different lately.

Feng Hua also mentioned that he had invited Hu Jiangshan out to party and have fun more than once, but Hu Jiangshan hadn’t gone a single time, rejecting every invitation.

Li Changxi looked stunned. “What? He’s not going out anymore? What’s going on? He didn’t go even once?”

“That’s right, not even once. He said no to me every time.”

“…Then what is he doing?”

“I don’t know. It seems like Hu Jiangshan has been staying home recently. No idea what he’s busy with.”

A flash of inspiration hit Li Changxi. “He’s holed up at home? Does he have a woman over?”

“…Well, I’m not sure about that, but I don’t think so.”

Li Changxi said impatiently, “It’s not this, it’s not that, so what the hell is he up to?”

Feng Hua wanted to reveal something, but he couldn’t just spout nonsense, and he couldn’t explain it clearly anyway.

Just then, Li Changxi glanced through the panoramic window and saw a yacht slowly leaving the dock.

Wasn’t that Hu Jiangshan’s shabby little yacht!

Could it be that Hu Jiangshan really took his yacht out all by himself?

How bizarre! So inexplicable!

What is that guy up to, acting all sneaky?

Li Changxi felt it was necessary to investigate. That kid Hu Jiangshan couldn’t be involved in some shady business, could he?

For the great families of Hong Kong Island, even the smallest matters had to be clarified, as they might uncover significant secrets.

Meanwhile, Hu Jiangshan had no idea that Li Changxi, despite being with a group of girls, was constantly thinking about him.

If Hu Jiangshan knew, he would definitely think there was something wrong with Li Changxi.

Right now, Hu Jiangshan’s mind was completely occupied with the semiconductor production line.

Hu Jiangshan’s self-control was strong enough, but after waiting anxiously for a month, he had long grown impatient.

The Seahorse reached twenty knots, cutting a white line across the sea as it headed straight for General’s Island.

About twenty minutes later, Hu Jiangshan docked the yacht at General’s Island.

By now, the dock had been completely refurbished. Although it looked a bit simple, it had all the necessary facilities.

Drop anchor, go ashore.

Hu Jiangshan quickly arrived at the entrance of the cave warehouse.

Sure enough, the barrier had been removed. The entrance was now completely different from before; the opening had been enlarged, and a very sturdy door had been added.

An access control panel, looking very sophisticated, was installed next to the door.

Hu Jiangshan could see that this access control system was much more secure than the ones at the entrances to the Tidal Power Station and the Seawater Desalination Facility.

It was easy to understand. The semiconductor production line was crucial and certainly required a better security system.

Hu Jiangshan pressed his finger against it.

[Fingerprint recognition successful]

[Identity confirmed: Administrator]

With a whoosh, the door opened.

The automatic door was incredibly smooth. It was also thick, heavy, and high-tech. He had no idea what material it was made of.

Looking in from the outside, it was still dark.

The moment Hu Jiangshan stepped inside, the lights turned on.

So that’s how it is. The completion of the semiconductor production line also meant the power was connected.

Hu Jiangshan discovered the inside had been completely transformed.

The cave warehouse was brand new. The ceiling, floor, and walls had all been completely resurfaced.

The main color scheme was white, clean and tidy, practically spotless.

Without a doubt, the cave warehouse had been converted into a massive high-tech factory.

Hu Jiangshan slowly looked around. He spent at least an hour wandering inside before he finally understood the layout.

The cave was now a huge factory floor.

It was divided into three main sections based on function, structured like concentric rings.

The outermost ring was a general activity area where one could move freely.

The second layer was the equipment monitoring area, which required certain dust-control measures to enter.

The third and innermost layer was the core production area. It was highly automated, a textbook lights-out factory.

The most valuable equipment was, of course, located in the third layer’s area, such as the lithography machine, etching machine, chemical control equipment, and so on.

The technological level of this equipment astounded Hu Jiangshan.

Hu Jiangshan was a scientist from the future and was no stranger to semiconductor production equipment. Yet, there were some machines here whose operating mechanisms he couldn’t figure out even after studying them for half a day.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say this technology was extraterrestrial.

Fortunately, there were instructions in the central control room.

Hu Jiangshan studied them carefully, taking two hours to finally understand the operational logic of the entire production line.

Hu Jiangshan breathed a sigh of relief. Everything he had planned during this time was completely achievable. His efforts had not been in vain; in fact, it would be even simpler and more thorough than he expected.

With this production line, he could definitely produce the most advanced wafers and chips.

He couldn’t even guess what the upper limits of its capabilities were for the time being.

More importantly, this production line had very low requirements for raw materials—so low it was shocking.

For example, producing advanced chips usually requires high-purity chemicals. But this semiconductor production line had specialized equipment that could purify them, allowing it to directly use chemicals of ordinary purity.

Chapter 17: An Invitation from His Father

This would drastically reduce the manufacturing cost of wafer chips.

Hu Jiangshan was inwardly pleased, but it wasn’t time to rest easy just yet. It would be difficult for one person to oversee such a massive and complex production line.

Hu Jiangshan needed hands, and he needed talent.

After some thought, he took out his phone and dialed Kevin’s number.

“Hello, Mr. Hu. It’s an honor to receive your call. Is there anything I can do for you?”

Kevin sounded as energetic as ever.

After working together for some time, Kevin’s attitude toward Hu Jiangshan had grown increasingly respectful.

Even a fool could see that Hu Jiangshan was not only reliable but also incredibly capable.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “Kevin, I’m looking to recruit some professional talent.”

“Oh? What kind of talent are you looking for, Mr. Hu? I can help you look.”

Hu Jiangshan thought for a moment before replying, “People who understand semiconductor manufacturing. They have to be exceptional, preferably with experience working at major companies or renowned research institutes and laboratories.”

Kevin fell silent for a moment before saying, “To be honest, Mr. Hu, people like that won’t be easy to find.”

“That’s why I’m asking for your help.”

“Alright, I’ll give it a try. But Mr. Hu, people like that will also have very high salary expectations.”

“That’s not a problem. Find the people first; we can discuss the rest later.”

“You got it.”

After hanging up, Hu Jiangshan thought to himself that money was, in fact, an issue.

Top-tier researchers and engineers certainly commanded high prices, but Hu Jiangshan had to find them.

Without some serious expertise, he really wouldn’t be able to manage this production line.

Of course, ability alone wasn’t enough. More importantly, they had to be of good character, especially in terms of loyalty. This aspect required careful vetting.

Hu Jiangshan had no leads on where to find such talent yet.

Talent was something you encountered, not something you could force. He would have to take it slow.

After all, the hardware was already in place; everything else was a much lower hurdle.

Besides, he only needed one or two top-tier experts. The rest of the team didn’t need to be as exceptional.

Hu Jiangshan returned to The Seahorse, had something to eat, and took a nap. Once he was fully rested, he piloted the yacht back to Hong Kong Island.

Before he had even disembarked, he received a phone call. To his surprise, it was from his so-called father, Hu Wenxin.

Hu Wenxin had always subscribed to an “out of sight, out of mind” policy with his precious son and rarely called him on his own initiative.

The fact that he was calling now meant something was up.

As soon as Hu Jiangshan answered, Hu Wenxin’s muffled voice came through.

“Where are you?”

“Ah, Dad, I’m on the boat.”

“…On the boat? You went out to have fun?”

Hu Jiangshan could only say, “I guess so.”

“What do you mean, ‘I guess so’… Fine, are you on Hong Kong Island now?”

“Yes, I just got to the marina. What’s up, Dad?”

“Come to the company.”

Hu Jiangshan was taken aback. What was going on today?

His so-called father rarely asked him to come to the company.

Hu Wenxin quickly added, “Your mother made some coconut purple rice cakes, and I brought them to the office. She specifically told me to have you come and get them.”

Hu Jiangshan’s mother, Yuan Caihua, truly had painstakingly good intentions. This was her way of trying to ease the tension between father and son.

Hu Jiangshan initially didn’t want to go, but then he considered that his parents meant well. Refusing outright would be too tactless.

Besides, Hu Wenxin was making a rare show of fatherly affection. How could he break his heart?

Fine, he might as well go.

Hu Jiangshan agreed.

Hu Wenxin immediately said, “Good. Hurry up, or I’ll have to go to a meeting soon.”

“Okay, Dad, I’ll be right there.”

Hu Jiangshan hung up, disembarked from The Seahorse, and drove toward the Hopewell Group Tower.

As mentioned before, the Hopewell Group was the Hu family’s primary industrial conglomerate, with its headquarters naturally located in Central, Hong Kong Island.

Central was a major business district, a place where Hong Kong’s largest corporations congregated.

Many mainland companies expanding into Hong Kong also set up their headquarters there.

The Hopewell Group had many business ventures, but its focus remained on real estate and finance.

It also had other investment projects, such as putting money into some tech companies in the mainland and Southeast Asia.

In the past, Hu Yingxiang had wanted to develop a tech industry on Hong Kong Island but had not succeeded.

This was normal. Hong Kong’s commercial atmosphere over the past few decades was not conducive to high-tech development. It was only suited for making money, so naturally, real estate and finance were more popular.

In recent years, the Hopewell Group’s development had not been going too well, with several of its major investment projects failing.

More importantly, real estate was on a downward trend in both Hong Kong and the mainland, and it wouldn’t be catching its breath anytime soon.

But a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. The Hopewell Group was still quite formidable. Moreover, the last two years hadn’t been without their bright spots. At the very least, a few films they invested in on the mainland had achieved good results, which helped them recoup some losses.

Meanwhile, Hu Wenxin was in his office, drinking coffee.

On the table were a few pieces of pastry—the very coconut purple rice cakes his wife, Yuan Caihua, had made.

The cakes looked appetizing; Yuan Caihua was a skilled cook.

Sitting on the sofa opposite him was a young man named Du Jiapeng.

Although Du Jiapeng was only in his thirties, he was already a senior executive at the Hopewell Group, an outstanding figure of the younger generation.

Hu Wenxin held Du Jiapeng in high regard, often calling him in for a chat or to discuss work.

Today, however, Du Jiapeng had come to see Hu Wenxin on his own initiative.

The two didn’t rush into business. Hu Wenxin said to his beautiful secretary, “Amanda, make a cup of coffee for Jiapeng and give him two pieces of cake.”

Du Jiapeng quickly waved his hand. “No, no need, President Hu. That’s not appropriate.”

“Nonsense! What’s not appropriate? Don’t be so polite. We can eat and chat.”

A moment later, a cup of coffee and two pieces of cake were placed in front of Du Jiapeng.

Amanda took the opportunity to glance at Du Jiapeng a couple more times.

A young talent like him—capable and suave—was indeed very attractive to women.

Du Jiapeng no longer stood on ceremony. He took a sip of the coffee. It was excellent; the boss certainly knew how to live well.

Du Jiapeng said, “Thank you for your kindness, President Hu.”

Hu Wenxin waved his hand. “It’s what I should do. You all work tirelessly for the company, so of course, I have to treat you well.”

Du Jiapeng nodded and pledged his loyalty once more.

At that moment, Hu Wenxin sighed, “If my son were half as capable as you, I wouldn’t have to worry so much.”

Hearing this, Du Jiapeng said nothing. It was a family matter, after all, and not his place to comment.

But then again, he had heard that the boss’s son was indeed a disappointment, the kind who was considered useless even among other playboys.

Good for nothing, a failure at everything.

To put it simply, he was the dunce of all playboys.

Hu Wenxin continued, “Just now, I called him and told him to come over. Guess where he was? On his yacht. All he knows is how to fool around all day, never does anything serious.”

Du Jiapeng gave a strained smile.

Chapter 18: A Top Semiconductor Talent Suddenly Appears

My goodness, his son was playing on a yacht. If anyone else had said it, they would’ve thought he was flaunting his wealth.

He, Du Jiapeng, worked his fingers to the bone, while someone else was enjoying life on a yacht. He couldn’t help but feel a mix of envy, jealousy, and resentment.

This just went to show that while Hu Wenxin’s son had no other skills, he was certainly very good at being born.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

The beautiful assistant, Amanda, went to open it.

Amanda first froze, her expression slightly terrified, as if she had seen a monster.

She quickly stepped aside to let him in.

A young man entered; it was none other than Hu Wenxin’s precious son, Hu Jiangshan.

Amanda was clearly very afraid of Hu Jiangshan, and the reason wasn’t hard to guess.

The previous Hu Jiangshan had been truly outrageous, capable of all sorts of misdeeds.

There was nothing he wouldn’t do, only things you couldn’t imagine.

Take Hu Wenxin’s secretary, Amanda, for example. When Hu Jiangshan saw how beautiful she was, out of sheer boredom, he had relentlessly pursued her.

However, the original body of Hu Jiangshan had limited abilities and lacked charm, so in the end, he never succeeded.

At this moment, Hu Jiangshan sat down.

Although he had come to pick up the coconut and purple rice cakes, he couldn’t just grab them and leave.

According to his mother Yuan Caihua’s wishes, Hu Jiangshan had to chat with his cheap old dad for a bit to foster their relationship.

Hu Wenxin introduced Du Jiapeng to his son.

“Jiangshan, this is Du Jiapeng, a young talent in our company. You two aren’t that far apart in age. You should learn from him, see how he handles his career.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded quickly. “Okay, Dad, I understand. I’ll be sure to learn from the strengths of others, constantly improve myself, keep making progress, and become a useful person.”

“Ahem! Good, good, good!”

Hu Jiangshan’s attitude was truly impeccable, like something out of a textbook, so Hu Wenxin didn’t say anything more.

Hu Wenxin didn’t believe his son had suddenly become studious and diligent, but he couldn’t very well lecture him in front of someone else. That would be too humiliating.

Hu Jiangshan was actually quite hungry. After all, he had been out since early morning and had been busy for half the day without eating much.

He picked up a piece of coconut and purple rice cake and took a bite.

It was delicious. This trip hadn’t been a waste.

Although Amanda was quite afraid of Hu Jiangshan, she still poured him a cup of coffee.

Hu Jiangshan smiled and thanked her. Amanda blushed and quickly hurried away.

Just then, Hu Wenxin smiled and asked Du Jiapeng, “Jiapeng, what did you need to see me about?”

Du Jiapeng quickly adopted a serious tone. “President Hu, it’s like this. I have a childhood friend who has been abroad. He wants to come back to develop his career. You have a wide network, so I was hoping to ask if you could help him find a suitable position.”

“Oh, he was studying abroad and just graduated?”

“No, he’s already been working abroad for two years.”

“Where does he work?”

“In a laboratory at the California Institute of Technology.”

A look of surprise appeared on Hu Wenxin’s face. “A Caltech laboratory? A man of science and engineering, then.”

Du Jiapeng nodded. “Yes. He’s actually in semiconductor research.”

Hearing this, Hu Jiangshan looked up at Du Jiapeng. Clearly, the topic had caught his interest.

But Hu Jiangshan said nothing, listening intently without a change in expression.

Hu Wenxin thought for a moment, then said, “How skilled is he? He must be quite good. The standards at American university labs are very high. And Caltech’s labs should be among the top for engineering. They’ve produced several great physicists.”

Du Jiapeng nodded. “That’s right, President Hu. My childhood friend is already at an expert level. In his lab’s semiconductor division, he’s one of the top names.”

“Then why isn’t he continuing to work at the Caltech lab?”

“Because… his family wants him to come back.”

“Ah? Family reasons?”

“Yes, his family situation is rather unique. His mother is in poor health, and his father has mental health issues, so he wants to give up his career there. And also…”

“Also what?”

“And also, the academic politics in America have gotten very complicated. Especially in the last two years, the situation for Asians over there has become increasingly precarious.”

Hu Wenxin wasn’t surprised to hear this.

The social climate in America was becoming less and less friendly to Asians—no, it should be said, to ethnic Chinese.

It used to be limited to the political sphere, but now it had spread to academia and the scientific research community.

What was once a mythical glass ceiling in the workplace could now become a threat to one’s personal safety, and at worst, there was even a risk of being arrested.

Indeed, quite a few ethnic Chinese research personnel had returned recently.

Hu Wenxin nodded. “So he’s planning to look for a job here on Hong Kong Island?”

Du Jiapeng replied, “It would be best if he could find a job on Hong Kong Island. If not, his only other option is to try his luck on the mainland.”

In fact, everyone knew that mainland China needed semiconductor talent right now; there was a severe shortage.

Not even looking far, just over in the Guangzhou-Shenzhen area, there were plenty of job opportunities for semiconductor-related talent.

This was especially true for high-level semiconductor experts returning from overseas. The moment word got out, numerous companies and headhunters would come knocking.

He could take his pick of positions, and the compensation would undoubtedly be top-notch.

But on the other hand, while there were many job opportunities, it didn’t mean there were many reliable ones.

Without an introduction from a heavyweight intermediary, without someone to vouch for you, even the most brilliant talent could easily fall into a trap.

That’s why Du Jiapeng was asking Hu Wenxin. After all, he was the boss, with a vast network, extensive connections, and a long list of influential acquaintances.

The Hu family, in particular, had deep ties to the mainland, so he should be able to find some very suitable position Objectives.

Hu Wenxin thought for a moment and said, “Talent like him won’t have trouble finding work, but he’ll most likely have to look on the mainland. It’s not that there are no opportunities on Hong Kong Island, but they’re rare, and I’d have to search for reliable ones. I’ll keep an eye out. If it comes to it, I’ll contact my friends on the mainland. I can definitely find him a good position.”

Du Jiapeng nodded. “Alright, then I’ll have to trouble you, President Hu.”

“Hey, it’s no trouble at all. It’s a small matter.”

Then, Hu Wenxin sighed. “It’s a shame our group doesn’t have any corresponding research projects. Otherwise, we could keep such a high-level talent for ourselves. What a rare opportunity.”

Du Jiapeng nodded. “You’re right, President Hu. It is a real pity. I’m not exaggerating, my childhood friend is incredibly capable.”

Just then, another person spoke up.

“Your childhood friend, could you introduce him to me?”

Both Hu Wenxin and Du Jiapeng were stunned.

The one who had spoken was none other than Hu Wenxin’s ignorant and incompetent prodigal son—Hu Jiangshan.

Hu Wenxin shot his son a glare and said in a low voice, “What nonsense are you talking about? What’s the use of introducing him to you?”

Hu Jiangshan quickly explained, “Dad, it’s like this. I have a friend who’s in semiconductor manufacturing. We could have a chat, and if it goes well, we might be able to offer Mr. Du’s childhood friend a job there.”

Hu Wenxin waved his hand dismissively. “Stop talking nonsense! How could you possibly know a friend like that? Do you have any idea how difficult semiconductor manufacturing is?”

Chapter 19: I Have a Friend

Hu Jiangshan’s eyes glinted as he said patiently, “I’m really not kidding. I do know a friend like that. We’ll know if it’s true once we meet, won’t we?”

Hu Wenxin was momentarily bewildered.

Of course, he didn’t believe his son had such abilities, let alone that he knew someone in semiconductor manufacturing.

As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. The people Hu Jiangshan usually hung out with were all rich young masters; not a single one of them did anything serious.

But Hu Jiangshan’s expression was serious, as serious as could be. He definitely wasn’t joking.

This made Hu Wenxin’s mind start to wander.

What was going on with this good-for-nothing son?

Had he come down with some sort of illness?

But on second thought, Hu Jiangshan had indeed been keeping a much lower profile recently. Word was he hadn’t been out carousing for a long time, and no one knew what he was doing holed up at home.

His mother, Yuan Caihua, even wondered if Hu Jiangshan had become depressed.

Du Jiapeng was also completely baffled.

He was in the middle of finding a job for his super-qualified, overseas-returnee childhood friend. What was this playboy butting in for?

And he claimed to have a friend in semiconductor manufacturing? Impossible. That was hilarious.

There were basically no semiconductor manufacturing companies in Hong Kong Island. Even if there were, they would be small firms with extremely low-end technology.

A company like that could never accommodate a titan of a talent like his childhood friend.

Hu Jiangshan explained to Du Jiapeng again, “Everything I said is true. I can guarantee I’m not joking, but whether it’s a good fit or not will require a proper chat with your childhood friend.”

Since Hu Jiangshan had put it so bluntly, Du Jiapeng found it hard not to respond.

He sat up straight. “Well, alright then. How about this? I’ll find some time to bring him over so you two can meet. Would that work?”

Hu Jiangshan asked, “Is he on Hong Kong Island?”

“Yes, right here on Hong Kong Island.”

“How about this,” Hu Jiangshan said immediately. “Let’s wait until after work. You can bring him over then, and I’ll treat you both to dinner.”

“Ah, today?”

“Yes, today.”

“So soon?”

Only then did Du Jiapeng feel certain that Hu Jiangshan wasn’t just talking nonsense; this second-generation rich kid was serious.

But was Hu Jiangshan reliable?

Logically speaking, he wasn’t reliable at all.

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly. “No sense in delaying, right? It shouldn’t be a problem, I imagine. Hong Kong Island isn’t that big.”

Du Jiapeng glanced at Hu Wenxin first, but his boss showed no reaction.

Left with no choice, Du Jiapeng braced himself and said, “No problem, definitely no problem. I’ll call him right away and tell him to come over after work.”

Hu Jiangshan was quite proactive, setting a time and place on the spot.

Six-thirty in the evening, at a restaurant near the company.

Du Jiapeng could only agree before leaving the office in a daze.

Who could have possibly expected something like this?

Now, only the Hu father and son, along with the beautiful secretary Amanda, remained in the office.

Hu Wenxin sized up his son for a few moments. “Jiangshan, what on earth are you up to?”

Hu Jiangshan waved his hand. “Dad, I’m not up to anything. Everything I said is true.”

“…You really have a friend in semiconductor manufacturing? Where is this friend of yours doing this? Hong Kong Island? Or mainland China?”

“He’s doing it on Hong Kong Island.”

“Hong Kong Island? How could there be a semiconductor manufacturing company here? You must be joking!”

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly. “Well, Dad, it’s true there wasn’t one before, but there will be soon.”

Hu Wenxin remained noncommittal. He just felt his son was acting rather abnormally, and the things he was saying were growing more and more bizarre. It wasn’t like him at all.

But what Hu Jiangshan was doing now was neither absurd nor useless; at the very least, it seemed quite proper. So, Hu Wenxin didn’t feel right questioning him.

If his son really was just making a scene, he could lecture him later.

“It’s fine if you want to handle some proper business,” Hu Wenxin said. “But don’t mess around, especially with the company’s senior executives. You need to be more respectful.”

Hu Jiangshan smiled. “Don’t worry, Dad. I know my limits.”

Hearing this, Hu Wenxin was amused. “You? Know your limits? I’d have to thank the heavens for that.”

Hu Jiangshan gave an awkward smile. He had the original body’s memories, so of course he knew what his so-called father meant.

Anyone else hearing what Hu Jiangshan had just said would have had a hard time not laughing.

Sure enough, Amanda had her head down, clearly stifling a laugh.

Hu Jiangshan didn’t mind; he was actually quite happy at the moment.

He didn’t expect to not only get to eat taro and sago with coconut milk but also stumble upon an Objective for a top-tier talent.

If the person truly was a semiconductor talent from a Caltech lab, then he would indeed meet Hu Jiangshan’s requirements.

After all, Caltech wasn’t just a formidable engineering school in America; it also enjoyed a high reputation globally.

Just as Hu Wenxin had said earlier, Caltech had produced many physicists—applied physicists, theoretical physicists, and even Nobel laureates. It was not to be underestimated.

Of course, he would need to chat with the person to understand the specific situation and see what his intentions were.

Hu Jiangshan wasn’t worried about being unable to recognize talent. After all, he was a talent himself—in fact, a super-talent who surpassed this era.

Unable to sit still, Hu Jiangshan went out and wandered around the company.

The work atmosphere at Hopewell Group was decent, and the employees were generally diligent.

Some employees recognized Hu Jiangshan; the bolder ones greeted him, while the more timid ones avoided him entirely.

Hu Jiangshan found it all quite interesting.

In the blink of an eye, it was time to get off work.

Hu Jiangshan let Hu Wenxin know and then left.

Since he was idle anyway, he figured he might as well go early and wait.

The meeting place with the top talent from Caltech was a tea restaurant.

In Hong Kong Island, tea restaurants were as common as could be, available in high, medium, and low-end varieties.

A young master like Hu Jiangshan would, of course, choose a high-end one.

High-end tea restaurants had an advantage: the service was excellent. Once you paid the tea fee, no one would rush you out, so you could sit and talk things over in peace.

Hu Jiangshan ordered a cup of coffee and waited patiently.

Meanwhile, a Tesla electric car was driving along the narrow roads of Hong Kong Island.

It was rush hour, and the roads were a bit congested, but the situation wasn’t too bad—at least it wasn’t a complete standstill.

The driver was a man.

He was young, wore glasses, and had a very scholarly air about him. His unique temperament immediately gave off the impression of a knowledgeable intellectual.

This was Du Jiapeng’s childhood friend, Zhang Rui. He had previously studied at Caltech, going all the way to a doctorate. Due to his outstanding performance, he had stayed on to work in a Caltech laboratory, specializing in semiconductor research.

Zhang Rui had been back on Hong Kong Island for half a month. He was on a long break, and the purpose wasn’t just a simple family visit.

Just as his childhood friend Du Jiapeng had told Hu Wenxin earlier, Zhang Rui was also looking for a job on Hong Kong Island or in mainland China.

For a top-tier talent like Zhang Rui, this wasn’t easy.

There were many places he could go, but very few that could truly satisfy him.

Chapter 20: Could This Second-Generation Rich Kid Have Been Scammed?

After all, Zhang Rui was no ordinary person; he was a top expert in the semiconductor industry.

When a top expert looks for a job, salary and benefits are no longer the primary considerations.

The most important thing is to fulfill their ambitions, to have an environment where they can apply their skills, make achievements, and build a reputation. That is the ideal job.

Earning money is just a bonus that comes along with it.

Just a moment ago, Du Jiapeng had specifically called Zhang Rui to say someone wanted to meet him, and that there might be a suitable job.

Zhang Rui was quite surprised. He didn’t expect Du Jiapeng to be so efficient and have good news this quickly.

It was worth noting that Zhang Rui had recently done some research and found that Hong Kong Island had no qualified semiconductor companies at all.

To find a decent semiconductor company, one had to look toward mainland China.

Zhang Rui was very curious. Who did Du Jiapeng want him to meet this time?

Could it be someone from a major tech company in mainland China?

But Du Jiapeng had also said that the possibility of success this time wasn’t very high.

He could only say there was a small chance, but not to get his hopes up.

Zhang Rui didn’t think much of it. He was free anyway, so it didn’t matter whether it worked out or not. He decided to just go and talk to the person, so he drove out.

Just then, Zhang Rui’s phone rang.

It was his childhood friend, Du Jiapeng.

Zhang Rui immediately put on his Bluetooth headset and answered the call.

“Hey, Jiapeng, I’m already out, driving.”

“Oh, where are you?”

Zhang Rui told him his approximate location.

Du Jiapeng said, “Okay, you should be here soon. I’m coming down now too. Let’s meet at the restaurant entrance in a bit.”

Zhang Rui asked curiously, “By the way, who am I meeting? You weren’t very clear earlier.”

“Ah! It’s our boss’s son.”

“Your boss’s son? A second-generation rich kid?”

Du Jiapeng chuckled. “Definitely a second-generation rich kid, and a playboy at that. Pretty famous in his circle.”

Hearing this, Zhang Rui frowned.

“Jiapeng, what are you playing at? Why are you having me meet a second-generation rich kid?”

“It’s not me asking you to meet him, he’s the one who wants to meet you. He was very proactive about it, so I couldn’t really turn him down. I have to give my boss some face, you know.”

Zhang Rui was completely bewildered. “Then why does he want to see me? I have nothing in common with people like him. If you’d told me earlier, I would have made an excuse not to come.”

Du Jiapeng quickly explained, “No, you don’t understand. He said he has a friend in semiconductor manufacturing who is in desperate need of a top talent like you, so he wants to talk.”

“A semiconductor manufacturing company? Are you sure?”

“That’s what he said, anyway. He sounded quite certain.”

Zhang Rui’s heart skipped a beat. A semiconductor manufacturing company was a rare find, and it fit his expertise perfectly.

But could it be true?

Unless the friend this second-generation rich kid was talking about was from a mainland tech company, the chances of it being real were practically zero.

Du Jiapeng added, “I don’t know him that well either, can’t quite figure him out. Anyway, that’s what he said, but I have no idea if it’s reliable or not. So, I figured it’s worth a chat. If it turns out to be a good opportunity, you won’t have missed it.”

Zhang Rui said, “Fine, let’s talk then.”

There was nothing else Zhang Rui could say. He was almost there; he couldn’t just turn around and go back.

Since the person wanted to meet, he might as well see what it was about. It wasn’t like he would lose anything.

A few moments later, Zhang Rui arrived at the tea restaurant.

After parking his car, he saw Du Jiapeng already waiting at the entrance.

Zhang Rui greeted his friend, and after a brief exchange, they entered the restaurant.

Soon, the two of them saw Hu Jiangshan.

Hu Jiangshan was sizing up Zhang Rui, and Zhang Rui was doing the same.

Zhang Rui was slightly surprised; he wasn’t what he had imagined.

Du Jiapeng had described Hu Jiangshan as a playboy, ignorant and incompetent, even preposterous. But Hu Jiangshan’s current demeanor didn’t match the rumors at all.

He seemed to be a very calm young man, handsome and tall, and there was even a scholarly air about him.

Was this really a playboy?

It would be a lie to say Hu Jiangshan didn’t have the air of a rich kid, but it was a stretch to call him ignorant and incompetent.

Of course, Zhang Rui also knew you couldn’t judge a book by its cover. He would have to interact with him to know what kind of person he was.

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly, stood up to shake Zhang Rui’s hand, and then briefly introduced himself.

The three of them sat down.

Hu Jiangshan called a waiter over and ordered three cups of coffee, a fruit platter, and a few snacks.

Du Jiapeng had come along mostly to listen in. If their conversation didn’t go well, he could step in to smooth things over and prevent any awkwardness.

After some pleasantries, Hu Jiangshan got straight to the point. “Dr. Zhang, Manager Du tells me you’re looking for a job?”

Zhang Rui nodded. “Yes, I’ve just returned to the country and I’m looking for suitable opportunities.”

“You’re very skilled in semiconductor research?”

Adjusting his glasses, Zhang Rui replied, “Yes, I’m fairly proficient in that area.”

Though he sounded modest, his expression was full of confidence.

That was normal. As a semiconductor expert from the Caltech Laboratory, there was absolutely no question about his professional abilities.

Zhang Rui asked, “Mr. Hu, I heard you have a friend in semiconductor manufacturing. Could you tell me what kind of semiconductors they produce?”

Hu Jiangshan smiled slightly. “Advanced process wafers and chips.”

Zhang Rui was stunned for a moment, then immediately asked, “Huh? Advanced process? You mean…”

“I’m sure Dr. Zhang understands that to be called an advanced process, it must be below ten nanometers.”

Zhang Rui’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Du Jiapeng was also dumbfounded. His mouth twitched as he barely suppressed a laugh, clearly feeling like he had just heard a massive joke.

Although Du Jiapeng didn’t know much about semiconductor manufacturing, he was, after all, a talented young executive at Hopewell Group. He was capable, knowledgeable, and had a broad perspective—hardly an ordinary person. So he understood the basics of the tech industry.

Of course, Du Jiapeng also knew how difficult it was to manufacture advanced process chips.

There were only a handful of companies in the entire world that could produce them; you could count them on one hand.

For Hu Jiangshan to now claim that his friend could make advanced process chips was simply pure fantasy, utterly whimsical, and had zero credibility.

Either Hu Jiangshan was lying, or his so-called friend was scamming him.

Du Jiapeng felt the latter was more likely.

A second-generation rich kid like Hu Jiangshan, a playboy, a textbook example of a prodigal son—at most, he would flaunt his wealth. There seemed to be no reason for him to tell such a lie.

His friend, on the other hand, was a different story. Bragging, talking big, and even having the gall to ask Hu Jiangshan to find talent for him—and Hu Jiangshan actually fell for it.

Chapter 21: He’s Actually This Professional

Right, maybe he’ll even try to scam Hu Jiangshan out of some investment money.

Du Jiapeng had heard that these second-generation rich kids often encountered such things.

How ridiculous!

But Du Jiapeng couldn’t show it right now. After all, Hu Jiangshan was the boss’s son.

Hu Jiangshan, of course, knew they didn’t believe him. He smiled faintly. “I’m telling the truth.”

Zhang Rui waved his hand. “Mr. Hu, it’s not that I don’t believe you, but you must understand that producing advanced-process chips requires many conditions. Money… is not the most important one.”

Zhang Rui’s meaning was clear: money alone was not enough to build an advanced semiconductor production line.

If it were really that simple, there wouldn’t be so few advanced semiconductor manufacturing companies on Blue Star.

Hu Jiangshan said, “Yes, money isn’t the most important thing. The most important things are the equipment and accumulated technology.”

Zhang Rui was stunned. He sized up Hu Jiangshan again.

Although what Hu Jiangshan said was just talk, the fact that he could say something like that was commendable.

At least, it didn’t sound like something an ignorant and incompetent second-generation rich kid would say.

Looking at Hu Jiangshan’s expression, he was completely serious, earnest, and even had a hint of confidence.

Zhang Rui cleared his throat. “Mr. Hu, you’re quite right. You should know that the barrier to entry for advanced semiconductor manufacturing technology is much higher than most people realize.”

Hu Jiangshan wasn’t offended. He nodded. “I know, Dr. Zhang. Let me put it this way: if there was a ready-made production line right now, with all the equipment in place, would you be confident you could get it up and running?”

Zhang Rui was taken aback, then asked, “All the equipment is ready?”

“Yes, all the equipment is ready, including the hardest-to-get items like lithography machine workbenches and etching machines.”

“Then…”

“You don’t need to worry about raw materials either. Anything needed for semiconductor production can be arranged.”

Zhang Rui finally gave it some serious thought and said, “If all the conditions are met, I’m confident I can begin wafer production very quickly.”

Hu Jiangshan asked, “And the yield rate?”

“The yield rate… that can be adjusted over time. Just give me a certain amount of time, and I can reach the conditions for mass production.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “That’s good.”

Zhang Rui and Du Jiapeng exchanged a look, completely unable to figure out what Hu Jiangshan was up to.

Du Jiapeng couldn’t help but ask, “Mr… Mr. Hu, could that friend of yours come out and meet us? If we don’t meet in person, it’s impossible to judge if we’re a good fit for each other, right?”

Hu Jiangshan said calmly, “That won’t be a problem. My friend listens to me completely. As long as you and I can come to an agreement, everything else is easy to sort out.”

“Ah, so we’re negotiating entirely with you? This…”

Du Jiapeng found it absurd. What could a high-level talent like Zhang Rui possibly discuss with Hu Jiangshan?

What did Hu Jiangshan know?

But Hu Jiangshan didn’t bother with Du Jiapeng anymore, instead turning to Zhang Rui. “Dr. Zhang, I have a few questions for you now.”

What could Zhang Rui say? He could only nod.

And now, Zhang Rui suddenly felt that there might really be something to Hu Jiangshan.

Sure enough, Hu Jiangshan fired off several highly professional questions.

From Zhang Rui’s personal semiconductor research path, to his ideas on semiconductor manufacturing, to his thoughts on process improvements—a wide variety of questions were thrown out by Hu Jiangshan in a rapid-fire barrage.

The more Zhang Rui answered, the more shocked he became.

Hu Jiangshan asked seven or eight questions in one breath, every single one of them highly professional.

When answering, Zhang Rui was very careful and precise, using a lot of technical jargon.

Terms that an ordinary person would have never even heard of, let alone understood, but Hu Jiangshan seemed to be familiar with all of them.

Unexpectedly, Hu Jiangshan was even able to engage in further discussion with Zhang Rui.

How could this be a second-generation rich kid?

Listening to the content of their conversation, people would have believed he was a physicist or a semiconductor expert.

Du Jiapeng, standing to the side, was even more astonished.

Although he couldn’t understand it, he could tell it was impressive.

This was just bizarre. Wasn’t Hu Jiangshan a playboy?

Ignorant and incompetent, doing whatever he pleased, wining and dining—those were supposed to be Hu Jiangshan’s talents. Since when did he understand any of this?

The crucial thing was Zhang Rui’s expression, which grew more and more earnest, more and more serious, and more and more solemn. For some questions, he even seemed unable to answer immediately, having to think for a moment before managing a response.

This wasn’t Zhang Rui talking to a layman; this was the kind of exchange he would have with a top expert in the industry.

Du Jiapeng was now completely bewildered.

Was the person in front of him really the boss Hu Wenxin’s precious son?

It was impossible to say he was an imposter, unless Hu Wenxin couldn’t even recognize her own son.

At this moment, looking at Zhang Rui’s expression again, the previous nonchalance and indifference were completely gone. There was even a hint of respect for Hu Jiangshan.

Just then, Hu Jiangshan said, “Ah, one last question.”

Zhang Rui nodded. “Mr. Hu, please ask.”

Hu Jiangshan said, “Let’s go back to my very first question. If there was a production line where everything was ready, and all that was missing was the personnel, and we wanted Dr. Zhang to be the team’s Leader, to spearhead research, development, and production, would you be willing to go?”

Zhang Rui was a bit dazed for a moment. “I’d like to ask, where is this production line?”

“Hong Kong Island.”

Du Jiapeng couldn’t help but blurt out, “No way, how is that possible?”

Zhang Rui asked, “Really on Hong Kong Island?”

“Yes, right on Hong Kong Island.”

“Then… then of course I’d go! To be able to create another team in the world that can produce advanced semiconductors… that’s just too cool!”

It was true that Zhang Rui did semiconductor research at the Caltech labs, but he didn’t have many opportunities for hands-on practice.

If there was a semiconductor production line that Zhang Rui could run, the appeal would be immense.

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “Dr. Zhang, your words are all I need.”

Zhang Rui couldn’t help but ask again, “Mr. Hu, does this production line really exist?”

“Don’t worry. If you’re willing, I can take you to see it.”

Zhang Rui’s eyes widened. “Really? Tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

Zhang Rui still couldn’t fully believe Hu Jiangshan. It wasn’t that Hu Jiangshan himself was untrustworthy, but mainly that Zhang Rui knew very well how incredibly difficult it was to set up a semiconductor production line.

This wasn’t something that could be accomplished with money alone.

Especially at this stage, Western restrictions on high-tech equipment for China were very strict, and getting stricter.

In theory, building an advanced-process production line in China at this time was nearly impossible.

Not only was it impossible to get the most advanced EUV lithography machines, but even the newest versions of DUV lithography machines could no longer be sold to China.

But looking at Hu Jiangshan’s expression, he really didn’t seem to be talking nonsense.

Zhang Rui said, “Mr. Hu, if it’s possible, I’d like to go see it as soon as possible.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “Then let’s make it tomorrow.”

“Okay, tomorrow it is.”

Zhang Rui looked extremely happy, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

Chapter 22: A Hidden World, the High-Tech Factory

At this point, Hu Jiangshan asked, “By the way, Dr. Zhang, do you have any requirements regarding compensation?”

Zhang Rui waved his hand. “That’s not important. As long as it’s enough to get by.”

Du Jiapeng sighed to himself. Zhang Rui was too much of a scholar; he really didn’t care much about money.

This was a strength, but also a weakness.

However, Hu Jiangshan naturally had no intention of short-changing Zhang Rui.

Zhang Rui was a top-tier talent in the semiconductor field—that was no exaggeration.

The few probing questions Hu Jiangshan had asked earlier were enough to prove that Zhang Rui had real skills and was of a very high caliber.

Hu Jiangshan and Zhang Rui exchanged contact information, briefly discussed the details for their meeting the next day, and then Hu Jiangshan left.

Now, only Zhang Rui and Du Jiapeng remained.

With nothing else to do, the two of them ordered another two cups of coffee and kept talking.

Du Jiapeng couldn’t help but ask, “Rui, do you think what he said is true?”

Zhang Rui nodded. “I’m eighty percent sure it is. He seems incredibly formidable.”

“…Formidable? How formidable?”

Zhang Rui said, “The questions he asked earlier were expert-level. No, they were more like titan-of-the-industry level. Even regular professional researchers wouldn’t necessarily know about such niche topics.”

“Huh? For real? You rate him that highly? Couldn’t he have been faking it? Like, maybe he prepared the questions beforehand.”

Zhang Rui gave a wry smile. “You can’t fake something like that. A non-expert would have a hard time just memorizing those questions. Besides, didn’t you notice? Every time I answered, he would engage in a discussion with me. How could anyone prepare for that in advance?”

Du Jiapeng knew this was true, but he just found the whole situation too absurd.

How had Hu Jiangshan become an expert in semiconductors? And one who could hold a back-and-forth conversation with a top-tier talent like Zhang Rui, no less.

This wasn’t just absurd; this was absurdity opening the door for its mother—absurdity had come home.

Did his father, Hu Wenxin, even know his son was this capable?

Du Jiapeng felt like he was going to lose his mind.

After a moment of silence, Du Jiapeng asked, “So, are you really going with him to see that production line tomorrow?”

Zhang Rui nodded. “Yeah. I’m just going to have a look. What’s the harm?”

“Well…”

“What? You don’t think he’s a kidnapper, do you?”

Du Jiapeng shook his head. “I wouldn’t go that far. What would he want to kidnap you for? It’s not like your kidneys are anything special.”

“Screw you!”

The two chatted for a while longer before parting ways.

The next day, Zhang Rui drove to the marina at the Pak Sha Wan Yacht Club.

Hu Jiangshan had arranged this with Zhang Rui beforehand, telling him to meet here at ten in the morning.

Soon, Zhang Rui saw Hu Jiangshan.

Hu Jiangshan was alone again, which surprised Zhang Rui.

This wasn’t how a second-generation rich kid was supposed to act, was it?

Weren’t playboys like him always surrounded by a large entourage?

Hu Jiangshan’s low-key demeanor actually put Zhang Rui much more at ease.

At the same time, Zhang Rui was quite puzzled. Why had Hu Jiangshan specified this location for their meeting?

Were they going out to sea to fish?

Zhang Rui couldn’t resist asking, “Mr. Hu, what are we doing here? Aren’t we going to see the semiconductor production line?”

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly. “That’s right. We’re going by boat.”

Zhang Rui was dumbfounded. “By boat? To where? Mr. Hu, are you saying the semiconductor production line is at sea?”

“Don’t be anxious. You’ll know when we get there.”

Zhang Rui could only hold his questions for now and see what Hu Jiangshan was up to.

Hu Jiangshan invited Zhang Rui aboard The Seahorse, started the engine, and slowly pulled away from the Pak Sha Wan Yacht Club marina, heading straight for General’s Island.

To be honest, Zhang Rui felt quite uneasy. Going out to sea was no joke. The rougher the waves, the pricier the fish.

If Hu Jiangshan had any ill intentions and threw him into the sea to feed the sharks, he’d disappear without even making a splash.

Besides, how could a semiconductor production line possibly be built at sea?

Right, not at sea, but on some outlying island then.

There were many outlying islands in the waters near Hong Kong Island.

But on second thought, that was also absurd and highly unlikely.

How would they solve the issues of electricity and fresh water on an island?

Semiconductor manufacturing requires enormous amounts of power and water.

What Zhang Rui found even more amazing was that Hu Jiangshan was piloting the boat himself.

About twenty minutes later, General’s Island was in sight.

Hu Jiangshan said, “We’re almost there.”

Zhang Rui asked curiously, “Mr. Hu, is the semiconductor production line on the island?”

“Yes.”

“But…”

Zhang Rui was at a loss for words. As he’d just been thinking, the conditions for semiconductor manufacturing were extremely demanding, requiring massive amounts of water and electricity.

Could such a small island meet those requirements?

It seemed impossible.

Hu Jiangshan didn’t explain further. He docked The Seahorse at a pier and then led Zhang Rui onto General’s Island.

Zhang Rui grew more anxious. There wasn’t a soul in sight on this island. If someone died here, their body would never be found.

Still, looking at Hu Jiangshan, he didn’t seem like a murderer.

The two of them soon arrived at the entrance to a cave factory.

Hu Jiangshan said, “We’re here. This is it.”

“The production line is built inside a cave?”

“Yes.”

Zhang Rui was utterly bewildered. He had considered a thousand possibilities, but never in his wildest dreams did he imagine this.

The so-called semiconductor production line was actually built inside a cave.

He watched as Hu Jiangshan pressed something on the access control panel by the entrance, and an automatic door slid open.

Pretty slick.

The moment Zhang Rui stepped inside, he was so stunned he could hardly contain himself.

Talk about absurd opening the door for absurd—this was absurdity come home!

It was a whole new world! This was, without a doubt, a secret high-tech factory!

The factory’s interior was like something out of science fiction; Zhang Rui felt as if he had entered another world.

Soon, Zhang Rui finally saw the semiconductor production line, with all the equipment laid out before him.

What shocked Zhang Rui even more was that the equipment models were all ones he had never seen before; he couldn’t even find any brand names on them.

At first, Zhang Rui suspected the equipment might just be for show. Could it actually produce advanced wafers and chips?

Zhang Rui asked, “Mr. Hu, can this equipment actually operate?”

Hu Jiangshan led Zhang Rui to a control room and switched on the power.

Zhang Rui was an expert. On the main screen, he could see that all the equipment had come online, indicating that their functions were normal.

There were also indicators for energy and purified water, and all the meters were full.

In other words, this production line was fully operational!

Zhang Rui truly was a talent. He instinctively began operating the controls, checking the parameters of each piece of equipment.

A non-professional looking at the parameters on the screen would have thought they were reading gibberish, but an expert like Zhang Rui was completely engrossed.

The more Zhang Rui looked, the more astounded he became. This equipment possessed unimaginably powerful performance capabilities.

Take the core equipment, the lithography machine, for example. The market was almost completely monopolized by ASML from the Netherlands.

But the lithography machine on this production line was definitely not from ASML. Yet, judging by its parameters, its performance was even more powerful than ASML’s latest EUV lithography machine.

Chapter 23: This is a Super Semiconductor Production Line

Of course, whether it was actually that good, and whether it could achieve its on-paper specifications, would have to be tested to be certain.

Then, Zhang Rui discovered even more shocking information.

The requirements for production consumables for the entire line—materials like sand and chemicals—were extremely low.

Both the quantity and quality of the materials needed were far below the standard benchmark.

Zhang Rui’s eyes widened. “Is… is this possible? Mr. Hu? Is this information real?”

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly. “Of course, that will need to be verified in production, but I have confidence in this equipment.”

Zhang Rui asked again, “Mr. Hu, which company made this equipment? Why isn’t there any branding?”

Hu Jiangshan replied, “Well, I can’t say for now. It’s a secret.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Rui nodded quickly. “I get it. I get it. I understand!”

Zhang Rui had likely misunderstood, thinking the equipment was a secret weapon of China.

However, that assumption wasn’t essentially wrong, so Hu Jiangshan let him think what he wanted.

Zhang Rui’s face was alight with excitement, like a pirate who had just discovered a countless treasure.

The more he studied it, the more he felt that this semiconductor production line was simply too advanced!

As a semiconductor researcher, Zhang Rui had naturally seen his fair share of related equipment. He also discovered that this production line offered a high degree of freedom, allowing operators to exercise their own initiative.

This was exactly what Zhang Rui needed!

Zhang Rui studied the control console for a full two hours, only reluctantly tearing his eyes away after Hu Jiangshan reminded him of the time.

Hu Jiangshan and Zhang Rui returned to The Seahorse.

Before Hu Jiangshan could even speak, Zhang Rui blurted out, “Mr. Hu, I want to build a team to manufacture semiconductors with this production line. I was wondering what you think…”

Hu Jiangshan was taken aback for a moment, then said, “Of course, that’s no problem! I couldn’t ask for more. With top talent like you at the helm, I’ll be much more at ease.”

Seeing how eager Zhang Rui was, he probably would have fought for the chance to do it even if he wasn’t paid.

It couldn’t be helped. As a research fanatic, the shock Zhang Rui received today was too intense.

With equipment this good, it was hard for Zhang Rui not to be tempted.

Zhang Rui even had the urge to start up the production line and try various methods of producing wafers.

Of course, Hu Jiangshan wouldn’t mistreat a talent like him, so he offered Zhang Rui a very competitive salary.

At this point in their conversation, they naturally hit it off.

Hu Jiangshan tasked Zhang Rui with assembling a team, giving him responsibility for finding the employees, with Hu Jiangshan having the final say.

As the saying goes, ‘Trust the people you hire, or don’t hire them at all.’ Hu Jiangshan believed that Zhang Rui could do the job well, and that he would do it with all his heart.

They chatted for a while longer before Zhang Rui asked to return to the cave factory to further study the semiconductor production line’s system.

Hu Jiangshan agreed and gave Zhang Rui access to the factory.

As for the contract, there was no rush. He would draft a proper one to sign with Zhang Rui later.

By the time the two of them returned to Hong Kong Island by boat, it was already evening.

Hu Jiangshan and Zhang Rui had another meal together to discuss the details.

To be honest, with just the two of them, putting together a professional semiconductor team in a short amount of time was a high-pressure task.

But it wasn’t a problem. Zhang Rui had his connections. He had many classmates, junior and senior alumni, whom he could talk to and see if they were willing to come work.

The prerequisite was that they had to be reliable, and they didn’t need too many people.

After all, production was almost fully automated; they only needed professional operators and researchers.

Hu Jiangshan returned to his Lishan Apartments on Victoria Peak.

Hu Jiangshan took a shower and only then noticed a new newspaper at his door.

It was the latest issue of the Sing Tao Daily.

Hu Jiangshan picked up the paper and sat on the sofa to read.

The front-page headline in the tech section of the Sing Tao Daily caught Hu Jiangshan’s attention.

Hu Jiangshan quickly scanned the report’s content.

As expected, it was basically the same as how history had unfolded.

But unlike last time, they came down hard right from the start, aiming to cut off the source completely.

If the proposal passed, the chip manufacturing giant Island Foundry would no longer be able to produce chips for Huayao—neither advanced process chips nor mainstream ones.

This development certainly made time much more pressing.

There wasn’t much time left for Huayao.

Hu Jiangshan put down the newspaper and sighed.

He wondered if Island Foundry would give Huayao the green light and rush to prioritize production of their chips.

It would be fine if it was like his past life, where Huayao had stockpiled over ten million Kirin chips in advance, which sustained them for two years.

But if things unfolded differently from his previous life, it would be a huge problem.

Huayao’s mobile phone division would immediately face the dilemma of having no chips to use, and its overseas market would surely be wiped out.

Fortunately, Hu Jiangshan’s production line was ready. Once Zhang Rui put the team together, they could come to the rescue.

Meanwhile, in Guangzhou-Shenzhen, at the Huayao headquarters.

It was already eight-thirty in the evening, but several of Huayao’s office buildings were still brightly lit.

Inside a high-level conference room, the atmosphere was extremely tense.

None of the attendees were in good spirits. Some were frowning deeply, some were sighing, and others looked furious.

These people were all Huayao’s senior executives, the very core of its leadership.

Just then, a slightly accented and somewhat aged voice spoke up. “That’s the situation. What are everyone’s thoughts?”

The speaker was none other than Ren Yunfei, CEO Ren, the founder and spiritual leader of Huayao.

Xu Zhijun began to speak, “Old Ren, CEO Meng is now…”

Ren Yunfei waved his hand. “No, no, don’t bring up her matter in this meeting. Let’s talk about the chip situation.”

The ‘CEO Meng’ that Young CEO Xu mentioned was Meng Xiaozhou.

Her current situation was very difficult and troublesome.

Xu Zhijun thought for a moment and asked, “Has Island Foundry officially refused us yet?”

Sun Yahong snorted coldly. “They have. Very decisively. They’re going to halt production of our flagship processor chips first. The mobile phone business will be the first to be hit.”

Everyone turned to look at another person, Wang Chengdong, the head of the consumer business.

Wang Chengdong looked furious. If it weren’t a meeting, he would have already started cursing up a storm.

Island Foundry’s attitude was truly unacceptable.

Wang Chengdong said, “Our chip inventory is low now. Fortunately, one shipment made it back, but it’s only one million five hundred thousand units.”

The room fell silent.

One million five hundred thousand flagship processor chips… at Huayao’s current phone sales rate, that wouldn’t even last a month.

No, it would barely last half a month.

Chapter 24: Semiconductor Production Line, Launch!

At this, Xu Zhijun sighed, “It looks like it’ll be hard to save the mobile phone business.”

Wang Chengdong said, “No way. Mobile phones are our most important terminal. We have to save it!”

Everyone knew Wang Chengdong was unwilling to give up.

Just as Huayao’s mobile phones were about to take the throne as the world’s top seller, they suffered one devastating blow after another.

Everyone was at a bit of a loss.

In all its years growing from a small company to a giant, Huayao had weathered all sorts of storms, but they had never faced a situation like this before.

Ren Yunfei asked, “What do we do now? President Sun, have you thought of any solutions?”

“President Sun” was Sun Yafang, the current chairman, a titan among titans, whose prestige was in no way inferior to Ren Yunfei’s.

After a moment’s thought, Sun Yafang said, “I can’t think of any brilliant solutions right now. We can only resort to a brute-force method.”

Wang Chengdong immediately asked, “President Sun, what is it?”

Sun Yafang said, “Stockpile chips, especially flagship-level mobile chips. Whatever the brand, we buy everything we can get our hands on. The more we buy, the longer we can hold out while we figure out a long-term solution.”

Everyone understood what Sun Yafang meant.

Flagship-level mobile processors were still available on the market. Although manufacturers might be unwilling to sell, they could be purchased through the secondary market—from middlemen.

But the drawback was also obvious: the prices were very high.

But at a time like this, it seemed they couldn’t afford to worry about that.

Ren Yunfei said, “Then let’s do as President Sun suggests. We must be quick. The window of opportunity won’t be open for long. If we’re too late, we won’t be able to buy anything at all.”

A month later, on Hong Kong Island’s Victoria Peak.

In a suite at Lishan Apartments, Hu Jiangshan had just gotten out of bed and was washing up.

This period hadn’t been easy for Hu Jiangshan; he was constantly encountering and solving problems.

Zhang Rui had now assembled a team of about a dozen people.

Though the team wasn’t large, its strength was in its elite composition—every member was a semiconductor expert.

Hu Jiangshan’s main responsibility was to solve logistical problems, such as how the staff would commute and how to handle their daily work meals.

Hu Jiangshan rented a boat with a two-person crew to make daily round trips, temporarily solving the commuting issue.

But they still had to find another solution for meals.

Although the employees were currently bringing their own lunches to work, it was inconvenient. If someone forgot their lunch, they’d have to go hungry.

He couldn’t just have them go fishing on the island, could he?

It wasn’t that it wouldn’t work, it was just too primitive.

It seemed they would have to build a staff cafeteria on the island.

But Hu Jiangshan’s expenses were already too high. He couldn’t take on another major project, or he wouldn’t even be able to pay salaries.

He had to make money first.

Without money, he couldn’t do anything.

Besides, a loan payment was due in less than two months. Time was too tight.

After Hu Jiangshan finished washing up, his phone rang.

[Caller ID: Zhang Rui]

Hu Jiangshan answered the call immediately.

“Hello, President Hu, is it a good time to talk?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“President Hu, the first batch of materials has arrived. We’ve finished receiving them.”

Hu Jiangshan was taken aback for a moment. He glanced at the time—it was only eight-thirty in the morning.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “You’re on the island this early? Or did you not leave last night?”

Zhang Rui chuckled. “A few colleagues and I were working late yesterday, and it was too inconvenient to go back, so we just slept on the island.”

Hu Jiangshan was speechless for a moment. Zhang Rui and the others were real workaholics.

“I say, isn’t it cold sleeping there?”

“Not at all. We all brought sleeping bags and tents. We just treated it like camping.”

Hu Jiangshan didn’t dwell on it and asked, “Since the materials are all here, can we start the trial production?”

Zhang Rui immediately replied, “Yes, we can. That’s why I wanted to ask if you want to start the trial production today.”

“Yes, today.”

“You got it!”

You could hear the excitement in Zhang Rui’s voice.

The whole team had been busy for a month, making all sorts of preparations, all for this day.

Zhang Rui said, “President Hu, how about this: you come over to confirm the data one more time, and if there are no problems, we’ll start the production line.”

Hu Jiangshan agreed.

The trial production was crucial and couldn’t be handled carelessly. Hu Jiangshan needed to give the final approval.

Hu Jiangshan went to a nearby dim sum restaurant for breakfast, then headed to the Pak Sha Wan Yacht Club marina and took The Seahorse to General’s Island.

A boat was docked at the pier—the one the employees used for their commute.

The crew members were resting in a small wooden cabin, drinking tea and cracking melon seeds, living a rather comfortable life.

General’s Island wasn’t very large, but as soon as there were people on it, the atmosphere changed completely. It suddenly seemed to come alive with energy and vitality.

Hu Jiangshan arrived at the warehouse factory building. It was bustling with activity inside, and hardly anyone noticed him enter.

Some were discussing matters in low voices, others were focused on adjusting instrument parameters, and still others were sketching on paper, likely trying to figure out how to solve a problem.

An excellent team. Hu Jiangshan was very satisfied with this work atmosphere.

Hu Jiangshan went to the central control room and saw Zhang Rui staring intently at a screen, probably confirming various parameters.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “Dr. Zhang, how’s it going?”

Zhang Rui snapped out of his trance, greeted Hu Jiangshan, and then said, “Mr. Hu… President Hu, everything is ready now. Please take another look and see if there are any issues.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded, then also focused on the screen, confirming the various parameters of the semiconductor production line.

This was no easy task. There were thousands of parameters in total, with over two hundred key ones. Hu Jiangshan had to check them one by one, constantly communicating with Zhang Rui.

Zhang Rui was now certain that Hu Jiangshan was an “expert,” definitely not some playboy.

Zhang Rui even had a feeling that Hu Jiangshan’s expertise in semiconductors was unfathomably deep.

Sure enough, Hu Jiangshan spotted a few problems.

They weren’t major issues, but they could potentially affect the wafer production’s success rate and yield rate.

As Zhang Rui made the corrections, he grew more and more impressed with Hu Jiangshan’s abilities.

Indeed, this boss was no ordinary person.

This process took over an hour, but Hu Jiangshan finally finished confirming all the data.

Hu Jiangshan said, “Are all the materials ready?”

Zhang Rui smiled slightly. “Yes, they’re all in the material storeroom.”

“Alright then, Dr. Zhang. You can begin.”

“Okay!”

Zhang Rui was thrilled and immediately gathered everyone for a meeting.

Hu Jiangshan had no interest in attending such a meeting, so he went out for a stroll around the island.

General’s Island still looked quite rudimentary. Besides the power and water desalination facilities and a small pier, there were almost no proper buildings.

Hu Jiangshan walked over to the two-story building, thinking it would be nice if he could renovate it.

But he had no money. The remaining ten million Hong Kong dollars was nowhere near enough.

As a thought struck him, Hu Jiangshan took out his phone. He turned on the screen and saw a new notification from the Technology Engine App.

Chapter 25: Island Resort-Style Office Building

Well now, this was interesting.

An Intelligent Office Building. This was exactly what Hu Jiangshan needed.

Hu Jiangshan quickly clicked on the new Objective to see what kind of intelligent office buildings were available.

Several options appeared.

【Style One】: Modern Minimalist

【Style Two】: Nostalgic Old Mansion

【Style Three】: Island Resort

【Style Four】: Futuristic Sci-Fi

【Style Five】: Cyberpunk

Well damn, quite a variety of styles.

Hu Jiangshan hesitated for a moment. The Island Resort style and the Futuristic Sci-Fi style were both quite suitable.

But he soon made his decision. Since it was on an island, he should choose the Island Resort style. It would fit the setting.

【Objective】: Intelligent Office Building

【Style】: Island Resort

【Level】: Basic

【Construction Period】: 7 days

【Capital Investment】: 200,000 Hong Kong dollars

A seven-day construction period, and a two-hundred-thousand-dollar investment.

That was fine; it wasn’t expensive. He decisively started the construction!

A progress bar appeared on the interface, showing that the construction of the Intelligent Office Building had begun.

Hu Jiangshan figured the construction site would be where this two-story building currently stood. While there were other empty plots, none had a location as good as this one.

But nothing around him seemed to have changed.

It was very likely that changes would only happen when no one was around, perhaps with construction barriers being secretly erected.

Thinking of this, Hu Jiangshan immediately walked away.

Later, he would have to remind Zhang Rui and the others not to wander around here, to avoid interfering with the office building’s construction progress.

Hu Jiangshan went over to the Seawater Desalination Facility again. He took a look around and was very satisfied.

Such a powerful facility was running without any problems at all. The items from the Technology Engine App were truly incredible.

Right, this was only the basic level. He wondered what the intermediate and advanced levels would be like.

Perhaps the efficiency of water treatment would be higher and the capacity larger.

Just then, Hu Jiangshan’s phone rang.

【Caller ID: Zhao Quan】

Hu Jiangshan was taken aback.

Zhao Quan was calling him? That was rare.

As mentioned before, Zhao Quan was actually the bodyguard of the big shot Hu Yingxiang and held a considerably high position in the Hu family.

A call from Zhao Quan couldn’t possibly be for idle chatter.

Hu Jiangshan answered the phone.

“Hello, Uncle Zhao.”

“Young Master Hu, are you on Hong Kong Island?”

Hu Jiangshan hesitated for a moment before replying, “I guess you could say that. What is it, Uncle Zhao?”

Zhao Quan said, “There’s a reception tonight. Would you have time to attend?”

“A reception? Who wants me to go?”

“It’s the Big Boss. Old Master Hu would also like to have a chat with you.”

The Big Boss was, naturally, Hu Yingxiang.

Hu Jiangshan still held quite a bit of respect for the old man.

Without hesitation, Hu Jiangshan said, “Alright, where is the reception being held?”

“At the Lishan Grand Hotel.”

The Lishan Grand Hotel, like Lishan Apartments, was a Hu family property.

“Okay, I’ll be there.”

Zhao Quan added that the reception was at seven in the evening, but it would be best for Hu Jiangshan to arrive a little earlier.

Hu Jiangshan agreed.

After hanging up, Hu Jiangshan returned to the factory building and saw that Zhang Rui and the others were still busy.

Everyone was tense. The semiconductor production line had started running.

However, the final results wouldn’t be known until tomorrow.

Hu Jiangshan gave Zhang Rui a few instructions, then left in The Seahorse.

It was already five in the afternoon when he returned to Hong Kong Island. Hu Jiangshan drove straight to the Lishan Grand Hotel.

The Lishan Grand Hotel was a resort hotel built on the mountainside of Victoria Peak. It not only offered mountain views but also a sea view of Victoria Harbour.

In mainland China, its standards would be more than enough to qualify as five-star.

The original body of Hu Jiangshan used to come here often, but this was the first time for the soul-transmigrated Hu Jiangshan.

Hu Jiangshan went up to the second floor and found the entrance to the event hall. He saw Zhao Quan standing by the door.

Zhao Quan walked over. “Young Master Hu, the Big Boss is waiting for you.”

“…My grandfather is already here?”

“Yes, please come this way with me.”

Hu Jiangshan didn’t ask any more questions and followed Zhao Quan down a corridor and into a room.

It was a high-class reception room, used to entertain distinguished guests.

Hu Jiangshan’s original body had never even been in a room like this.

Upon entering, Hu Jiangshan was immediately stunned.

Hu Yingxiang was indeed there, as was Hu Jiangshan’s father, Hu Wenxin. There was another big shot present as well.

Huo Jiangting, the current head of the Huo family.

When it came to the Huo family, it was a name that everyone, whether on Hong Kong Island or in mainland China, knew.

The Huo family was Hong Kong Island’s most famous patriotic tycoon family, their reputation far greater than the Hu family’s.

Of course, the Huo family’s sacrifices and contributions to China were indeed greater.

In particular, the previous head of the Huo family, Huo Yaden, held a special status in China.

In Huo Jiangting’s generation, the Huo family, like the Hu family, had become much more low-key, and there had been some less-than-favorable scandals.

But overall, the Huo family remained the major family on Hong Kong Island with the closest ties to China.

The Huo and Hu families were also close allies, and the two families often met to exchange views on various matters.

Besides Huo Jiangting, Hu Wenxin was also there.

Before Hu Wenxin could speak, Hu Jiangshan greeted Huo Jiangting with courtesy and propriety, then sat down, appearing very low-key.

Huo Jiangting sized up Hu Jiangshan and said with a smile, “Jiangshan looks quite impressive.”

Hu Wenxin sighed, an indescribable expression on his face.

Hu Yingxiang, however, said, “Jiangshan has shown some promising growth recently.”

As he spoke, Hu Yingxiang glanced at his eldest grandson, his expression unreadable.

Hu Yingxiang didn’t know what Hu Jiangshan was doing, but his behavior had indeed been much more proper lately. He even spent most of his time cooped up in his apartment. This was probably what he meant by “growth.”

It couldn’t be helped; it wasn’t realistic to have overly high expectations for Hu Jiangshan.

But this Hu Jiangshan was no longer that Hu Jiangshan.

At this point, the big shots began to chat. Hu Jiangshan didn’t interrupt, simply listening quietly from the side.

The initial conversation between Hu Yingxiang and Huo Jiangting was about serious business, but it took only a few sentences for it to turn to current affairs.

Huo Jiangting said, “Old Master Hu, President Hu, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

Hu Yingxiang asked, “What is it?”

Huo Jiangting put down his teacup and said, “Recently, Huayao has been trying to buy a large quantity of chips. Old Master Hu, President Hu, do you have any connections?”

Hu Yingxiang was taken aback. “Buy a large quantity of chips, why?”

Hu Wenxin said, “I’ve heard a little about this too. Island Foundry will soon be unable to manufacture chips for Huayao.”

Upon hearing this, Hu Yingxiang first fell silent, then sighed. “It seems America has played this card after all.”

Huo Jiangting said, “Yes. Right now, Huayao’s solution is to buy up as many chips as they can in this period. They’ll buy whatever they can get.”

Hu Yingxiang nodded. “It seems that’s the only way. The longer they can hold out, the better.”

Chapter 26: Where Does Huayao’s Future Lie?

This was a move of last resort for Huayao.

Without chips, Huayao’s mobile phone sales could instantly drop to zero.

To call it a catastrophic loss or a nosedive would be an understatement.

Huo Jiangting added, “Although Huayao’s core business is communications, their mobile phone division now accounts for the lion’s share of their profits. If their phone business collapses, the company will suffer a devastating blow.”

Hu Yingxiang nodded. “You’re right, President Huo. In that case, we’ll help Huayao buy chips.”

With that, Hu Yingxiang turned to his son, Hu Wenxin, and asked, “Wenxin, do you have any connections for buying chips?”

Hu Wenxin hesitated for a moment. “Well… Dad, I don’t think that approach will work.”

“What do you mean it won’t work? Why not? Can’t we just buy chips with our money?”

“We really can’t. Even if we could, the quantity would be limited, and the price would be exorbitant.”

“…What do you mean? Wenxin, why is that?”

Hu Wenxin collected his thoughts and explained, “Dad, you know how sensitive the West is about this stuff. It’s incredibly difficult for companies from China to purchase advanced chips. The only way is to find a middleman, maybe a company in the Middle East, and have it pass through several hands. But that would drive the cost even higher.”

Huo Jiangting nodded. “That’s true. It’s best to go through Middle Eastern or Southeast Asian companies for something like this.”

Hu Yingxiang pondered for a moment before saying, “The cost doesn’t matter, as long as we can get the chips. Let’s do it that way. We can’t delay any longer. Huayao doesn’t have much time left.”

Hu Wenxin opened his mouth, but the words wouldn’t come out.

In truth, Hu Wenxin felt it would be futile.

Buying advanced chips for Huayao in advance could indeed solve their immediate crisis, but how many could they get?

A few million chips at the absolute most.

Given the scale of Huayao’s mobile phone production, that wouldn’t last them long at all, and the cost would be several times the normal price.

The loss would far outweigh the gain.

Unlike Hu Yingxiang, Hu Wenxin wasn’t driven by strong patriotic feelings. He had a typical businessman’s mindset, always calculating costs and returns with precision.

Hu Yingxiang asked, “Wenxin, do you have any other concerns?”

“Well… Dad, to be honest, I think we still need to think this through.”

“What else is there to think about? We don’t have time for this.”

Hu Wenxin’s gaze hardened, and he finally said it. “If the cost of the chips we buy is too high, how much will we sell them to Huayao for? Can they even afford such a high price?”

Smack! Hu Yingxiang’s hand slammed down on the armrest of his chair.

“Money? Why would we take their money!?”

Hu Wenxin was stunned. “Huh? Dad, what are you thinking? We’d give them for free?”

“Of course for free! In their current situation, how could we have the heart to ask them for money? They have far too many expenses right now!”

Hu Wenxin glanced at Huo Jiangting again.

Huo Jiangting remained silent, seemingly in agreement with Hu Yingxiang’s view.

Hu Wenxin said, “How is that possible? This isn’t a small amount of money. Chips are very expensive. We might have to invest tens of millions, no, over a hundred million Hong Kong dollars.”

Hu Yingxiang seemed completely unconcerned. “We can afford it. Let’s make the investment. We’re not at the point where we can’t make ends meet.”

It seemed Hu Yingxiang had made up his mind—he was determined to give the chips to Huayao for free.

Even Hu Jiangshan was secretly impressed. This was truly treating money like it was nothing.

Although the Hu family was a tycoon family on Hong Kong Island, it was a lie to say that spending such a huge sum of money wouldn’t put a strain on them.

Hu Wenxin said, “But Dad, this isn’t a long-term solution. We can’t buy that many chips in the first place. Once they’re used up, that’s it. Huayao still won’t have recovered.”

“We still have to buy them. We’ll buy them time, for as long as we can. Besides, we won’t be the only ones buying. We should be able to gather a decent amount together.”

Hu Yingxiang had a point. There were indeed several companies helping Huayao procure chips from abroad, but it was hard to say how many they could get.

Hu Yingxiang was angry now, not expecting his own son to be so calculative.

Huo Jiangting tried to mediate. “Old Master Hu, President Hu does have a point. This truly isn’t a long-term solution.”

Hu Yingxiang retorted, “Then what would be a long-term solution? Are you suggesting we can build a chip foundry?”

Huo Jiangting gave a wry smile. “It would be wonderful if we could, but unfortunately, that’s beyond our capabilities.”

Hu Wenxin added, “There are only a handful of companies in the world capable of chip manufacturing. On top of that, Huayao’s chips have very high specifications. As far as I know, only two or three companies globally can handle their orders.”

“This won’t work, that won’t work… so what in the world are we supposed to do?” Hu Yingxiang said, frustrated.

Hu Wenxin fell silent. He truly couldn’t think of a solution, but he still didn’t believe stockpiling chips was a sound strategy.

Perhaps Huayao’s fate was already sealed—it would either be broken up or go bankrupt.

There was one other possibility: being acquired.

Acquired by whom? The answer was obvious—it would undoubtedly be someone from across the Pacific.

Just as everyone fell into a somber silence, another person spoke up.

“Actually, there is… another option.”

Everyone turned toward the voice. It was Hu Jiangshan who had spoken.

Hu Wenxin furrowed his brow. “We’re discussing serious business. Don’t talk nonsense.”

“I am talking about serious business.”

Hu Yingxiang waved his hand. “Let Jiangshan speak.”

Hu Jiangshan said, “I have a friend. He’s in semiconductor manufacturing.”

Hu Wenxin froze. He vaguely remembered Hu Jiangshan mentioning this some time ago.

Hu Jiangshan had said he had a friend in semiconductor manufacturing, but Hu Wenxin hadn’t paid it any mind.

Hu Wenxin thought his son was just boasting, talking big, and making things up. He believed there was no truth to it at all.

Even if it were true, it would just be some low-end semiconductor manufacturing company.

Why was Hu Jiangshan bringing this up again now? And in such a serious setting.

Hu Wenxin said, “Let me tell you, the chips Huayao needs are not the same thing as the ‘semiconductor manufacturing’ you’re talking about.”

Hu Jiangshan shook his head. “It is the same thing. My friend can manufacture advanced chips. He should be able to produce them for Huayao.”

Hearing this, everyone was stunned.

What was going on?

Hu Wenxin immediately retorted, “How is that possible? Do you have any idea what kind of technology is required to manufacture chips for Huayao? The barrier to entry is immense! A typical semiconductor company couldn’t possibly meet the requirements.”

Hu Jiangshan said, “Yes, I know what I’m saying. He can really do it.”

Huo Jiangting looked on, bewildered. The situation felt a bit surreal, and it took him a moment to even process what Hu Jiangshan was saying.

“Jiangshan, are you saying that you have a friend who founded a semiconductor manufacturing plant that can produce chips?”

“Yes, Uncle Huo. That’s exactly right.”

Chapter 27: That Brat from the Hu Family Needs to Be Taught a Lesson

“But Huayao’s chips are different. They require a very advanced fabrication process, something only two or three companies in the world can do.”

Huo Jiangting meant well. He thought Hu Jiangshan might not fully grasp what they were talking about, assuming Huayao’s chips could be made by any ordinary semiconductor company.

After all, Hu Jiangshan’s reputation wasn’t exactly sterling. To say he was infamous might be an exaggeration, but “notorious” was close enough.

Hu Jiangshan said solemnly, “My friend can manufacture chips with an advanced process. They can even handle anything below ten nanometers.”

Hu Jiangshan had actually used a highly technical term.

Frankly, it was so out of character that it left everyone else stunned.

“Ah, Jiangshan, this… where is this company? Is it on Hong Kong Island?”

“Yes, it’s right here on Hong Kong Island.”

The others exchanged glances, finding his claim hard to believe.

After all, such powerful semiconductor companies were exceedingly rare on Blue Star, and Hong Kong Island wasn’t exactly fertile ground for nurturing tech enterprises. How could an advanced semiconductor foundry suddenly appear out of nowhere?

It was simply an incredible fantasy.

Huo Jiangting looked at Hu Yingxiang, who was observing his grandson.

Hu Yingxiang said, “Jiangshan, how can you prove that your friend’s company can produce Huayao’s chips?”

Hu Jiangshan replied, “I can arrange for a prototype fabrication for Huayao. As long as Huayao sends over their IC design, my friend can fabricate a prototype batch for them, and it will be free of charge.”

Hu Jiangshan spoke with such unwavering certainty and confidence that he managed to bluff everyone in the room.

To hear professional terms like “IC design” and “prototype fabrication” coming from Hu Jiangshan’s mouth could only be described as unbelievable.

Hu Wenxin was even more shocked. How had this prodigal son of his become a completely different person?

Still, what Hu Jiangshan was saying sounded quite outrageous.

Hu Yingxiang, however, began to laugh. “Good, good, good. Alright then, President Huo, how about you help us talk to the people at Huayao? See if they’re willing to give us a chance, to at least try.”

Huo Jiangting thought for a moment before finally nodding. “Alright, I’ll contact them and see if they’re willing to explore this path.”

Hu Jiangshan let out a sigh of relief. With someone from the Huo family acting as an intermediary, there shouldn’t be a problem.

A little while later, Hu Jiangshan walked out of the meeting room.

The others were still discussing matters, so he didn’t rejoin them.

He hadn’t expected this trip to yield such an unexpected gain.

At the very least, he now had a chance to connect with Huayao.

For something like this, not having a go-between was a non-starter.

It couldn’t be helped. Even if Hu Jiangshan rushed to Huayao’s headquarters and offered to produce their prototypes, they probably wouldn’t believe him and would most likely think he was a madman.

But since he was here, he figured he should at least make an appearance.

As soon as Hu Jiangshan stepped into the main hall, he saw that it was already crowded.

The reception was hosted by the Hu family, so the guests were naturally all socialites, celebrities, and people of status.

It was common knowledge that Hong Kong Island’s upper class placed great importance on such pageantry.

The moment Hu Jiangshan appeared, many people noticed him.

“Look, look, isn’t that Old Master Hu’s grandson?”

“Should be. He looks a bit like him.”

“It’s not ‘like him,’ that is Hu Jiangshan.”

“Speaking of which, that kid actually dares to show his face in public. He’s got guts.”

“With his status, why wouldn’t he dare to show his face?”

“Jeez, after causing so much trouble, he’s acting like nothing happened. The nerve on this guy.”

“Of course. He’s probably quite pleased with himself and couldn’t care less what others think.”

“This guy is so full of himself!”

Hu Jiangshan picked up a glass of iced orange juice and found a place to sit.

He hadn’t had a chance to drink any tea earlier and was thirsty from all the talking.

Just then, a few people walked past him.

One of them was Li Changxi, who was Superman Li’s grandson and the son of Li Zaiju.

Hu Jiangshan had seen Li Changxi not long ago at the Pak Sha Wan Yacht Club marina, where they’d had a small verbal spat.

Seeing him again, Li Changxi was as arrogant as ever.

But he had the capital to be arrogant. Superman Li was the head of the Four great families and a former richest man in Asia.

As mentioned before, Hu Yingxiang’s desire to build the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge had created a major conflict with Superman Li, souring their relationship. However, the two families still maintained contact and would invite each other to major social events.

After all, Hong Kong Island was a small place. They were bound to run into each other, and it wouldn’t do anyone any good to let things get too hostile.

So, it was perfectly normal for Superman Li’s grandson to be here.

The others in the group were also mostly second-generation rich, both men and women, around the same age as Hu Jiangshan.

Hu Jiangshan knew practically all of them.

However, standing behind Li Changxi was an extremely beautiful girl who looked incredibly familiar, like a movie star.

She was Shen Lan, the daughter of the glamorous actress Qiu Xuezhen.

Qiu Xuezhen had three daughters, all of whom had inherited their mother’s genes and were exceptionally beautiful.

Shen Lan was her second daughter, and she certainly lived up to her reputation.

From every angle, she was a girl with no bad sides, on the same level as her mother.

However, Hu Jiangshan couldn’t stare for too long. His original body had been a lecher who didn’t care about others’ opinions, but he couldn’t be so shameless now.

Li Changxi walked over. “Well, well, Hu Jiangshan. You’re here.”

Hu Jiangshan gave a cool greeting.

Li Changxi smiled faintly. “Hu Jiangshan, it’s rare to see you. How about we get together somewhere later?”

Hu Jiangshan glanced at him and said, “We’ll see.”

Hu Jiangshan wasn’t against socializing, but he knew a guy like Li Changxi wasn’t being so friendly out of the goodness of his heart. He was probably up to something.

Li Changxi was taken aback, not expecting Hu Jiangshan to refuse.

If it were the original Hu Jiangshan, before his soul was replaced, he definitely wouldn’t have said no.

After all these years, the Li family was still the Li family, the head of the Four great families.

As long as Superman Li was around, so were his resources on Hong Kong Island, which were beyond what ordinary people could compare to.

The old Hu Jiangshan would never have offended a young master of the Li family.

But the current Hu Jiangshan was different. While not exactly a reckless fool who feared nothing, he didn’t need to suck up to anyone either.

Li Changxi sized up Hu Jiangshan. “Hu Jiangshan, are you trying to disrespect me?”

Hu Jiangshan stood up and said, “Sorry, I have something to do. I have to go.”

With that, he turned and left the hall without a backward glance.

Watching Hu Jiangshan’s departing figure, Li Changxi and the others stared at each other, momentarily speechless.

This again. This was the second time.

The last time at the Pak Sha Wan Yacht Club marina, Hu Jiangshan had the exact same attitude!

Li Changxi’s face turned ashen; he was clearly furious.

The others couldn’t help but start criticizing Hu Jiangshan.

“That Hu Jiangshan brat really doesn’t know what’s good for him.”

“So arrogant. Who does he think he is?”

“I think that brat from the Hu family is just asking to be taught a lesson!”

“Young Master Li, you should teach him a lesson!”

Chapter 28: An Undercurrent is Already Stirring Online

Li Changxi waved his hand dismissively, frowning. “Alright, alright. Let’s just have our fun. Don’t mention him!”

With that, Li Changxi glanced at the beautiful young woman, Shen Lan, standing behind them.

Having lost face in front of Shen Lan earlier, Li Changxi was quite annoyed, but he maintained a calm facade.

“Lan, how about we find a quiet spot inside for a few drinks?”

Shen Lan replied, “No, thank you. The person I’m meeting will be here soon. You guys have fun.”

After saying that, Shen Lan also left.

Li Changxi was thoroughly frustrated. It was all that fellow Hu Jiangshan’s fault!

Meanwhile, Hu Jiangshan walked out of the Lishan Grand Hotel.

All that was left was to patiently wait for news from the Huo family.

Hu Jiangshan got in his car and drove all the way back to the nearby Lishan Apartments.

He had been running around all day and was genuinely a bit tired.

Plus, the weather was exceptionally hot today. He had broken into a sweat several times, leaving him feeling sticky.

Hu Jiangshan first took a hot shower, then sat on the sofa to browse the news on his phone.

Sure enough, news related to Huayao had been occupying a significant amount of space on major social media platforms recently.

With every casual swipe, he would see at least three or four related articles.

And the headlines were each more sensational than the last.

【Huayao’s Final Struggle; Resistance May Be Futile】

【Huayao is in grave danger, could end up like Matsui and Alstom, or worse】

【Time is running out for Huayao. Faced with this crisis, even the strongest can’t turn the tide.】

【The other side is playing for keeps. Huayao has truly run out of options.】

【A Pity: Huayao’s Dream of Topping Global Phone Sales is Shattered.】

Hu Jiangshan frowned as he read these headlines.

These people were experts at stirring the pot.

Taking a closer look at the authors of these posts, he found they were mostly bloggers from the tech world.

These bloggers had substantial followings—some with tens of thousands, others with hundreds of thousands, and even some macro-influencers with over a million followers.

Hu Jiangshan clicked on a particularly popular topic.

The publisher of this topic was a rather impressive tech blogger who had written a very professional, long-winded analysis, citing various sources and precedents.

The sprawling piece, several thousand words long, indeed laid out the cause and effect in great detail.

In the end, it also painted a clear picture of Huayao’s future prospects.

It could be summed up in two words: not optimistic.

Of course, this was all the blogger’s subjective speculation.

While it could be considered well-reasoned, it was far from objective. After all, an ordinary tech blogger wouldn’t have access to firsthand information.

Some of the evidence presented made a top expert like Hu Jiangshan want to laugh.

The blogger’s perspective was too one-sided, and his understanding of semiconductors was rudimentary at best.

However, most tech bloggers on social media were essentially amateur scientists. It wasn’t that they were completely ignorant, but their knowledge was limited.

Hu Jiangshan glanced at the comment section.

It was a chaotic mix of all sorts of opinions.

However, viewpoints were generally split into two camps.

The first camp’s opinion was consistent with the blogger who posted the topic. To put it more bluntly, they believed Huayao was done for this time.

The second camp believed that Huayao wasn’t so fragile and wouldn’t just collapse because of something like this; it could still survive.

The two sides were at each other’s throats, even starting arguments in the comment section.

“Ah, the show’s over for Huayao this time.”

“Without chips, Huayao can’t build anything. It’s game over for them.”

“What a shame. Huayao’s phones were about to become the world’s top seller, and now they’re going to plummet to the bottom.”

“This is normal. This is what happens to companies without core technology.”

“What do you guys above even know? Are you crazy, saying Huayao has no core technology?”

“It has some core technology, but not a lot.”

“You all need to calm down. Huayao has its foundations.”

“Exactly, this isn’t the first time Huayao has faced something like this. They’ll definitely pull through.”

“The domestic market is big enough. I don’t think Huayao will have a major problem.”

“I also think Huayao has what it takes to hold on. It’s different from Matsui and Alstom.”

As soon as a reassuring comment like this appeared, someone would immediately rebut it.

“Dream on. Without chips, you can’t even make phones. It doesn’t matter how big the domestic market is!”

“I’ll say it right here: Huayao will be broken up within two years. If I’m wrong, I’ll eat shit upside down!”

“Alright then. Add me as a friend. I want to see you eat shit in two years.”

The two factions fought a chaotic battle in the comment section, a verbal bloodbath that left the feed full of asterisks from censored profanity.

Hu Jiangshan’s eyes started to blur from it all, so he decided to stop reading.

He tossed his phone aside. Just as he was about to watch some TV, his phone rang.

It was his mother, Yuan Caihua.

Hu Jiangshan answered the phone, and Yuan Caihua’s voice came through.

“Shanshan, what are you doing right now?”

Hu Jiangshan said, “Nothing much. Just hanging out at the apartment.”

“You haven’t been out partying recently?”

Hu Jiangshan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Mom, don’t worry, I haven’t been out messing around.”

“That’s good, that’s good. I just heard your grandfather praising you, saying you’ve been behaving well lately.”

Hu Jiangshan’s grandfather was, of course, Hu Yingxiang.

The old Hu Jiangshan had indeed been a handful, going out to party almost every day and causing trouble every other.

Yuan Caihua asked again, “By the way, Shanshan, were you serious last time when you said you wanted to start a fish farm?”

Hu Jiangshan was taken aback for a moment, then said, “That… yes, it’s true. Why?”

Yuan Caihua said with a smile, “I have a friend who also runs a fish farm. If there’s anything you don’t understand later, Mom can help you ask. Oh, I can introduce you two.”

Hearing this, Hu Jiangshan felt a little touched.

Yuan Caihua truly doted on her precious son, always thinking of his best interests.

Hu Jiangshan said, “Mom, there’s no rush. The fish farm is still in the planning stage. I’ll ask you if I have any questions.”

Yuan Caihua smiled and said, “Alright, but you should hurry it up a bit. Your grandfather wants to see this fish farm you’re starting.”

“Okay, Mom, I know.”

Hu Jiangshan chatted with Yuan Caihua about this and that for a while longer before saying goodnight and hanging up.

Hu Jiangshan felt that things were taking a worrying turn.

He had no intention of starting a fish farm; it was just a cover for what he was actually doing. How did everyone take it so seriously?

The others were one thing, but the key person was his grandfather.

Although he was old, he was not someone you could easily fool.

What would he do when the time came and there was no fish farm?

Hu Jiangshan suddenly felt that things were becoming complicated.

He couldn’t possibly go and actually start a fish farm, could he?

That would be too absurd. The crucial point was that he, Hu Jiangshan, didn’t even know how to raise fish.

After thinking for a long time, Hu Jiangshan made a decision. If he couldn’t fool them any longer, he would just tell Hu Yingxiang the truth—that he had acquired a semiconductor production line.

Hu Jiangshan checked social media again. Whether it was Weibo, Zhihu, or Toutiao, almost everyone was talking about Huayao.

It seemed the netizens were quite worried as well.

Chapter 29: A Great Success in Wafer Production

But that was fine. In his past life, Huayao had indeed been hit hard.

Although the country provided significant support, it was a distant solution to an immediate problem. It wasn’t until several years later that things turned around.

But Apple used those years to nearly conquer the global high-end market. Within China, its market share reached eighty percent, which was truly lamentable.

But things were different now.

As long as the trial production of the semiconductor production line was successful, it meant Hu Jiangshan could take on Huayao’s chip orders.

Feeling tired, Hu Jiangshan went to bed.

The next day, while Hu Jiangshan was still fast asleep, his phone’s ringtone woke him.

[Caller ID: Zhang Rui]

Hu Jiangshan was instantly awake. He scrambled out of bed and answered the call.

The sky had not yet fully brightened. For Zhang Rui to call this early, it had to be important news.

“Hello, President Hu, I have something to report!”

Just as he expected, Zhang Rui’s voice was urgent, yet tinged with excitement.

Hu Jiangshan said, “Dr. Zhang, are the trial production results out?”

“Yes, President Hu, it’s done. The first batch of wafers is out. You can come and take a look.”

“Alright, no problem. I’ll be right there.”

Hu Jiangshan suddenly thought of something and asked, “You guys didn’t go home again last night, did you?”

Zhang Rui said, a little embarrassed, “Ah, that’s right. We all slept on the island again.”

Hu Jiangshan was speechless for a moment. Zhang Rui and his team were true workaholics.

But it made sense. Who in scientific research or high-tech manufacturing wasn’t like this?

In his previous life, Hu Jiangshan had also frequently pulled all-nighters. When things got really busy, he would even live in the lab for a month or two, without even a moment to shower.

Hu Jiangshan gave a few more instructions before hanging up.

After washing up, Hu Jiangshan left.

Instead of heading straight for the Pak Sha Wan Yacht Club marina, Hu Jiangshan found a good restaurant and ordered a lot of takeout.

He had to reward the team properly, no matter what.

Hu Jiangshan arrived at the Pak Sha Wan Yacht Club marina, boarded The Seahorse, and headed straight for General’s Island.

It was just eight in the morning. The sky was completely light, but the wind by the sea was quite strong.

Fortunately, although The Seahorse was small, it was very stable and fast, reaching General’s Island safely in just over twenty minutes.

Hu Jiangshan hurried to the cavern factory. He could hear the team members’ cheerful laughter; their faces were excited, but he could still see the weariness in their bodies.

A few people had bloodshot eyes, and the tables were littered with coffee cups. It seemed they had survived the previous night on coffee alone.

Hu Jiangshan went to the control console and found Zhang Rui.

“Dr. Zhang, how’s the situation?”

Zhang Rui’s face was alight with excitement. “Excellent, President Hu. I’ll take you to see the finished wafers.”

“Okay.”

Hu Jiangshan followed Zhang Rui to a doorway.

Through the door was a fully-equipped decontamination room.

It wasn’t just for dust removal; they also had to put on cleanroom suits here.

The two of them passed through an inner door into another room.

This was the finished wafer storage area.

The newly fabricated wafers were arranged neatly here.

Zhang Rui said, “We’ve produced one thousand wafers so far, and they’re all here.”

Sure enough, there was a huge cabinet, with a wafer in each of its slots.

Any expert could tell that these were twelve-inch wafers, the most advanced specification.

To turn them into chips, two more steps were needed.

The first step was dicing, and the second was packaging.

This production line was also capable of performing these functions.

Hu Jiangshan quickly picked up a wafer and carefully examined its surface.

After a long moment, Hu Jiangshan finally let out a breath. “It’s perfect. At least, it looks perfect to the naked eye. Have you checked the transistor density?”

Zhang Rui nodded. “We’ve already examined it with a microscope. The density is extremely high and very uniform. It has basically reached the level of a seven-nanometer fabrication process, an excellent grade at that.”

“Good, good, good! This is fantastic!”

Hu Jiangshan was also thrilled.

This was tantamount to success. Seven nanometers was definitely an advanced fabrication process, and it was also the mainstream process for mobile processors. It was a solid baseline, no question.

Zhang Rui said, “The capabilities of this production line are immense. We haven’t pushed it to its limits yet. If we do, I think we might even break through to five nanometers!”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “That’s good, but let’s not rush it.”

Hu Jiangshan looked at the wafer once more before carefully placing it back into the carrier slot.

Hu Jiangshan patted Zhang Rui on the shoulder. “Dr. Zhang, if you don’t have anything urgent, you can all take a break. Take two days off. Rest up and then get back to work.”

Zhang Rui chuckled. “I understand, President Hu. We’ll make the arrangements.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “There’s takeout on the table. You should all eat now before it gets cold.”

Zhang Rui thanked him and then called the team members over to eat.

Hu Jiangshan didn’t disturb them, leaving the cavern factory alone.

Hu Jiangshan went to the site of the two-story building to check on things.

Sure enough, a construction enclosure had already been erected.

It seemed the construction of the Intelligent Office Building had begun.

Just like before, the surroundings were silent. He could only hear the chirping of nearby birds, but not a single sound of construction.

Hu Jiangshan felt a sense of anticipation. He wondered what this so-called Intelligent Office Building would look like and what features it would have.

The first trial run of the semiconductor production line had gone well. At the very least, they could confirm it could achieve a seven-nanometer process, and five nanometers wouldn’t be a big problem either.

With this, Hu Jiangshan felt much more confident.

After a moment’s thought, Hu Jiangshan walked back into the cavern factory.

He needed to give Zhang Rui a task: to produce a few chip samples.

With qualified samples, who could possibly doubt Hu Jiangshan’s capabilities?

Meanwhile, on Hong Kong Island, at the Li family’s mansion.

A thin, elderly man sat on a rocking chair, basking in the sun, leisurely humming a little tune.

He was surrounded by flowers and plants, and in the distance was a swimming pool, indicating this was the courtyard of a super-mansion.

This old man was Superman Li.

By now, Superman Li was nearly ninety years old, but he was still in high spirits, especially his eyes, which were sharp and full of life.

Superman Li had been in Britain for a while, but he finally couldn’t stand the weather anymore and had recently returned to Hong Kong Island.

Just then, two men approached.

One was Li Zaiju, and the other was Li Changxi.

The two had obviously come to visit Superman Li.

Superman Li smiled and said, “Come, sit down.”

Li Zaiju and Li Changxi sat down.

After a few pleasantries, Superman Li and Li Zaiju began talking about business.

Truly the Li family; the business atmosphere was palpable. They couldn’t go three sentences without mentioning finance or real estate.

Li Zaiju brought up Huayao.

“Dad, Huayao has run into some trouble recently.”

Superman Li nodded. “I heard. They’re in deep trouble this time. It’s probably over for them.”

As he said this, Superman Li chuckled, seeming to be in a very good mood.

Chapter 30: Someone Can Make Chips for Us

To be honest, Superman Li had been quite troubled lately.

Some of his investments in Britain were like bottomless pits; he just kept throwing money in without ever seeing a return.

More than half of the money he had earned in mainland China had been poured into them.

It was truly infuriating!

So, hearing about Huayao’s predicament naturally put him in a much better mood. He even felt the urge to clap and sing.

Superman Li asked again, “By the way, do they have any countermeasures? From my understanding of Huayao, they should be trying every possible way to stall for time.”

Li Zaiju nodded. “Yes, you guessed right. They’ve been looking for all sorts of middlemen to buy chips recently.”

“Chips? The ones for mobile phones, right?”

“Yes, advanced fabrication process chips. Dad, speaking of which, I have an idea. Should we sell them chips?”

“Huh? How would we sell them?”

“Exactly. We can get a lot of Gaoxin’s chips through our own channels, and we can sell them to Huayao at a high price.”

Superman Li frowned.

“Number Two, do we really need to make this money? How much can we even earn by selling them chips?”

Li Zaiju was a bit surprised by his father’s attitude. He thought for a moment and replied, “It should be quite a bit. I heard their acquisition price on the market is two to three times the original price. We could even raise it to four times.”

“Heh, they’re certainly spending big. That’s indeed a lot, but there’s no need for us to do this.”

“…Huh?”

Li Zaiju didn’t understand why Superman Li was uninterested in such a profitable business.

This didn’t seem to match his father’s character.

Generally speaking, Superman Li would never let go of a business with such high profit margins.

After all, Superman Li was a true businessman.

He heard Superman Li say faintly, “A company like Huayao should be left to disappear quietly. Don’t get involved.”

Li Zaiju suddenly understood his father’s meaning.

Superman Li disliked Huayao; one could even say he detested it.

He felt that such a company shouldn’t exist and should just die immediately. Therefore, even if they could sell chips to Huayao at a high price, he felt it was unnecessary.

Although the possibility was small, Superman Li wouldn’t allow anything that could potentially buy Huayao even a little bit of time.

Superman Li didn’t seem to want to discuss the matter further and started chatting idly with his grandson, Li Changxi.

Li Changxi suddenly said, “By the way, Grandpa, that kid from the Hu family has been acting a bit strange lately.”

Superman Li paused. “…That kid from the Hu family? Who?”

“Hu Jiangshan.”

“Oh, Hu Yingxiang’s grandson. Right, Hu Jiangshan. What’s wrong with him?”

“I’ve seen him twice recently, and his behavior felt very abnormal.”

“Abnormal? What do you mean?”

Li Changxi thought for a moment and said, “He’s much more low-key than before. You’ve probably heard that he used to be a goofy idiot, but now he’s putting on a serious act. Do you think there’s something going on behind the scenes?”

Li Zaiju said, “Couldn’t it just be that he’s decided to get serious?”

Li Changxi shook his head. “That’s impossible. I’d believe it if it were someone else, but Hu Jiangshan suddenly getting serious? How is that possible? Besides, a leopard can’t change its spots. A person like him can’t possibly change!”

What Li Changxi said was true. Their circle of wealthy Hong Kong Island families was full of playboys, and they had never seen one suddenly change their ways.

Li Changxi was no different.

Superman Li smiled and said, “Then what do you think is going on behind the scenes?”

Li Changxi hesitated for a moment. “Is the Hu family up to something?”

“Hmm?”

Superman Li’s smile vanished.

Li Zaiju asked in confusion, “Up to something? What could the Hu family possibly be up to?”

Li Changxi shook his head. “I don’t know either. I’m just guessing. But after hearing what you were just talking about, I was thinking, could the Hu family be trying to acquire chips for Huayao?”

A thoughtful expression appeared on Superman Li’s face.

That was indeed a strong possibility. The Hu family had very close ties with mainland China.

Right, and there was the Huo family. Given their style, they would probably lend a hand too.

Li Zaiju agreed and turned to look at Superman Li. “Then this matter…”

Superman Li said, “How about this. First, have someone keep an eye on the Hu and Huo families. See what they’ve been up to recently and whether they’re really buying chips for Huayao.”

“Dad, what if we confirm it?”

“If it’s confirmed, then report it to the other side of the ocean and let them handle it. We don’t need to get too involved.”

A faint smile returned to Superman Li’s face.

The one in the White House on the other side of the ocean would probably be very angry if he knew the Hu and Huo families were up to something. He would definitely take action to deal with them.

Two days later, Guangzhou-Shenzhen City, Huayao headquarters.

Wang Chengdong had just finished a meeting and felt utterly exhausted.

Lately, everyone at Huayao was on edge, enduring immense pressure. The smiles were gone from the employees’ faces, replaced by a strong sense of urgency.

Wang Chengdong was a workaholic.

People were used to seeing him full of vigor and vitality, but now his face was etched with exhaustion.

He had just attended an important mobilization meeting where many tasks had been set for Huayao’s various departments.

Each task was a heavy burden.

The first was that the Haixi Semiconductor Department must not give up. It must continue its research and development, and even increase its investment and efforts.

The second was to increase their chip inventory, using the window of opportunity to purchase a large number of chips.

The third task was the most important: to find a semiconductor company that could manufacture chips for Huayao.

Although the hope was slim, they still had to concentrate all their efforts and try every avenue.

Of course, Huayao also wanted to get into semiconductor manufacturing itself, but the technological barrier was too high. Even with Huayao’s formidable R&D strength, it would be difficult to accomplish within three years.

A conservative estimate was that it would take five years to build up the necessary advanced semiconductor manufacturing technology.

And that would only be possible with the cooperation of related domestic enterprises.

Wang Chengdong returned to his office and brewed himself a cup of coffee.

Drinking coffee was something that Old Ren, Ren Yunfei, had advocated.

Old Ren loved coffee and would tell others that it was a good thing to drink more of. It could both refresh the mind and sharpen focus, as well as serve as a way to relax and de-stress.

Wang Chengdong rarely respected anyone, but Ren Yunfei was one of the few.

So, Wang Chengdong had also developed the habit of drinking coffee.

He took a sip, feeling slightly better.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

Xu Zhijun pushed the door open and entered.

Xu Zhijun was Huayao’s Rotating Chairman, one of the company’s top three executives. Known as Young CEO Xu, he held a high position and significant power, a level above Wang Chengdong.

Xu Zhijun asked, “Old Wang, got a minute to talk?”

Wang Chengdong nodded. “Yes. What is it?”

Xu Zhijun hesitated for a moment before saying, “Someone from Hong Kong Island sent us a piece of news.”

“Hong Kong Island? What news?”

“They say there’s a semiconductor manufacturing company over there that might be able to make chips for us.”

“…Huh?”

Chapter 31: The Chip Samples Have Been Sent Over

Wang Chengdong’s eyes widened as he stared at Xu Zhijun.

The two stared at one another, the atmosphere growing a little awkward.

Xu Zhijun waved his hand. “If you don’t believe me, then forget it.”

“Wait! Young CEO Xu, did you say Hong Kong Island?”

Xu Zhijun said, “Yes, Hong Kong Island.”

“Pfft! Hahaha…”

Wang Chengdong laughed so hard that tears came to his eyes.

“Young CEO Xu, I really have to thank you for telling me a joke at a time like this.”

Xu Zhijun sighed. “You don’t believe me? To be honest, I don’t believe it either. I just wanted to talk to you about this. I’ll be going now.”

Wang Chengdong waved his hands. “No, no, no, Young CEO Xu. Let’s chat a bit more.”

With that, Wang Chengdong brewed a cup of coffee for Xu Zhijun as well.

Wang Chengdong asked, “Young CEO Xu, which big shot told you about this?”

Xu Zhijun replied, “Someone from the Huo family.”

“Hmm?”

Wang Chengdong was stunned.

“The Huo… the Huo family? Are you sure? You’re not pulling my leg, are you?”

Xu Zhijun spread his hands. “What good would it do me to lie to you?”

“That Huo family?”

“Yes, that Huo family.”

Wang Chengdong was completely baffled. “That can’t be right. Why would the Huo family give you such unreliable news?”

Xu Zhijun shook his head. “I’m not sure about that, but they were adamant that it was true. They even said we could give it a try.”

Wang Chengdong asked curiously, “A try? How so?”

“They said we could send our IC design for the chip over to them.”

“…And then?”

“Then they’ll do the prototype fabrication for us.”

Wang Chengdong’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “Prototype fabrication? That sounds quite professional.”

“And the prototype fabrication is free.”

“What? It’s free? That’s too ridiculous. The cost of prototype fabrication isn’t low at all!”

“That’s why I don’t think it’s very reliable either.”

Wang Chengdong raised an eyebrow. “Young CEO Xu, if it’s not reliable, why did you come running to me about it?”

“Hey, in our current situation, you can’t rule out a miracle!”

Wang Chengdong paused for a moment. “Are you saying… we should give it a try?”

“Well…”

Xu Zhijun was also hesitant.

Giving it a try wasn’t the main issue. The key was having to send the chip’s IC design directly to the other party.

This was equivalent to exposing the original design blueprints of their chip.

Who knew what their intentions were?

The other party wasn’t a well-known major company; they didn’t even have a reputation. Just thinking about it felt improper.

The risk was too great.

Xu Zhijun said, “Actually, the impact isn’t that significant. The designs for our chips that are already in mass production… are no longer much of a secret, at least not now.”

Wang Chengdong nodded. What Xu Zhijun said made sense.

Most of the chip designs from Huayao’s Haixi Semiconductor Department had already been sent to foundries like Island Foundry and Huaxin International. Hundreds of millions of units of various models had already been produced.

Even for the most advanced Kirin chip, several million units had been made.

Could anyone really make Island Foundry hand over Huayao’s IC designs?

The answer was definitely no.

If certain people really wanted to get their hands on Huayao’s IC designs, it was entirely possible—it was just a matter of price.

But that didn’t mean Huayao could just casually hand over its own chip designs.

The most bizarre thing was that the semiconductor company introduced by the Huo family was on Hong Kong Island.

Hong Kong Island didn’t even have any large-scale high-tech enterprises, let alone high-tech manufacturing companies.

Wang Chengdong said, “Young CEO Xu, what’s the plan? Do we agree or not?”

Xu Zhijun waved his hand. “Old Wang, you make the call on this one. I’m staying out of it.”

“Hey? What’s this? Why are you making me decide? Why are you staying out of it?”

“I’m giving you the decision-making power for this matter. You decide.”

“My god!”

Wang Chengdong almost let a curse slip out.

This Young CEO Xu was too cunning!

Xu Zhijun said, “How about this? Let’s send someone over to their place first to see if they really have the capabilities. We’ll know once we see their equipment.”

Wang Chengdong thought for a moment and said, “That could work. By the way, what’s the name of the company the Huo family mentioned? Let’s investigate it first.”

Xu Zhijun stared blankly. “I don’t know.”

“Hmm? You didn’t ask?”

“I did. The Huo family doesn’t know either.”

Wang Chengdong’s eyes nearly fell out of their sockets, and he was speechless for a moment.

Then what the hell was there to talk about!

Just then, Xu Zhijun’s phone rang.

Xu Zhijun took his phone out of his pocket and answered the call.

“Hello, Little Song, what’s up?”

It was unclear what Xu Zhijun heard, but his expression suddenly changed.

“…What? It’s been sent over? Do you have it? …Okay, okay, I’ll come get it right away.”

Seeing Xu Zhijun’s strange expression, Wang Chengdong waited for him to hang up and quickly asked, “Young CEO Xu, what’s wrong? What happened?”

Xu Zhijun, still in a daze, finally replied, “He said that company… sent over the chip samples.”

“Huh? What do you mean? Chip samples?”

Wang Chengdong was completely dumbfounded, then added, “Which company?”

“The one the Huo family mentioned.”

“The Huo…”

Wang Chengdong’s eyes widened, and it took him a long while to process it.

“Young CEO Xu, are you saying that company sent over samples of the chips they made?”

“Yes, yes, that’s what I mean.”

Xu Zhijun’s own mind was struggling to keep up.

Both men were incredibly intelligent, but right now, they felt as if their minds had regressed, which was rather comical.

In fact, this was a normal reaction. What they had just heard was simply too outrageous.

The semiconductor company introduced by the Huo family, in order to prove it could handle Huayao’s chips, had gone ahead and sent them chip samples.

Either the other party was extremely confident, certain that their technical skills were up to the task.

Or they were extremely arrogant, completely unaware of their own limitations.

Both Xu Zhijun and Wang Chengdong believed it was the latter.

After all, there were only a handful of semiconductor companies in the world capable of manufacturing Huayao’s chips.

Wang Chengdong said, “Young CEO Xu, do you think this is real?”

Xu Zhijun thought for a moment and said, “Well, since they’ve already sent them, let’s go take a look.”

“Let’s go, let’s go. We have to see this.”

With that, Wang Chengdong stood up. His curiosity was clearly piqued.

Although the possibility was slim, at least there were chip samples to examine. Wang Chengdong was also very curious to see just what level of technology the other party had reached.

After all, in the semiconductor industry, even talking big required some real strength.

Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun chatted as they headed to the logistics department to pick up the package.

Huayao had an internal policy that important items had to be signed for by the recipient in person.

For example, something sent to Xu Zhijun had to be picked up by him personally; even his assistant couldn’t do it on his behalf.

A moment later, Xu Zhijun had the package.

It was a solid resin case.

Xu Zhijun and Wang Chengdong were no strangers to this type of case; it was used to transport chips or wafers.

Chapter 32: A Chip That Looks Like It’s Seven-Nanometer

Wang Chengdong said, “Open it and let’s have a look.”

Xu Zhijun hesitated for a moment, then said, “Let’s take it to the testing department first. Get Zhou Hua to look at it with us.”

Zhou Hua was a senior chip testing engineer; he knew chips better than anyone.

You could get a rough idea of a chip’s quality just by looking at it.

Of course, its true performance could only be determined by putting it on a development board and running it through the full testing process.

Meanwhile, at the Huayao headquarters, in the Hardware Testing Department.

Chip testing engineer Zhou Hua had just finished a department meeting and was walking back to his desk.

The atmosphere of the meeting hadn’t been very good, and everyone’s morale was low.

This was understandable. The company was currently fraught with crisis, and a major shake-up could happen at any moment.

Still, everyone held on to a sliver of hope. After all, Huayao had weathered many great storms and wouldn’t be defeated so easily.

His colleague, Liu Sanyang, caught up to him and asked in a low voice, “Hua, do you think we still have a chance?”

Zhou Hua asked, “What do you mean?”

Liu Sanyang said, “Things haven’t been looking good lately. I’ve heard people saying Huayao might not make it.”

Zhou Hua raised an eyebrow. “What nonsense is that? How could we not make it?”

“Well… we might not have any chips to use in the future.”

Zhou Hua fell silent.

Anyone who wasn’t a fool could see things were heading in that direction.

In the past, their chip testing department had been incredibly busy, testing several new chips every week. But lately, work had been extremely slow, with almost nothing to do.

Liu Sanyang added, “Hua, I think we should start looking for other jobs. This department is going to be downsized sooner or later.”

Zhou Hua waved his hand dismissively. “Enough. If you want to look, go ahead. I’m not going anywhere.”

Liu Sanyang glanced at Zhou Hua as if he were looking at a stubborn fool.

Just then, someone called out to Zhou Hua.

“Zhou Hua, come over here for a moment.”

Zhou Hua and Liu Sanyang jumped. It was the big shots, and two of them at that.

The newcomers were none other than Xu Zhijun and Wang Chengdong.

Xu Zhijun was carrying a case.

The employees in the testing department were all too familiar with that kind of case—it was used for carrying chips and wafers.

Zhou Hua hurried over to greet the two big shots.

Xu Zhijun said, “There are some chips inside. We need you to take a look.”

Zhou Hua was stunned for a second. “CEO Xu, are they new?”

Xu Zhijun replied casually, “Another company sent them over. We want to see what their level is.”

Zhou Hua acknowledged and took the case.

The three of them headed for the workshop.

Liu Sanyang hesitated for a moment, then followed behind them, curious to see what the big shots had brought.

How strange. At a time like this, why would another company be sending them new chips?

Arriving at the workshop, Zhou Hua placed the case on a workbench and prepared to open it.

At this moment, both Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun were surprisingly nervous.

In truth, neither of them had high hopes.

Wang Chengdong asked in a low voice, “Young CEO Xu, what level of chip do you think is in there?”

Xu Zhijun answered without hesitation, “We’d be lucky if it’s fifty-nanometer.”

Wang Chengdong nodded.

In 2018, the mature fabrication process was twenty-eight-nanometer and above. Although the fifty-nanometer process was outdated, there were still many related chip products, and any semiconductor manufacturing company with that technology was considered quite capable.

Semiconductor companies capable of sub-twenty-nanometer processes were exceedingly rare; you could count them on one hand.

In mainland China, there was only one company that could make sub-twenty-nanometer chips, and that was Huaxin International. It was highly unlikely to be any other company.

With a click, Zhou Hua opened the case.

Inside were twelve slots, each holding a chip.

And attached to the lid was a round object.

All three of them froze.

It was a twelve-inch wafer!

Twelve-inch wafers were used for chips at the twenty-eight-nanometer level at least; otherwise, one would use nine-inch wafers.

Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun exchanged a look of utter disbelief.

Xu Zhijun said, “No way, a twelve-inch…”

Wang Chengdong immediately said to Zhou Hua, “Check the quality of the wafer first.”

Zhou Hua acknowledged, carefully took out the wafer, and inspected the transistors on its surface with his naked eye.

Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun also craned their necks, staring intently.

Zhou Hua stared for a good two or three minutes before gently setting the wafer down.

The two men asked in unison, “How is it?”

Zhou Hua looked completely Dumbfounded. “It… it looks like it’s sub-ten-nanometer…”

“What?!”

“Impossible!”

“Are you sure you’re not mistaken?!”

Zhou Hua quickly said, “I-I’m just judging based on experience. We’ll need to use instruments to test it to know the exact nanometer.”

Only then did Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun realize they had gotten too excited.

Zhou Hua added, “Should I look at the chip now?”

“Go on, hurry up and see what we’ve got.”

Wang Chengdong sounded anxious as he spoke.

Wang Chengdong was a true man of science and engineering. He had seen countless wafers, and while his naked-eye discernment wasn’t as sharp as Zhou Hua’s, it wasn’t bad either.

The moment Wang Chengdong had seen the surface of this wafer, he knew it was something special. It was definitely not something a small factory, let alone a small workshop, could produce.

A sliver of hope actually sparked in Wang Chengdong’s heart.

Zhou Hua carefully picked up a chip and remarked, “This chip… the packaging is very well done.”

Zhou Hua flipped the chip over, examining its pins closely, a look of astonishment on his face.

Xu Zhijun asked, “How is it? What’s the level of this chip?”

Zhou Hua stared at it intently, looking at it from the left and right, from above and below, from the front and back, before finally answering, “This… this… it looks like a seven-nanometer chip.”

“Wha-what!?”

“Seven-nanometer!?”

Xu Zhijun’s and Wang Chengdong’s voices were so loud they nearly jumped out of their skins.

They couldn’t help it.

To their ears, Zhou Hua’s words were a bombshell.

The employees nearby were also drawn by the commotion, but they could only watch from a distance, huddling together and whispering.

“What’s going on? Why are CEO Wang and Young CEO Xu so worked up?”

“It looks like they’re examining a chip.”

“Where would a chip come from at a time like this?”

“Who knows? Why don’t you go and ask?”

“You’ve got to be kidding…”

At this point, Wang Chengdong also took a chip from the case and examined it carefully.

The pins were dense and neatly arranged; at least to the naked eye, there wasn’t a single flaw.

This indicated at least two things.

First, this chip was made with an advanced fabrication process, a sub-ten-nanometer design at the very least.

Second, the chip’s packaging was superb, on par with that of a top-tier manufacturer.

However, Wang Chengdong was well aware that this was only what could be seen with the naked eye. To determine the chip’s actual capabilities, it would need to undergo comprehensive testing.

A moment later, Wang Chengdong, Xu Zhijun, and Zhou Hua found a meeting room.

Xu Zhijun said, “This chip will still need to undergo comprehensive testing.”

Wang Chengdong nodded. “Yes, and we need to do it as soon as possible.”

Xu Zhijun looked at Zhou Hua and said, “Right. And this needs to be kept confidential. No one else can know about this, understand?”

Zhou Hua nodded quickly in agreement.

Chapter 33: As Expected, Huayao Came Knocking

Although Zhou Hua didn’t know where this chip came from, he sensed it was of great importance. The news absolutely could not be allowed to spread.

Otherwise, it might stir up immense trouble.

A moment later, Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun emerged from the conference room, chatting as they walked.

Xu Zhijun said, “Old Wang, what’s your take? Is this chip the real deal?”

Wang Chengdong shook his head, “I’m not sure either. But that wafer, and the chip itself, they definitely look the part.”

“…Does it really look like seven-nanometer?”

Wang Chengdong thought back for a moment and said, “Yes. Judging by the density of the chip’s pins, it is indeed close to the seven-nanometer level. At the very least, it meets the standards for a sub-ten-nanometer fabrication process.”

Xu Zhijun fell silent. The amount of information he had just received was too much to process at once.

“That’s incredible, Old Wang. But is it even possible?”

Wang Chengdong was at a loss for words as well.

A moment ago, he had been caught up in the excitement. Now, thinking about it calmly, there were indeed some aspects that were hard to comprehend.

The number of semiconductor manufacturing companies capable of producing sub-ten-nanometer chips couldn’t even be described as “a handful.”

There were only two or three such companies in the entire world, all of them big names you could recognize.

Island Foundry, Samsang, and Intel—those three.

While there were many other semiconductor companies, none of them could produce chips with a sub-ten-nanometer fabrication process. Being able to manage fourteen-nanometer was already quite impressive.

For example, Huaxin International, a semiconductor manufacturer in mainland China, could barely reach the fourteen-nanometer technology level.

But the company the Huo family introduced was on Hong Kong Island. How could such a powerful semiconductor company possibly exist there?

The business ecosystem on Hong Kong Island only allowed finance and real estate to become major players.

Wang Chengdong said, “The more I think about it, the more it feels like a scam.”

Xu Zhijun hesitated for a moment, then asked, “What would be their motive for scamming us? Do they really think they could fool us?”

“Well…”

No matter how he thought about it, it really didn’t make sense.

To put it bluntly, they were professionals from Huayao. How could they be deceived by some third-rate scam company?

Xu Zhijun said, “I’ll contact the Huo family again and find out exactly which company it is. If possible, we should send a team over to investigate.”

Wang Chengdong suddenly said, “Young CEO Xu, if you find out, let me know. I’ll go.”

“Huh? You want to go?”

“Yes, I’ll take two people with me to check it out.”

Xu Zhijun immediately waved his hand dismissively. “Let’s not. You can’t go.”

“Why not?”

“Old Wang, this is not the time to be running around. Hong Kong Island is a mix of good and bad people; it’s not that safe.”

Wang Chengdong was momentarily speechless.

It was true. In Huayao’s high-level meetings over the past couple of days, core executives had been strictly forbidden from traveling abroad.

Better safe than sorry.

Although going to Hong Kong Island wasn’t the same as leaving the country, the situation there was, after all, different from mainland China.

Xu Zhijun clapped Wang Chengdong on the shoulder and said, “Don’t be hasty. Let’s wait for Zhou Hua’s test results. We need to find out the true quality of those chips, but we shouldn’t get our hopes up too high.”

Wang Chengdong nodded.

Chip testing involved a very complex process; it would take several days to complete.

A few days later, on Hong Kong Island, at Lishan Apartments on Victoria Peak.

Hu Jiangshan was reviewing files on his laptop.

These files, submitted by Zhang Rui, outlined the work plan for the next phase.

After a two-day break, the team had already returned to work.

The plan for the next phase was simple: first, fix the problems encountered during the trial production, and then continue attempting a more advanced fabrication process.

Zhang Rui’s idea was to explore the absolute limits of this production line.

Hu Jiangshan naturally agreed. He also wanted to know where the ultimate process boundary of this semiconductor production line lay.

This production line was still at a basic level. If its capabilities proved insufficient, it would need to be upgraded.

Just then, Hu Jiangshan’s phone rang.

He glanced at the screen; it was his old man, Hu Wenxin.

He had to answer his so-called father’s call; otherwise, he was guaranteed to get an earful.

Hu Wenxin was most likely calling at this hour to check up on him, to see if Hu Jiangshan had gone off to fool around again.

It couldn’t be helped. The previous Hu Jiangshan had often caused trouble, making Hu Wenxin a perpetually stressed-out father.

“Hello, Dad.”

“Jiangshan, where are you right now?”

“I’m at the apartment.”

Hu Wenxin said, “There’s something I want to ask you.”

“Go ahead and ask, Dad.”

“Who is that friend of yours?”

“Huh? Which friend?”

“The one you’re in the semiconductor manufacturing business with.”

Hu Jiangshan was taken aback for a moment, then said, “Oh, him. His name is Kevin.”

“Kevin?”

“Yes, just Kevin. Dad, what’s this about?”

Hu Wenxin said, “The Huo family has contacted Huayao.”

“Oh, what did they say?”

“Huayao wants the information and contact details for your friend’s semiconductor company.”

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly.

Just as he had expected. After seeing the chip samples he sent, Huayao was bound to be shocked and would definitely inquire about the source.

Hu Jiangshan replied, “Dad, this company can’t be made public yet. It has to be kept secret.”

“Secret? Why?”

Hu Jiangshan explained, “Think about it. At a time like this, if a company that can provide contract manufacturing for Huayao’s chips is exposed, what do you think will happen?”

Hu Wenxin fell silent, clearly understanding Hu Jiangshan’s meaning.

The current situation was very complex. If the other side of the ocean found out about such a company, they would surely go mad.

They would definitely try to crush this company on the spot, leaving it no chance of survival.

Hu Wenxin immediately asked, “But what if Huayao wants to cooperate?”

Hu Jiangshan said, “Oh, in that case, just have them contact me directly.”

“Contact you?”

“Yes, have them contact me directly. I’ll arrange everything.”

Hu Wenxin must have been deeply suspicious. Could his prodigal son really handle something like this?

A playboy who had never done a day of honest work—why would he take on such a task?

But since Hu Jiangshan was keen on doing it, Hu Wenxin decided to let him be. There was nothing to lose, anyway.

“Alright, I’ll let the Huo family know.”

After hanging up, Hu Jiangshan found it amusing. Fortunately, he had already devised a plan to deal with this.

This semiconductor production line truly could not be exposed.

To put it bluntly, if someone with malicious intent really got wind of this, it was questionable how much longer General’s Island could even exist.

It could be bombed flat at any moment.

Just now, Hu Jiangshan had even said his friend’s name was Kevin.

He had no choice but to pin it on him.

He couldn’t possibly push Zhang Rui out front. His childhood friend, Du Jiapeng, was an executive at Hopewell Group; his cover would be blown too easily.

Besides, the name Kevin was far too common. There were probably millions of Kevins in the world; who knew which one it was?

Now that Huayao was actively reaching out, a formal cooperation proposal was only a matter of time.

Hu Jiangshan was confident that as soon as they finished testing the chips, they would immediately come to discuss a partnership.

Ding.

His phone chimed.

Hu Jiangshan glanced at the screen and immediately stood up.

[Intelligent Office Building construction complete]

Chapter 34: The Office Building Looks Like a Holiday Resort

In the blink of an eye, seven days had passed. Hu Jiangshan quickly changed his clothes and drove out.

While he was on the road, Hu Jiangshan’s phone rang.

[Caller ID: Zhang Rui]

Hu Jiangshan was driving an old car with an outdated infotainment system, so he didn’t answer. It wasn’t until he reached the Pak Sha Wan Yacht Club marina and parked that he called Zhang Rui back.

“Hello, Zhang Rui, what’s up?”

Zhang Rui’s hurried voice came from the other end: “President, President Hu, there’s a… a hotel on the island!”

Hu Jiangshan was taken aback for a moment. “What? A hotel?”

“Yes, yes, yes, a really well-designed hotel. It looks very high-class.”

Hu Jiangshan realized what was happening. The so-called hotel must be the Intelligent Office Building.

He had initially chosen an island resort style, so it was likely that the finished building would resemble a resort hotel.

Thinking of this, Hu Jiangshan said, “It’s fine. I had it built.”

“Ah? You built a hotel on the island?”

“It’s not a hotel. I’ll be there soon. We’ll talk then.”

After hanging up, Hu Jiangshan boarded The Seahorse, started the engine, and left the marina, heading straight for General’s Island.

Meanwhile, on General’s Island.

A few people were in a heated discussion.

One of them was Zhang Rui.

Having just finished his call with Hu Jiangshan, Zhang Rui looked again at the building in the distance, a bewildered expression on his face.

The building was by no means small. Although it was only two stories high, its presence was impossible to ignore.

Because its design was so unique. It had a wooden structure overall, with a wide roof, broad eaves, and thick wooden pillars. There was also a large courtyard enclosed by a wooden fence. Even the gate was made of wood.

Especially near the building, there were many coconut trees and ferns.

It gave one the feeling of being at a resort in some Southeast Asian country. The atmosphere was perfect.

The others were all members of the team. When they had been here before, there was no such building.

A young man named Feng Guangdou said, “This is so weird. I remember this used to be a dilapidated building. How did it turn into this?”

The others all nodded in agreement.

General’s Island wasn’t a very large island to begin with, and the team members had basically all been here before. Some had even gone inside the old two-story building.

How much time had passed? How could it have changed so drastically?

It was indeed very strange.

Lou Xiuli said, “I was here a couple of days ago. It was fenced off at the time, so it must have been under construction.”

The others looked at each other and started chattering.

“I saw it too. There was indeed a fence. They must have been renovating the building.”

“But the construction progress is way too fast!”

“The key thing is, we never saw any workers come to the island. We have no idea how it was completed.”

“Let’s not talk about that for now. What do you think this is? It can’t really be a hotel or a resort, can it?”

“It’s not impossible. The environment on this island is quite beautiful.”

“But this island is so undeveloped. It has no capacity to receive tourists.”

“Actually, it doesn’t need to receive many tourists. They could just limit the number of visitors per day.”

Everyone chattered on, quite thrilled.

After all, the building was truly beautiful. If it was a hotel, it would be quite enjoyable to stay for a couple of nights when tired from work.

Zhang Rui waved his hand. “Alright, stop speculating wildly. We’ll know what it is when the boss gets here.”

Just as he spoke, the boss, Hu Jiangshan, arrived.

Zhang Rui went up to greet him, while the other team members made way.

They were all very curious whether this renovated building was really a hotel.

Hu Jiangshan exchanged a few words with Zhang Rui, and then they walked over together.

Zhang Rui asked, “President Hu, what… what exactly is this place?”

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly. “Don’t be anxious. We’ll know once we go inside and take a look.”

Hu Jiangshan walked up to the courtyard gate, reached out, and pressed a button on the access control panel next to it.

With a soft sound, the gate opened automatically.

Hu Jiangshan walked in. Zhang Rui hesitated for a moment before following him.

The others hurried to keep up, afraid of being left behind.

The courtyard was indeed very large. On both sides of the stone-paved path, there was a mix of tall and short tropical plants.

Further ahead, there was a small pond.

The pond was filled with seawater, so clear you could see the bottom. You could see corals and various mollusks on the ocean floor.

Ocean fish, shrimp, crabs, and all sorts of shellfish could be found.

This scene even stunned Hu Jiangshan.

This wasn’t here before. How was this done?

The others gasped in amazement when they saw it, looking as if they’d never seen anything like it before.

Hu Jiangshan cleared his throat lightly and continued walking, crossing a small wooden bridge to the building’s entrance.

He had to admit, it was a quintessential island resort style.

Before him was a semi-open plaza area with a very high roof.

The plaza had more than a dozen sets of wooden tables and chairs, and there was a bar counter to the side.

So that’s what it was. This was a refreshment bar.

Hu Jiangshan couldn’t help but marvel. Was this really an office building? It hadn’t actually been turned into a hotel, had it?

Past the bar was the main entrance to the primary building.

Hu Jiangshan opened it using the access control panel and walked inside.

Wow, the interior was also fully decorated, completely furnished with all sorts of amenities.

Presumably sensing that someone had entered, the central air conditioning turned on automatically.

This was indeed an office building, just not the usual, conventional kind.

The structure and layout of the offices were irregular, following a natural style.

There were also many tropical plants indoors, and you could even smell the fragrance of flowers.

The windows were large with excellent views, allowing one to see the blue sky, white clouds, and the greenery in the courtyard at any time.

One side even had a sea view.

Workstation areas, conference rooms, restrooms, a pantry—it had everything it was supposed to have.

The view from the second floor was, of course, even better. The executive offices and the boss’s office were all located on this floor.

It was worth mentioning that the boss’s office was the largest. The layout was also very well-planned, and the sofa was especially comfortable.

Oh, and there was even a coffee machine.

The boss’s treatment was truly different; luxury was evident everywhere.

Hu Jiangshan suddenly thought that spending a night here occasionally wouldn’t be a hardship at all.

Hu Jiangshan went back down to the first floor and saw that Zhang Rui and the others were all dumbstruck.

Wide-eyed and speechless.

Zhang Rui couldn’t help but ask, “President Hu, is this… an office building?”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “Yes, our office building. We can work here from now on.”

When the other team members heard this, they all cheered excitedly.

Even Zhang Rui’s face lit up with delight.

Before, whether they were working or holding meetings, they even ate and slept in the factory building.

To be honest, although the team members were all researchers who could endure hardship, the conditions were indeed a bit poor.

Now that they had an office building, work would be much more comfortable.

Besides, this place wasn’t far from the cave factory. It was just a few minutes’ walk, so it wasn’t inconvenient.

Chapter 35: The Bank Comes Calling

Hu Jiangshan had also noted that the walk from the office building to the factory was only about five or six minutes.

When conditions allowed in the future, he could purchase a few electric shuttle buses to make commuting even more convenient.

Hu Jiangshan felt a slight pang of regret; such a well-equipped office building actually lacked an employee cafeteria, having only a small wet bar.

But on second thought, he realized the office building was simply too small to accommodate a dining hall.

The current setup was quite good, though. The breakroom was equipped with an all-in-one microwave, an induction cooker, a coffee machine, a water dispenser, a refrigerator, and more. This was already sufficient for light meals.

The employees were thrilled; their work environment had improved by leaps and bounds.

Something suddenly occurred to Hu Jiangshan, and he asked Zhang Rui, “By the way, another matter. How many people are on the team now?”

Zhang Rui replied, “Including me, there are sixteen of us in total.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “Is confidentiality under control?”

“President Hu, rest assured, we’ve all signed the strictest non-disclosure agreements, and we even had them notarized by a law firm. There will definitely be no problems.”

“Good. The situation is very complex right now, so don’t let your guard down on this front.”

Zhang Rui nodded solemnly. As someone in the semiconductor industry, he naturally understood the gravity of the matter.

“President Hu, I’ll go emphasize it with the team members again to make sure it’s foolproof.”

Hu Jiangshan patted Zhang Rui on the shoulder and let him get back to his work.

Hu Jiangshan took another tour around the island, inspecting the seawater desalination facility and the tidal power station before returning to The Seahorse.

The weather was hot today, a sensation that was especially intense on the island.

But then again, the sunlit surface of the sea was a mixture of blue and green, as beautiful as jade.

Hu Jiangshan went to the three-hundred-and-sixty-degree panoramic lounge on the second deck, took a can of iced Coke from the refrigerator, and sat down to enjoy the sea view while sipping his cold drink.

He had to admit, this kind of life was truly amazing. No wonder the rich guys all loved taking their yachts out to sea.

Of course, the pleasure of a yacht wasn’t just about admiring the seascape, but about the girls on board.

Someone like Hu Jiangshan, going out to sea alone, was a total oddball.

But then, Hu Jiangshan wasn’t out here to have fun.

Just then, his cell phone rang.

Seeing the caller ID, Hu Jiangshan paused for a moment.

The call was from Manager Liu of Hong Kong Island Bank.

Manager Liu was Hu Jiangshan’s loan manager, and a call from him at this time was hardly a good sign.

Calculating the days, he realized the first repayment date must be fast approaching.

Damn it, did they have to make the phone signal out here so good? Full bars.

Hu Jiangshan answered the phone with a sense of resignation.

“Hello, Manager Liu.”

Manager Liu asked with a laugh, “President Hu, do you have a moment to talk?”

Hu Jiangshan thought, I really want to say no, but what came out was, “I do. Please, go ahead.”

Manager Liu chuckled and said, “President Hu, you see, the quarter is almost over. You’d best prepare the first payment in advance.”

Hu Jiangshan asked, “When is the repayment date?”

Manager Liu replied, “It’s in exactly ten days.”

Hu Jiangshan grunted in acknowledgment. “Manager Liu, your reminder is quite timely.”

“It’s my duty, President Hu. I have to provide you with the best service,” Manager Liu said.

“In that case, please help me confirm the amount,” Hu Jiangshan said.

“Of course, President Hu. For the first payment, including principal and interest, you’ll need to repay eight point five million Hong Kong dollars.”

“Alright, I understand.”

“By the way, President Hu,” Manager Liu added, “you’ll need to deposit the full amount into the account at least one day in advance. Please don’t be late, or it could become very troublesome.”

“Alright, I know,” Hu Jiangshan said flatly.

After hanging up, Hu Jiangshan immediately checked his bank account.

He had been spending money like water recently, and he now had only a little over six million left.

With payday just around the corner, his actual available funds were less than six million Hong Kong dollars.

A headache began to set in for Hu Jiangshan.

He had to repay eight point five million Hong Kong dollars in ten days. Where was he supposed to get that kind of money?

He had only ten million Hong Kong dollars to begin with, and with money only going out and none coming in, things were indeed tight.

If Hu Jiangshan really couldn’t come up with the money, his only option was to go begging to his grandfather.

Hu Yingxiang, his grandfather, had told him before that if he was short on cash, he could ask him for it.

But Hu Jiangshan was unwilling to do so. It was embarrassing and utterly shameful.

Besides, if he asked Hu Yingxiang for money, he’d have to give a reason. What was he doing with so much cash?

Hu Jiangshan hadn’t yet decided whether to bring this matter up with Hu Yingxiang.

Hu Yingxiang was certainly reliable, but Hu Jiangshan couldn’t explain how he had suddenly managed to acquire an advanced semiconductor production line.

He couldn’t very well say he was a soul transmigrator who had conveniently merged with his precious grandson. The shock might just send his grandfather straight to the afterlife.

Hu Jiangshan mulled it over and decided to play it by ear.

Still, he had to keep his grandfather as a last resort. Otherwise, if he couldn’t make the payment, he might be in serious trouble.

The next day, in Kowloon, Hong Kong, at the Golden Dragon Tea Restaurant.

This particular tea restaurant was very high-end, with prices much steeper than its ordinary counterparts, yet it was often full, with business booming.

The private rooms at the Golden Dragon Tea Restaurant were remarkably expensive, especially the tiny ones by the window, which came with an exorbitant service fee.

Li Changxi was seated in one such window-side room, gazing outside.

Across the street was the TVB office building, Hong Kong Island’s famous television station.

Li Changxi was here for one person: Shen Lan.

It was no secret that Li Changxi was pursuing Shen Lan.

In Hong Kong Island’s rich guy circle, who didn’t have their eyes on Shen Lan?

Shen Lan was the daughter of the glamorous actress Qiu Xuezhen, having perfectly inherited her mother’s beauty and charisma.

Li Changxi was the most serious about this pursuit. Having received word that Shen Lan would be at TVB’s headquarters today, he had come early to stake out the place.

But so far, there had been no sign of her.

No matter. He, Li Changxi, had all the time in the world.

Just then, the phone on the table rang.

[Caller ID: Shun Zai]

Shun Zai used to be a street punk but was doing quite well for himself now.

The man was well-informed, knew people from all walks of life, and was very resourceful.

Li Changxi often gathered information from Shun Zai, and of course, he compensated him generously.

Li Changxi answered the phone, and Shun Zai’s somewhat shrill voice came through from the other end.

“Hey, Young Master Li, is it a good time to talk?”

Li Changxi took a sip of his coffee. “Yeah, go ahead.”

“Young Master Li,” Shun Zai said, “you asked me to keep an eye on Hu Jiangshan last time. I just got some news about him.”

Li Changxi’s expression shifted, and he immediately asked, “What news?”

Shun Zai answered, “I heard Hu Jiangshan took out a loan from the bank. A pretty big one.”

Li Changxi was stunned. “A loan? Hu Jiangshan took out a bank loan?”

“That’s right.”

“How much did he borrow?”

“Should be thirty million.”

“Hong Kong dollars?”

“Yep.”

Li Changxi was bewildered. What would Hu Jiangshan need thirty million Hong Kong dollars for?

Chapter 36: The Chip Test Results Are Almost In

Li Changxi frowned and asked, “He hasn’t taken a fancy to some luxury car, has he?”

Shun Zai replied, “Doesn’t look like it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I heard that Hu Jiangshan has either been staying in his apartment for a day or two without going out, or he leaves early and comes back late. He seems really busy, like he’s doing something serious.”

Li Changxi realized he didn’t quite understand Hu Jiangshan anymore.

Hu Jiangshan’s recent behavior was very strange and confusing.

What would an ignorant and incompetent prodigal son like Hu Jiangshan, a guy who couldn’t do anything right and was a master of embarrassing himself, want with thirty million Hong Kong dollars?

The key thing was, the guy was even willing to take out a loan.

Why not ask his family?

No matter how much the Hu family had declined, thirty million Hong Kong dollars was still nothing to them.

The real question was, what exactly was Hu Jiangshan doing with all this money?

Li Changxi asked, “Can’t you find out what he’s doing?”

Shun Zai said, “I haven’t been able to find out yet. It seems Hu Jiangshan hasn’t told anyone. He’s always alone when he goes out.”

When Li Changxi heard this, he immediately felt that something was fishy.

Li Changxi said, “Alright then, Shun Zai. Keep investigating for me. Don’t worry about the money; I’m not afraid to spend it.”

Shun Zai agreed, “Okay, Young Master Li. I’ll definitely find out!”

After hanging up, Li Changxi fell into deep thought.

Whatever Hu Jiangshan was doing was likely significant; otherwise, he wouldn’t be so secretive.

Li Changxi felt it was necessary to mention this to his grandfather, Superman Li.

No, I’d better investigate it clearly first, to avoid making a blunder and leaving a bad impression on my grandfather.

Li Changxi mulled it over but couldn’t make sense of it. Lost in thought, he missed his chance to run into Shen Lan.

Two days later, Guangzhou-Shenzhen City, Huayao headquarters.

Wang Chengdong had been on edge for the past two days, unable to concentrate even during meetings.

Now in his office, Wang Chengdong was no better. He couldn’t sit still, pacing back and forth, which left his assistant, Xiao Zhou, dumbfounded.

Xiao Zhou asked, “CEO Wang, are you alright?”

Wang Chengdong waved his hand. “I’m fine.”

Just as Xiao Zhou was about to leave, Wang Chengdong asked again, “By the way, has the testing department sent any emails?”

“No.”

A look of disappointment crossed Wang Chengdong’s face as he told Xiao Zhou to get back to work.

Right now, what Wang Chengdong wanted most was news from the testing department.

The chips and wafers sent by the semiconductor company introduced by the Huo family were currently being tested. It had been several days, but there were no results yet.

Wang Chengdong really couldn’t sit still; he was dying to know the test results.

Although Wang Chengdong knew that an ordinary semiconductor manufacturing company definitely couldn’t meet Huayao’s needs, and that it was theoretically impossible for them to produce ten-nanometer or even sub-fourteen-nanometer chips.

But those chip samples at least looked the part, and the packaging level was very high.

In the current situation, even if there was just a sliver of hope, Wang Chengdong didn’t want to give up.

What if a miracle happened?

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Wang Chengdong quickly said, “Come in.”

Xu Zhijun opened the door and came in.

Upon seeing him, Wang Chengdong quickly gestured for Xu Zhijun to sit.

“Young CEO Xu, is there news from the testing department?”

Xu Zhijun was taken aback for a moment. “No news. Get me a coffee, iced.”

Wang Chengdong asked, “It’s been several days and still no news? Did they run into trouble?”

Xu Zhijun waved his hand. “How could they? You know as well as I do that it takes about a week to run the full set of tests. It hasn’t been that long yet.”

“That may be, but Zhou Hua is very efficient.”

“No matter how efficient he is, the man has to sleep.”

Wang Chengdong was about to say more, but Xu Zhijun cut him off. “Alright, Old Wang, just get me that iced coffee first.”

Wang Chengdong said, “Oh,” and went to get Xu Zhijun a cup of coffee.

Wang Chengdong asked, “Young CEO Xu, what are you here for?”

Xu Zhijun said, “To drink coffee.”

Wang Chengdong’s eyes widened. Xu Zhijun must be crazy; this wasn’t a coffee shop.

Then, Wang Chengdong realized.

Xu Zhijun probably couldn’t sit still either, so he had come over to chat and soothe his own restless heart.

“Young CEO Xu, you’re really good at pretending.”

Xu Zhijun raised an eyebrow. “Pretending what? Old Wang, what’s wrong with me coming here for a coffee? Why are you being so hostile!”

After their banter, they started talking seriously.

“Young CEO Xu, what do you think are the chances of this chip passing the tests?”

Xu Zhijun sighed. “Let’s not get our hopes up. Thinking rationally, it’s impossible for it to pass.”

Huayao’s chip testing standards were among the strictest in the world, especially for advanced chips, which were even more demanding.

If the submitted chip samples were sub-ten-nanometer, they would have to be tested against this standard. The chances of passing, while not zero, were close to it.

After hearing Xu Zhijun’s words, Wang Chengdong did calm down.

The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.

You can’t just grasp at straws. Otherwise, you’ll be devastated when that hope is shattered.

The two changed the subject and started talking about other things.

Just then, the internal line on his desk phone rang.

Wang Chengdong paused for a moment, then stood up to answer the phone.

“Hello? Yes, this is he. Who is this?… Zhou Hua!?”

Xu Zhijun was just about to pour the last mouthful of iced coffee from his cup into his mouth when he heard “Zhou Hua.” The coffee missed and spilled onto his shirt.

Annoyed, Xu Zhijun wiped the coffee off his shirt while looking at Wang Chengdong.

Then, Wang Chengdong’s eyes widened so much they looked like they were about to pop out.

“What? The test results are about to come out?”

Hearing Wang Chengdong’s words, Xu Zhijun shot to his feet with a swoosh.

Wang Chengdong hung up the phone and pulled Xu Zhijun out the door.

Obviously, they were heading to the testing department.

Wang Chengdong said, “Zhou Hua said the entire testing process is complete.”

Xu Zhijun exclaimed, “That was fast. Zhou Hua’s efficiency is no joke.”

After the full testing process for a chip is completed, the final performance parameters are generated, allowing for a direct view of the chip’s various capabilities.

Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun wouldn’t miss a moment like this.

The two of them rushed to the testing department, taking long strides.

For security reasons, Zhou Hua had requested a special testing room.

When they opened the door and went in, Zhou Hua was staring at the screen, his expression tense.

Wang Chengdong asked, “How is it?”

Zhou Hua pointed at the progress bar and said, “We’ll see in a moment.”

The progress bar was already at ninety-nine percent.

Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun both took a deep breath in unison, feeling the tension rise.

Although they had just been telling each other not to get their hopes up, with the results just moments away, it was hard not to feel nervous.

Just then, the progress bar changed.

[Testing Progress: 100%]

[Generating Test Results, Please Wait…]

Soon, the first value appeared.

Chapter 37: This Chip is Bizarre

The first value was the clock speed, which actually exceeded 2.6 GHz.

Of course, that value wasn’t too exaggerated, but when the second value—the power efficiency ratio—came out, all three of them were stunned.

This power efficiency was incredible, at a top-tier level, even surpassing most mainstream seven-nanometer mobile processor chips and outperforming Gaoxin’s current flagship model.

A high clock speed isn’t scary. What’s scary is a high clock speed that’s also very power-efficient.

It was important to understand that this also meant low heat generation and greater stability.

This indicated that the processor was of a very high caliber.

Before the three could even react, a series of values was generated one after another.

Maximum power consumption, low-power comprehensive performance, maximum power comprehensive performance, single-core CPU computing power, multi-core CPU computing power…

They examined each value one by one, completely dumbfounded.

Every single metric was impressive. While not unbelievably good, when taken as a whole, it was indeed a remarkably powerful chip.

Wang Chengdong’s lips trembled, and it took him a long while to say, “Th-this… how is this possible? This chip’s performance is so strong?”

Xu Zhijun didn’t know as much about chips as Wang Chengdong, so he asked, “This… what level is this exactly? How strong is it?”

Wang Chengdong thought for a moment and said, “If these numbers are correct, then this chip’s performance isn’t much weaker than our Kirin 990.”

Xu Zhijun’s eyes looked as if they were about to pop out of their sockets.

It was important to remember that the Kirin 990 was Huayao’s current flagship chip, arguably the world’s best mobile chip on the seven-nanometer process.

And this unknown chip before them was nearly on that level.

Next, the architecture evaluation results came out.

Eight cores.

That’s right, an octa-core CPU.

Three big cores, three medium cores, and two small cores…

Wang Chengdong practically pressed his face against the screen. After staring for a while, he said, “An octa-core CPU… it must be sub-ten-nanometer.”

Xu Zhijun looked utterly baffled.

It was hard to believe, simply incredible.

The quality of this chip was beyond imagination.

Just then, Zhou Hua pointed at the screen and said, “CEO Wang, Young CEO Xu, look! This chip also integrates an NPU and a GPU. The design is very advanced.”

This was a lot of information to take in.

A good CPU design alone wasn’t enough. Without excellent manufacturing technology, it was impossible to bring the design to life.

Xu Zhijun immediately asked, “What’s the model of this CPU? Is there a model identifier?”

Zhou Hua tapped on the keyboard and brought up another information list.

“It has a model identifier,” Zhou Hua said. “It’s called… JS01.”

Xu Zhijun and Wang Chengdong glanced at each other, confused.

“Zhou Hua, have you seen information on this CPU before?”

Wang Chengdong understood what Xu Zhijun was implying.

Xu Zhijun suspected that this CPU wasn’t made by that semiconductor manufacturing plant at all, but was instead a CPU bought from another manufacturer and sent over as a sample.

Actually, thinking about it calmly, this was highly possible. They certainly had a motive to do so.

After all, if you’re going to put on an act, you have to go all the way.

But such a trick would be easily seen through.

As a high-tech product manufacturer, Huayao used countless chips and had encountered many different chip designs. They had established an IC database, into which every chip they ever came across was entered.

It could be said that most chips that had ever appeared on the market could be found in their IC database, or at the very least, a similar design could be found.

Operating the keyboard, Zhou Hua began to search the IC database for an IC design that matched, or was similar to, this mysterious chip.

One minute, two minutes, three minutes…

Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun stared at the screen, not daring to breathe.

To be honest, their feelings were very complicated right now.

On one hand, they found it hard to believe that this semiconductor company could really create such an advanced chip.

On the other hand, they were worried that a match would be found, proving the chip was purchased from elsewhere and leaving them sorely disappointed.

Time ticked by, second by second. None of the three spoke, merely watching the changes on the screen with nervous tension. The air seemed to have frozen.

A few moments later, a message finally appeared on the screen.

[Search complete. No matching IC designs found.]

Zhou Hua was so stunned he momentarily forgot to report his findings.

In truth, there was no need for him to report. Xu Zhijun and Wang Chengdong had seen it clearly.

The two men looked at each other, speechless.

Wang Chengdong was getting excited. “It seems… it seems it really is their own work.”

Xu Zhijun remained relatively calm. “Could it be an unreleased chip from another company? That would explain why we’ve never encountered it.”

“This chip’s design is extremely sophisticated,” Zhou Hua said. “It would be a pity if it wasn’t mass-produced and sold.”

Wang Chengdong immediately asked, “What about the architecture? What is this chip’s architecture? Is it ARM?”

As everyone knew, mobile chip architecture was now basically all ARM.

Zhou Hua quickly tapped the keyboard, pulling up another page that displayed the chip’s architecture information.

Amidst a jumble of code, Zhou Hua studied it for a long time before shaking his head. “It doesn’t seem to be ARM’s reference architecture.”

“Not ARM? Then what could it be?”

“Look here…”

Zhou Hua pointed at the screen. “It says JS. That must be the codename for the chip’s architecture.”

“…JS again. What on earth does JS stand for?”

The three looked at each other, clueless, of course.

In truth, JS was the initialism for ‘Jiangshan’.

This chip was designed by Hu Jiangshan himself, and the architecture was one he had written in his previous life. It wasn’t exactly perfect—just a test version.

But even as a test version, in this era, it was already quite a contender, at least no worse than ARM’s reference architecture.

That was why the performance displayed by this chip had so thoroughly shocked the three men present.

Zhou Hua said, “I can confirm this is a seven-nanometer CPU chip with performance at a first-class flagship level. However, because of its unique architecture, its compatibility with mainstream apps probably won’t be very good.”

Wang Chengdong rubbed his face, as if to calm himself down.

He said to Zhou Hua, “You continue the tests. It would be best to run it on a development board for a practical test. Also, study the chip’s architecture and compatibility further to see if the compatibility is really poor.”

Zhou Hua nodded. “Okay, that’s what I was planning to do.”

“If you find any problems, notify me and Young CEO Xu immediately.”

“Understood. I’ll be sure to report any issues right away.”

A little later, Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun walked out.

Instead of going back to their offices immediately, they found a quiet spot to whisper.

Xu Zhijun looked suspicious. “Old Wang, do you think this is reliable?”

“The test results don’t lie, Young CEO Xu,” Wang Chengdong said.

“But how is this possible? Besides Island Foundry, Samsang, and Intel, there’s a fourth company that can make seven-nanometer process chips?”

“Well… they did make it. You can’t deny that, can you?”

Xu Zhijun gave a wry smile. “I truly want to admit it, but there are too many suspicious points. We can’t believe it so easily. In our current situation, we can’t afford to make a mistake.”

Wang Chengdong also knew the matter was of great importance and that they definitely couldn’t jump to conclusions.

The test results were ideal, but the more ideal they were, the more unsettling it felt.

Wang Chengdong asked, “By the way, Young CEO Xu, weren’t you going to ask the Huo family for that company’s name? Did you find out?”

Xu Zhijun shook his head. “The Huo family said the situation is a bit complicated. The other party doesn’t want to expose their company’s information.”

“What? They don’t want to be exposed?”

A thought suddenly struck Wang Chengdong, and he said, “It’s normal that they don’t want to be exposed. If they were, they might get taken out.”

Xu Zhijun nodded.

“But if we can’t contact them, how can we cooperate?”

“There is a way. We need to contact one person.”

Chapter 38: Huayao Has Finally Run Out of Options

Meanwhile, Hu Jiangshan was still holed up in his apartment, studying the various data from the semiconductor production line’s trial run.

The team Zhang Rui had assembled was excellent, so there weren’t many problems, and no obvious errors.

But this also made the game of “spot the problem” very difficult. At the very least, Hu Jiangshan couldn’t stay idle and joined in the bug hunt.

Hu Jiangshan’s skill was the real deal—not only surpassing the team’s level but also significantly higher than Zhang Rui’s.

Hu Jiangshan identified several problematic data points, as well as some that were merely suspicious. He compiled them into a spreadsheet, categorized them by priority, and emailed it to Zhang Rui.

With that done, Hu Jiangshan finally had some free time. He poured himself a cup of coffee, sat on the balcony, and browsed the news on his phone.

He had been making time to follow online news recently to accurately track the progress of events.

Although Hu Jiangshan had already lived through this once, some events had indeed changed—some happening earlier, others later. This was the so-called butterfly effect.

From what Hu Jiangshan could tell, many major events had been moved forward.

This meant that things were becoming increasingly urgent.

Hu Jiangshan opened a microblogging app and immediately saw an important piece of news.

It was posted by a news media outlet.

…

It was strange. At a time like this, Huayao still hadn’t contacted him. It seemed Huayao’s management was even more cautious than he had imagined.

However, Hu Jiangshan had already anticipated this possibility, so he had enough patience to wait for them to come knocking.

Hu Jiangshan then glanced at the comments under the news article.

As expected, the atmosphere was far from positive.

Many comments about the fate Huayao was about to face were pessimistic. There were even quite a few gloating over their misfortune, as if Huayao was already a company with no future.

Of course, there were also many netizens who supported Huayao and were fighting back fiercely in the comments section, but they were still in the minority.

Other tech bloggers also chimed in with related topics.

【The Hammer Finally Drops, Huayao Fails to Dodge】

【A Discussion on How Huayao Can Break the Deadlock—Prospects Look Bleak】

【Huayao’s Plight is a Cautionary Tale】

Not a single one of these tech bloggers believed Huayao could find a way to break through the siege.

They believed no one could help Huayao and could only watch as the tech giant slowly faded away.

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly. No need to rush; this situation shouldn’t last too long.

Hu Jiangshan checked the news headlines as well, but it was more of the same, nothing new.

He decided it wasn’t interesting and stopped looking. He changed his clothes, left the apartment, and headed for the Pak Sha Wan Yacht Club marina. He took The Seahorse out to General’s Island again.

He wondered how the office building was coming along. Zhang Rui and the team should have officially moved in today.

When Hu Jiangshan arrived on the island, it truly felt different, filled with life.

Although there was only one new office building, its full-on island resort style added a great deal of charm to the island.

Hu Jiangshan suddenly began to wonder, would it feel even better if all the buildings on the island adopted this style?

He wondered if the Technology Engine App supported such a modification.

Hu Jiangshan glanced at his phone screen. No new notifications.

Forget it. He would think about it if the option became available in the future.

After looking around, Hu Jiangshan learned that this office building, which looked like a resort hotel on the outside, was indeed very smart.

Access control, lighting, and air conditioning were almost all intelligently controlled.

Even the glass on the doors and windows could freely adjust its transparency, blocking ninety-nine percent of heat and UV rays, making curtains unnecessary.

Inside the office building, there were even cleaning robots at work, saving the need for janitorial staff.

Zhang Rui and his team members had already moved into the new office building.

Some were working at their desks, while others were in a conference room discussing matters.

Although there weren’t many people, it was enough to make the office building look the part.

Hu Jiangshan searched for a while but couldn’t find Zhang Rui. He asked an employee and learned that Zhang Rui had gone to eat.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “Where is Dr. Zhang eating?”

“In the basement.”

“Huh? The basement?”

He hadn’t realized the office building had basement levels—two of them, in fact. He hadn’t noticed during the final inspection.

Hu Jiangshan found the stairs and walked down.

He hadn’t expected it to be a whole different world down here. The area was even larger than the first and second floors, and it had a skylight, providing excellent lighting without any feeling of dampness.

Hu Jiangshan spotted Zhang Rui at a glance. He was eating instant noodles.

It seemed Zhang Rui was truly too busy to eat at a normal time and could only grab a quick bite when he had a spare moment.

As Hu Jiangshan walked over, he saw something that stunned him.

Wow, there was an aquarium in the basement.

No, it was more like a massive saltwater tank.

This had to be the seawater pool from the courtyard. Its side was enclosed with glass, forming a natural saltwater tank that was perfectly visible from the first basement level, offering a panoramic view of the pool.

Colorful corals and the soft anemones on them vied with each other in splendor, creating a dazzling display.

Sea fish of all sizes swam to and fro among the coral.

It was a dreamlike scene, utterly beautiful.

Upon closer inspection, Hu Jiangshan noticed a hole at the bottom of the pool. Now and then, new sea fish would emerge from it. It must be a passage leading to the open sea.

What an ingenious design.

It was a natural saltwater tank, and it was maintenance-free.

No wonder Zhang Rui was eating here. He could relieve his fatigue and refresh his mind and body just by glancing at the beautiful underwater scenery while he ate.

Seeing Hu Jiangshan approach, Zhang Rui hastily stood up to greet him.

“President Hu.”

Hu Jiangshan waved his hand and said, “Go on, finish your meal.”

Hu Jiangshan sat down and started discussing the next phase of the work plan with Zhang Rui.

After chatting for a while, the plan was basically clear.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “Are there any other problems, Dr. Zhang?”

Zhang Rui opened his mouth, but then hesitated.

Hu Jiangshan said with a smile, “Dr. Zhang, if you have something to say, just say it. It’s fine.”

Zhang Rui said, “President Hu, our semiconductor production line is extremely powerful. I believe it can manufacture the most advanced chips, but right now, we don’t have any clients…”

Hu Jiangshan understood what Zhang Rui meant. He was worried they had no clients, and the capabilities of this super semiconductor production line would be wasted, rendering the team’s efforts futile.

Hu Jiangshan could sympathize with their feelings.

In his previous life, as a top scientist, Hu Jiangshan had also worried that after all his hard work, his research findings would go unapplied, or that he would lose a bid, rendering everything a waste.

These are all very disheartening outcomes.

Chapter 39: Miles Ahead, and a Call from Wang Chengdong

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly. “Don’t worry, we should have a client very soon.”

Hearing this, Zhang Rui couldn’t help but ask, “President Hu, who will our client be?”

“You’ll know when the time comes.”

Hu Jiangshan didn’t want to tell Zhang Rui and the others just yet.

Of course, with their intelligence, Zhang Rui and the others could probably make a very accurate guess.

That said, Hu Jiangshan couldn’t say he wasn’t anxious.

He needed money. If he couldn’t find a client, there would be no income. With money only going out and none coming in, he’d be burning through his savings and would go bust sooner or later.

After discussing business, Hu Jiangshan went back to admiring the enormous saltwater tank.

He had to admit, the thing was truly captivating. He had no idea how the Technology Engine App had managed such a complex piece of engineering.

Just then, Hu Jiangshan’s phone rang.

It was an unfamiliar number from Guangzhou-Shenzhen City in mainland China.

Hu Jiangshan’s heart skipped a beat. They’re finally here!

Huayao was in Guangzhou-Shenzhen City, so the call was most likely from someone there. He just didn’t know who.

Hu Jiangshan excused himself to Zhang Rui and walked a short distance away.

He answered the call, and a deep voice came from the other end.

“Hello, is this Mr. Hu?”

It sounded like a middle-aged man, around forty or fifty, and his heavily accented Mandarin sounded very familiar.

A peculiar voice echoed in Hu Jiangshan’s mind.

“Leading by a mile, leading by a mile, we continue to lead, staying ahead of the competition…”

Alright, it was confirmed. The person on the other end was the big shot from Huayao—Wang Chengdong.

But for now, Hu Jiangshan had to pretend he didn’t know him.

“Hello, this is he. Who’s calling?”

“I’m Manager Wang from Huayao.”

Hu Jiangshan found it rather amusing. Wang Chengdong calling himself Manager Wang—how many ranks had he demoted himself by?

“Hello, hello. What can I do for you?”

“It’s like this. I was told you have a friend who runs a semiconductor company that can fabricate wafers and chips?”

“Yes, I do have a friend in that line of work.”

Wang Chengdong paused for a moment, then got straight to the point. “I have an IC design for a chip here, and I’d like to ask your friend to help with the prototype fabrication.”

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly, a sense of relief washing over him.

“Certainly. Send it to my email address, and I’ll forward it to my friend.”

Wang Chengdong agreed. “By the way, what’s the turnaround time for the prototype fabrication? Please ask your friend for me.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Hu Jiangshan replied, “About three days.”

“…Wh-what?! Three days?!”

Wang Chengdong seemed utterly shocked on the other end; his jaw had probably hit the floor.

This was a perfectly normal reaction. After all, prototype fabrication was an incredibly tedious and complex process.

Even for a major player like Island Foundry, it usually took one or two months just to prepare.

If things didn’t go smoothly, it could take three or four months, or even half a year, to complete the fabrication.

For Hu Jiangshan to say three days right off the bat was obviously against all common sense.

Sure enough, Wang Chengdong said, “Mr. Hu, you must be joking, right? You’d better ask your friend. Prototype fabrication is no simple matter.”

Hu Jiangshan replied, “I told you that after asking my friend.”

“Huh? You asked him in advance?”

“Yes, in advance. Manager… Manager Wang, don’t worry. If we can’t do it, it’s no great loss for you.”

“Well… there would be some loss.”

Hu Jiangshan said with a laugh, “It’s not that difficult to get your hands on Huayao’s chip IC designs. Anyone willing to spend enough money can find them on the dark web. Unless, of course, it’s a chip you’re still developing, but you wouldn’t send me something like that. Am I right, Manager Wang?”

Hu Jiangshan’s words left Wang Chengdong stunned.

That was incredibly blunt, but what Hu Jiangshan said was also quite logical and persuasive.

Wang Chengdong said, “Alright, I’ll have someone send it to you right away. Please tell your friend to arrange for the prototype fabrication as soon as possible.”

“No problem.”

Hu Jiangshan could hear the anxiety in Wang Chengdong’s voice. It was clear that the situation was developing rapidly and was not in Huayao’s favor.

On the other hand, Huayao probably wasn’t pinning much hope on Hu Jiangshan’s side. They were likely treating it as a last-ditch effort, just giving it a shot.

Wang Chengdong seemed to have made up his mind. After exchanging a few more words with Hu Jiangshan, he hung up.

A few minutes later, Hu Jiangshan received an email.

It was the complete set of IC design schematics for a chip.

Hu Jiangshan glanced at it. It was Huayao’s Kirin 990.

The Kirin 990 was a seven-nanometer mobile processor chip with a very high-level design, used in Huayao’s flagship smartphones and tablets.

This surprised Hu Jiangshan. He hadn’t expected Wang Chengdong to send over the IC design for such an important processor.

But on second thought, it made sense. If Hu Jiangshan’s side could handle even the Kirin 990, it would prove they could fully meet Huayao’s needs.

Hu Jiangshan forwarded the email to Zhang Rui’s inbox, then walked back to him and said, “Dr. Zhang, we need to change our work plan.”

Zhang Rui was stunned. “Huh?”

Hu Jiangshan explained, “I’ve received a new chip IC design and have already forwarded it to you. I need you and your team to start the prototype fabrication for this chip immediately. Be efficient—try to finish it within two days.”

Looking skeptical, Zhang Rui quickly took out his phone, opened his email, and checked for the new message.

A moment later, a sharp light flickered in Zhang Rui’s eyes. He murmured in a low voice, “Is this… a Kirin chip?”

Hu Jiangshan was quite surprised. The IC design didn’t include the chip’s commercial name, only its internal codename.

For Zhang Rui to identify it as a Kirin chip just by looking at the requirement parameters, his skill was indeed at a very high level.

“Yes, it’s a Kirin chip. Dr. Zhang, make sure this IC design doesn’t get leaked.”

Zhang Rui nodded solemnly, his excitement clearly visible.

What did this mean? It meant they were very likely going to collaborate with Huayao.

For a top-tier semiconductor expert, the chance to disrupt the semiconductor landscape on Blue Star was a powerful motivator.

Zhang Rui immediately rubbed his hands together, eager to dive into the work right away.

Meanwhile, in Guangzhou-Shenzhen City, at the Huayao headquarters, inside Wang Chengdong’s office.

Xu Zhijun had once again come to Wang Chengdong’s office to discuss matters and, while he was at it, get some free coffee.

Xu Zhijun asked, “Old Wang, did you have someone send the Kirin 990 IC design over?”

“Yes, I sent it.”

Xu Zhijun nodded.

Xu Zhijun and Wang Chengdong had already discussed this beforehand.

Although they had their reservations, in the current situation, they couldn’t afford to be too cautious.

They had to explore every possible avenue. As long as there was a sliver of hope, they had to try.

Logically, a highly advanced semiconductor manufacturing company shouldn’t just appear on Hong Kong Island, but what if a miracle happened?

No one could say for sure.

Xu Zhijun asked, “So, when can the prototype fabrication be completed? Did they give you a timeframe?”

Wang Chengdong hesitated for a moment before answering, “They said it could be done in three days.”

“Pfft!”

Xu Zhijun nearly spat out the coffee in his mouth and even jumped up from the sofa.

Chapter 40: Even a Hero Can Be Defeated by a Single Penny

“What’s going on? Prototype fabrication completed in three days? Isn’t that some kind of international joke?”

Wang Chengdong said with a wry smile, “The other party was very certain.”

Xu Zhijun thought for a moment, then said suddenly, “By the way, I heard that this Mr. Hu is from the Hu family.”

“From the Hu family? The Hu family of Hong Kong Island?”

“Yes.”

“Wow, that’s a big family, a tycoon family!”

Xu Zhijun continued, “I also heard he’s a young master who doesn’t do any honest work, just causes trouble everywhere. He has a terrible reputation on Hong Kong Island.”

“Hmm, a playboy?”

“Yes, yes, that’s exactly it.”

Wang Chengdong’s eyes widened. “Young CEO Xu, why didn’t you say so earlier? If he’s really a playboy, then he’s completely unreliable!”

Xu Zhijun sighed. “Forget it. Does it matter if this Mr. Hu is reliable or not? What’s crucial is whether his friend is reliable.”

At this, Wang Chengdong looked thoughtful. “But I don’t think he sounded like an ignorant and incompetent spendthrift.”

Xu Zhijun was stunned. “What? Old Wang, how do you know?”

“I don’t know for sure, of course, but when I spoke to him on the phone, he sounded quite meticulous. He spoke in a very organized way, not like someone who just makes things up.”

Xu Zhijun waved his hand dismissively. “Old Wang, no offense, but what can you really tell from a phone call? You’re not a living god.”

“That’s true. Anyway, all we can do now is take it one step at a time.”

Xu Zhijun sighed. “I hope our efforts lead to a good outcome.”

Meanwhile, on General’s Island, in the office building.

Hu Jiangshan and Zhang Rui found a multimedia conference room to go over the IC chip design schematics sent by Huayao.

After looking at the detailed IC schematics, they could basically confirm that it was indeed the Kirin seven-nanometer mobile processor.

Without a doubt, this was Huayao’s latest flagship chip—the Kirin 990.

This chip was destined for Huayao’s newest flagship phone, the Mate 30.

Just then, Zhang Rui noticed something amiss. Pointing at the computer screen, he said, “President Hu, do you see this? Isn’t this a design flaw?”

Hu Jiangshan leaned closer to the screen and nodded. It was indeed a design issue.

Although the problem was small, its impact was significant, causing the chip to overheat abnormally during operation.

Normally, Huayao’s semiconductor division, HiSilicon, had extensive design experience and shouldn’t make such a rudimentary mistake.

In Hu Jiangshan’s previous life, the Kirin 990 was a rather classic all-rounder chip, dubbed the “hexagon warrior” upon its release.

Hu Jiangshan understood at once. This wasn’t a design error from HiSilicon; it was a deliberate alteration made before the files were sent.

The purpose of this was obvious.

This small flaw was essentially a marker.

If Hu Jiangshan’s semiconductor production line was the real deal and capable of producing advanced chips, then this marker would be present.

If the marker was absent, it would prove that his prototype fabrication was a sham, and the resulting samples were bought from somewhere else.

Worthy of Huayao indeed. They were certainly cautious, using such a method to test their partner’s capabilities.

Zhang Rui asked, “Should we modify it?”

Hu Jiangshan said with a smile, “No need. That’s not our job. We’ll follow the schematics exactly and replicate the design one hundred percent.”

Zhang Rui nodded. “Understood, President Hu.”

After they finished with business, Hu Jiangshan started chatting casually with Zhang Rui.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “Dr. Zhang, are there any inconveniences or areas for improvement for the team working on the island?”

Zhang Rui thought for a moment and said, “Things are much better than they were a while ago. With this office building, the work environment feels excellent. The scenery is so nice, it helps us relax.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “That’s good. Are meals convenient?”

“We all bring our own lunches now, which is convenient enough. The only issue is when we work overtime, we have to send someone back to Hong Kong Island to buy food.”

Zhang Rui added, “But we have a workaround now. We just buy a lot of frozen food in advance, put it all in the freezer, and heat it up when we’re ready to eat.”

Hu Jiangshan thought to himself, It seems a cafeteria is still necessary.

With only a dozen or so people, they could make do, of course. But in the future, if the team grew, food would become a major problem.

Eating too much frozen and convenience food isn’t healthy.

Just then, Zhang Rui said, “Oh, right, President Hu, there’s one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“Shouldn’t we properly repair the roads on the island? The semiconductor production line requires a lot of raw materials. The goods delivered by cargo ships have to be transported from the dock to the factory entirely on dirt roads. It’s not a big deal when the volume of materials is small, but if we move into mass production later, the amount will increase, and it could become a significant problem.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “I understand. That is indeed a problem that needs to be solved.”

The two chatted a little longer before Zhang Rui went back to work.

Hu Jiangshan walked out of the office building and into the open air.

At that moment, the wind on General’s Island was strong, and the sun was quite harsh.

Hu Jiangshan mused that it would be nice if the island had more vegetation to block most of the sunlight and reduce the wind.

Then there was the issue Zhang Rui had mentioned: the island’s roads urgently needed to be fixed.

Right now, they were only doing small-scale trial production and prototype fabrication, so they weren’t using many raw materials. It was manageable.

If everything went smoothly, they would soon enter the mass production phase. The amount of materials required would be enormous, making the island’s transportation system crucial.

But building roads costs a lot of money, and Hu Jiangshan was broke!

He was already up to his eyeballs in debt.

The due date for the first loan payment was only a few days away.

If he didn’t have the money to pay it back, the bank wouldn’t do anything to him, of course—after all, he was a member of the Hu family—but it would be very embarrassing.

Even if Hu Jiangshan himself didn’t care about the embarrassment, he couldn’t disregard the Hu family’s reputation.

The bank had plenty of ways to spread all sorts of news in the business world, and the Hu family would become a laughingstock.

Hu Jiangshan walked along the dirt road all the way to the dock.

He had a massive headache. He really wanted to get this road fixed, at least pave it with asphalt.

But he couldn’t afford it right now.

It was true that even a hero could be defeated by a single penny, and even the cleverest housewife can’t cook a meal without rice.

In his previous life, Hu Jiangshan had been a top scientist with access to all sorts of sponsorships and research funds. He had never once had to worry about money.

And now, he had been reborn into a tycoon family on Hong Kong Island, only to be stressed about money.

Who could he even complain to about this injustice!

Hu Jiangshan wondered if he should go ‘ask for alms’ from Old Master Hu Yingxiang to raise some funds. At least then he could get the road built.

If you want to get rich, you have to build roads first.

But after thinking it over, he decided to wait a few days. First, he had to finish the prototype fabrication for Huayao.

Chapter 41: Selling Chips at Seven Times the Price

Unable to bear the sun, Hu Jiangshan quickly boarded The Seahorse.

He took a drink from the refrigerator and admired the ocean view as he sipped it.

He had to admit, the life of a rich guy was pretty good.

If Hu Jiangshan wasn’t a scientist with such a great sense of mission, being reborn as a rich guy on Hong Kong Island would have been a life of pure bliss.

To be honest, Hu Jiangshan was no ascetic. Once he solved the problem at hand, he really did want to live it up as a second-generation rich kid for once.

Three days later, in Shanghai, China.

The Shanghai International Trade Center Tower was one of the most prestigious office buildings in the city. The only companies that could afford an office here were major financial firms, large real estate corporations, or multinational trading companies.

Vincent International Trading was one such company.

Backed by a Wall Street Capital Consortium, Vincent International’s business spanned over a hundred countries around the globe. It was an incredibly powerful entity.

At that moment, in an office at Vincent International Trading, two senior executives were whispering to each other in discussion.

One of them was a blond, blue-eyed foreigner from America named Michael Herman.

The other was a local Chinese man named Zhao Zhanlong, who had also given himself an English name: James.

Michael, James. Hearing those two names together, you’d think they were on some basketball team.

Michael took a sip of coffee. “James, the people from Huayao should be here soon, right?”

He spoke in Chinese. Although it carried a thick Western accent, it was quite fluent.

Zhao Zhanlong nodded. “Yes, the appointment is for ten in the morning. They’ll be here in half an hour.”

“My God, that’s so early, way too early,” Michael said. “James, do you know what I had to do for this meeting? I had to get up at nine. It’s practically killing me.”

Zhao Zhanlong chuckled. “Mr. Herman, you can go back and catch up on sleep after we finish with them.”

Michael waved his hand. “No can do. I have a date this afternoon. I’m having coffee with a beautiful lady, and then we’re going clubbing.”

Zhao Zhanlong flashed a fawning smile. “Then I wish you a resounding victory and a chance to display your prowess, Mr. Herman.”

“Huh? What does that mean? Your Chinese idioms are too complicated for me to understand.”

After Zhao Zhanlong offered a brief explanation, a gratified smile finally spread across Michael’s face.

“Oh, James, you’re a true brother. I’ll buy you a drink sometime.”

The two finally turned to business.

“Mr. Herman,” Zhao Zhanlong said, “the US Department of Commerce must be aware that we’re discussing this deal with Huayao, right?”

Michael waved his hand dismissively. “James, you can put your mind at ease. You know who’s behind us. They’re the most powerful organization in America—no, on Blue Star.”

Zhao Zhanlong nodded, finally relaxing.

He had been worried that doing business with Huayao might attract trouble, but Michael’s words reassured him that everything was fine.

Thinking about it, it made sense. The major Wall Street consortiums weren’t just rich; their influence extended all the way to The White House.

This time, Huayao’s representatives were coming to Vincent International to discuss a deal, and it was certainly no ordinary one.

Not only was the deal huge, but it was also critical.

Recently, Huayao had been frantically buying up chips on the market, especially advanced ones. They were sparing no expense to stockpile them with all their might.

As it happened, Vincent International had a batch of chips on hand—high, mid, and low-end, and in considerable quantities. Now, they were just waiting for Huayao to show up at their door to negotiate.

“James,” Michael said, “do you think Huayao will agree to our terms?”

Zhao Zhanlong thought for a moment before replying, “Mr. Herman, I think seven times the price is really too high. They will definitely try to bargain it down. I estimate it will end up around five times. By the way, Mr. Herman, what’s our bottom line? Four times?”

Michael gave a cold smile. “If they think they can buy them for four times the price, we’d be letting Huayao off too easily.”

Zhao Zhanlong smiled. “Then let’s set it at five times.”

Michael took a sip of his coffee and smiled faintly. “Five times isn’t out of the question, but it depends on how much sincerity they bring to the table.”

Zhao Zhanlong was secretly taken aback. It seemed this Michael fellow had quite an appetite.

He was truly an elite from Wall Street—when it came to profits, there was no room for ambiguity.

For Huayao’s negotiators, it would be impossible to close this deal without getting skinned alive. In fact, they would most likely be skinned twice over.

But this was only normal. After all, Huayao had provoked the most powerful force on the planet.

As the saying goes, kick them while they’re down.

Given Huayao’s current situation, it would be a crime not to take advantage of this golden opportunity.

Just then, an assistant pushed the door open.

“Mr. Herman, President Zhao, the people from Huayao are here.”

Michael stood up. “Let’s go, my dear James. Let’s hear what the people from Huayao have to say.”

A few moments later, in a conference room.

Michael, Zhao Zhanlong, and their lovely assistant Linda sat on one side of a long conference table. Across from them sat the negotiators from Huayao.

Two people had come from Huayao, both renowned big shots within the company.

One was Sun Yafang, Huayao’s number two, second only to Ren Yunfei. She was also the only person who would dare to slam the table and argue with Ren Yunfei on matters of principle.

The other was Wang Chengdong, the head of Huayao’s consumer business, also known as “Big Mouth Wang.”

The two had traveled thousands of kilometers to Shanghai, naturally determined to close this deal.

Of course, they also knew it wouldn’t be an easy negotiation. The other party was bound to demand a high price.

But there was nothing to be done about it; circumstances were against them.

To ensure Huayao could hold on for as long as possible, they had to buy the chips, no matter the cost.

Sun Yafang asked, “Mr. Herman, President Zhao, may I ask how many chips Vincent International has on hand?”

Michael remained perfectly composed, glancing at Zhao Zhanlong, clearly signaling for him to speak.

Zhao Zhanlong smiled and said, “President Sun, no need to rush. Let’s look at the projection.”

He had Linda connect her laptop to the projector and open a spreadsheet.

It was filled with the names, models, and quantities of the chips.

To be frank, the numbers were substantial, but the types of chips were also incredibly diverse, with dozens of items listed.

After a rough look, it was clear that Huayao only really needed a few of the listed items.

Sun Yafang asked, “How do you plan to sell all these chips?”

Zhao Zhanlong replied, “President Sun, these chips must be sold as a bundle.”

Sun Yafang frowned. “A bundle? What do you mean?”

“It means all these chips must be sold together. They cannot be sold separately,” Zhao Zhanlong explained.

Wang Chengdong spoke up. “What? Not sold separately? But we don’t need those garbage chips!”

Zhao Zhanlong shrugged. “I’m sorry, CEO Wang, but there’s nothing we can do. Those are our terms.”

Sun Yafang held up a hand. “Alright, that’s your condition. I understand. Are there any others?”

Zhao Zhanlong smiled. “The rest can’t really be called conditions. It’s just a matter of price. President Sun, CEO Wang, we are asking for seven times the market price.”

“Wha-what!?”

Chapter 42: A Humiliating Negotiation

Wang Chengdong and Sun Yafang knew the other party would make an outrageous demand, but they hadn’t expected their appetite to be this huge.

Seven times the market price. It was simply too absurd.

You have to understand, chips could be considered a bulk commodity.

The unit price and total price were both quite expensive. The average person couldn’t even imagine it—a single order was calculated in the hundreds of millions, and in American dollars at that.

In other words, a hundred million dollars’ worth of goods was being sold for seven hundred million. The thought alone was terrifying.

Sun Yafang narrowed her eyes and said, “CEO Zhao, I think you know that no person or company would agree to such a demand.”

Zhao Zhanlong cleared his throat and took a sip of his coffee.

Sun Yafang was no pushover. Her presence was powerful; otherwise, she would never have become Huayao’s number two, a figure of immense prestige.

Legend had it that Sun Yafang’s contributions were immense in helping Huayao rise from its low points several times.

Anyone who knew anything about Huayao would not dare to slight Sun Yafang.

Zhao Zhanlong chuckled. “President Sun, CEO Wang, we expended a great deal of manpower and resources to get this batch of chips. You both should know that getting such a large volume of chips in stock right now is extremely, extremely difficult. Island Foundry and Samsang don’t have enough production capacity. Orders from many large factories are still queued, with the latest ones scheduled for next year.”

Wang Chengdong said, “CEO Zhao, I understand what you mean, but with a price this high, there’s simply no way to negotiate.”

Zhao Zhanlong gave a sly laugh. “CEO Wang, don’t be so hasty. Of course, we can talk. If we couldn’t, we wouldn’t have invited you here, right?”

Wang Chengdong was helpless. This guy, Zhao Zhanlong, his words were nothing but hot air.

Sun Yafang said lightly, “CEO Zhao, we cannot accept this price.”

Zhao Zhanlong said, “Then please, tell me, what is Huayao’s ideal offer?”

“Four times the price. That is the highest offer we can make.”

Just then, Michael finally spoke up: “Oh, dear President Sun, that price is far too low.”

“Low? Four times the market price should be considered exorbitant.”

Michael smiled faintly. “Of course, for other companies, it is indeed an exorbitant price. But you are Huayao. For you, it’s practically a bargain.”

“Hm? Mr. Herman, what do you mean?”

“What do I mean? You and CEO Wang should be well aware, shouldn’t you? Does Huayao have any other choice right now?”

Sun Yafang looked at Michael Herman, momentarily speechless.

Wang Chengdong’s face was filled with fury.

It was obvious this foreigner knew they had Huayao over a barrel and wanted to squeeze more out of them while they were in a desperate situation.

The atmosphere froze.

Zhao Zhanlong quickly tried to smooth things over. “Let’s all talk this over calmly. No need to get heated.”

Wang Chengdong said, “CEO Zhao, with the way you’re talking, with this attitude, how can we possibly negotiate?”

Zhao Zhanlong chuckled. “It’s like this. Please take another look at the list. This batch of chips is so large, and it was truly difficult for us to acquire. The various expenses were enormous. Four times the price is genuinely too low.”

Wang Chengdong said, “But we don’t need this many chips. We only need a few types. If you insist on selling at a high price, that’s fine, but then we’ll only take the chips we need.”

Zhao Zhanlong quickly shook his head. “That’s not possible, CEO Wang. Absolutely not. They must be sold as a bundle. Otherwise, there’s nothing to discuss.”

Wang Chengdong was deeply displeased.

Sun Yafang said lightly, “We truly cannot accept seven times the market price. I wonder, how much lower can the price go?”

Zhao Zhanlong looked at Michael.

The decision-maker was still this elite from Wall Street.

Michael held up six fingers. “Six times the market price.”

Sun Yafang smiled faintly. “Mr. Herman, that’s still too high.”

Michael shook his head. “I believe this price is already very fair, President Sun. Huayao is out of time. In another two days, when the new semiconductor act is officially implemented, we may no longer be able to make a deal.”

Sun Yafang fell silent.

It had to be said, this foreigner named Michael Herman was truly difficult to deal with, a master negotiator.

In truth, this didn’t even require any negotiation skills. Huayao was the weaker party right now, with not enough leverage.

Vincent International only cared about profit, making it truly difficult to negotiate.

Zhao Zhanlong asked, “President Sun, CEO Wang, what do you think of six times the price?”

Wang Chengdong said, “I don’t think much of it. It’s still too high.”

Wang Chengdong’s performance so far had been quite good; one could even say he was exceeding expectations.

Given Wang Chengdong’s temper, if he encountered this kind of opponent, he would have started cursing them out long ago and wouldn’t have continued the discussion at all.

Zhao Zhanlong looked at Michael again.

Michael flashed a cool smile. “It can’t go any lower. If you don’t agree, you can go back and discuss it. But I must remind you both again, time is running out. What we agree upon today might very well be invalid tomorrow.”

Wang Chengdong was stunned and asked, “What do you mean? Are you planning to raise the price?”

“That’s not out of the question. The risks we’re taking are growing, so of course we need to reap greater benefits. I believe you both understand the current situation, don’t you?”

Wang Chengdong was about to speak again but was stopped by Sun Yafang.

Sun Yafang said to Michael and Zhao Zhanlong, “Excuse me, could you give us ten minutes to discuss this privately?”

“Of course, no problem. Be our guest.”

Sun Yafang and Wang Chengdong walked out of the conference room.

The two went to the end of the corridor and began to discuss in low voices.

Wang Chengdong started complaining, “President Sun, these guys are too much! This is To loot a burning house! They’ve gone too far!”

Sun Yafang gave a wry smile. “Didn’t we already anticipate this kind of situation? There’s no point in getting angry.”

Wang Chengdong was silent for a moment, then said, “President Sun, six times the market price is too high. And on top of that, the crucial thing is they’re forcing us to buy all those chips as a bundle. Look at that list—there are thirty or forty types of chips, and most of them are junk. We only need five or six of them, yet we have to pay such a high cost. It’s not worth it at all.”

Sun Yafang said, “We definitely can’t agree to this price. As for the bundle deal, I think they’re certain they have us over a barrel.”

“President Sun, so you’re saying we can try to push the price down, but we’ll have to agree to the bundle deal?”

Sun Yafang sighed. “That might be the best possible outcome.”

Wang Chengdong shook his head. “It feels so humiliating.”

“Do we have any other choice? Although we still have some other channels to acquire chips, the quantities are insufficient.”

Sun Yafang was speaking the truth.

Huayao had indeed been working very hard recently to acquire chips from all over.

This included the business communities in the mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau, as well as some overseas Chinese organizations and individuals, all of whom were actively purchasing chips for Huayao. However, they were still unable to meet the inventory requirements for the next few years.

Chapter 43: A Critical Moment, A Call from Hong Kong Island

You had to understand, Huayao was fighting a protracted war this time. Without enough inventory, they didn’t stand a chance.

Wang Chengdong opened his mouth to speak but hesitated.

Sun Yafang said, “Old Wang, at a time like this, what is there that can’t be said?”

Wang Chengdong said, “Young CEO Xu and I have contacted a semiconductor manufacturing company. They’re doing a prototype fabrication for us right now. If it succeeds, we won’t have to beg them.”

Sun Yafang glanced at Wang Chengdong. “Do you think it’s reliable?”

“Well…”

Evidently, Wang Chengdong wasn’t very confident either.

The other core executives at Huayao knew a little about Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun getting in touch with a semiconductor company on Hong Kong Island.

But no one held out much hope for it. After all, Hong Kong Island wasn’t fertile ground for high-tech enterprises. Even if they were in the middle of prototype fabrication, the chances of success were virtually nil.

Moreover, the number of semiconductor fabrication process companies on the entire Blue Star that could meet Huayao’s needs was so small you could count them on one hand. It was hard to imagine any other company succeeding.

Wang Chengdong said, “Alright then, President Sun. Let’s just try to push the price down as much as we can. Get it as low as possible. Otherwise, we really can’t afford this.”

Sun Yafang nodded. “I understand. I’ll do my best.”

Meanwhile, in the conference room, Michael and Zhao Zhanlong were also chatting idly.

In contrast to Wang Chengdong and Sun Yafang’s solemnity, these two were much more relaxed—one might even say they were completely at ease and content.

The two even clinked their coffee cups.

“Mr. Herman, do you think they’ll agree?”

Michael smiled faintly. “What other choice do they have? Of course they’ll agree.”

“But I think they’ll still try to bargain.”

“Bargaining is a given, unless they’re fools.”

“Mr. Herman, are you saying we can be a little flexible?”

Michael took a sip of coffee, thought for a moment, and said, “But we can also make it clear that there isn’t much room for negotiation. We can only offer a tiny discount. A very tiny one.”

As he spoke, Michael even made a gesture for “a little bit.”

If someone had recorded a video or taken a photo of him and posted it online, he wouldn’t be able to go to South Korea anymore.

Zhao Zhanlong thought for a moment. “They seem to have a big problem with the bundled sale of the chips. Should we…”

Michael waved his hand. “James, we need to be clear with them on this too. It’s non-negotiable. It has to be a bundled sale, or there’s no deal.”

Zhao Zhanlong nodded. “Understood, Mr. Herman. I’m sure they’ll understand.”

Michael gave a slight smile. “And what if they don’t understand? Is Huayao in any position to bargain?”

Zhao Zhanlong suddenly thought of something and asked in a low voice, “Mr. Herman, do you think the US Department of Commerce will allow Huayao to buy chips in the future?”

Michael glanced at Zhao Zhanlong. “James, are you really that naive?”

“…Huh?”

“Since our Department of Commerce has made a move, they’re not going to just let Huayao off the hook. If they let Huayao buy chips, it would definitely only be low-end ones. They won’t make things easy for them.”

“In other words, this new semiconductor act isn’t temporary, it’s permanent.”

“Of course, it’s permanent.”

Zhao Zhanlong’s eyelid twitched involuntarily. Damn, he thought, the US Department of Commerce is ruthless. They’re trying to crush them completely, leaving no room for survival.

Zhao Zhanlong was now certain that even if Huayao bought this batch of new chips, they wouldn’t survive for long. It would be a complete waste of money.

A moment later, Wang Chengdong and Sun Yafang returned.

The negotiations resumed.

Although Wang Chengdong was furious, he knew there was no other way and had no choice but to compromise.

As the saying goes, where there’s life, there’s hope.

As long as they could hold out long enough, there would be a chance to turn things around.

However, the subsequent negotiations did not go smoothly.

Although Michael had agreed to discuss the price, the amount it could be lowered by was very limited.

Sun Yafang argued her case forcefully, but Michael was reluctant to yield.

Michael said, “Alright, President Sun, the most I can go down is a little bit more. Five point five times the market price. How about that?”

Sun Yafang frowned. “Five times the market price isn’t acceptable, Mr. Herman?”

Michael shook his head. “No. Five point five times. That is our biggest concession.”

Sun Yafang was growing angry. This foreigner was as stubborn as a mule.

This didn’t feel like a negotiation at all; it was just putting pressure on Huayao.

Michael Herman was clearly convinced Huayao had no other choice but to buy this batch of chips at a high price.

Sun Yafang fell silent. Huayao was indeed wealthy, but not that wealthy.

Especially since more than half of these chips were effectively useless—buying them meant they would just sit in a warehouse and gather dust.

Michael was very arrogant. After speaking, he didn’t even look at Sun Yafang, instead sipping his coffee nonchalantly and occasionally glancing out the window at the view of the Huangpu River.

Zhao Zhanlong chuckled. “President Sun, CEO Wang, what do you two think? A bundled sale at five point five times the market price. We’ve done our best. We can’t go any lower.”

Sun Yafang opened her mouth, but no words came out.

It was an incredibly difficult decision.

Although Sun Yafang was Huayao’s second-in-command and had significant decision-making power, this order was simply too expensive. It was practically draining a huge amount of Huayao’s blood.

Setting aside how long this batch of chips would last them, the sum was so enormous that Huayao’s R&D budget for next year would likely have to be slashed significantly.

Investment in R&D had always been the key to Huayao’s survival. At a time like this, they couldn’t afford to reduce it; in fact, they needed to increase it.

Even a woman as resolute and decisive as Sun Yafang was now hesitating.

Wang Chengdong was even more unable to think clearly.

Given Wang Chengdong’s temper, he would have stormed out and called the whole thing off without a second thought.

But in the current situation, Wang Chengdong couldn’t be willful; he had to put the company’s interests first.

Wang Chengdong saw Sun Yafang clench her fists, clearly tormented by indecision.

Just then, Michael said nonchalantly, “Excuse me, President Sun, CEO Wang. I have something else to attend to, so I may have to leave.”

With that, Michael stood up.

“Wait, Mr. Herman.”

Sun Yafang stopped Michael. She sat up straight, seemingly having finally made a decision.

She was just about to open her mouth when she was interrupted by a ringing melody.

It was the ringtone of Wang Chengdong’s phone.

Wang Chengdong quickly looked down at his phone screen and froze.

[Caller ID: Mr. Hu (Hong Kong Island)]

Wang Chengdong’s expression changed. He quickly said to Sun Yafang, “Pres-President Sun, wait!”

“Hmm?”

“Stop the talks! Just wait! Let me take this call!”

With that, Wang Chengdong stood up and ran out of the conference room.

His actions left everyone baffled. What on earth was Wang Chengdong doing? It was so reckless!

Sun Yafang wondered to herself, Who on earth is calling? Is it that important?

Chapter 44: Have These Two Gone Crazy?

However, Sun Yafang listened to Hu Jiangshan’s advice and calmed down, sipping her coffee impassively.

Michael Herman and Zhao Zhanlong exchanged a glance, completely dumbfounded. For a moment, they had no idea what had just happened.

Michael said to Sun Yafang, “President Sun, what were you trying to say just now? Have you made a decision?”

Sun Yafang replied coolly, “Not yet. Let’s wait for him to come back.”

“Him” naturally referred to Wang Chengdong, Big Mouth Wang.

Michael and Zhao Zhanlong suddenly felt the situation was rather strange.

Zhao Zhanlong forced a smile. “President Sun, who was that on the phone?”

“I don’t know.”

“But President Sun, as you heard, Mr. Herman has other things to attend to and has to leave soon. If you’ve made up your mind, let’s finalize it so we can prepare the contract.”

Heh, this fellow Zhao Zhanlong was trying to pressure her into closing the deal.

But Sun Yafang was a seasoned big shot; how could she let herself be manipulated at a time like this?

“Oh, is that so? Then let’s talk about it next time. Mr. Herman can leave first if he has something to do.”

“…Huh?”

This time, it was Michael Herman’s turn to be at a loss.

For the first time, the foreigner felt the pressure from Sun Yafang and her unquestionably powerful aura.

Now, Michael Herman was in a bind—he couldn’t leave, but he couldn’t stay either.

He could leave, of course. Michael still had a date with a girl. But under these circumstances, he found he couldn’t stop thinking about it.

What kind of phone call did that Huayao executive, surnamed Wang, go out to take?

Why did it seem so important?

And this Sun Yafang, why had her attitude changed so drastically? It was a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn.

Michael asked Zhao Zhanlong in a low voice, “James, what’s going on?”

Zhao Zhanlong stared back at Michael. “That Wang Chengdong, he went out to take a call.”

“I know that. Is that call really so important?”

“Well… I’m not sure either.”

Zhao Zhanlong truly didn’t know, and he couldn’t make wild guesses.

But seeing Michael’s dissatisfaction, Zhao Zhanlong had no choice but to say, “Maybe it was just a random call. Oh, right, it could have been from Huayao’s boss.”

Hearing “Huayao’s boss,” Michael’s face lit up with understanding.

He must be referring to that Ren Yunfei. He probably called to give these two new orders or instructions.

Michael calmed down. “My dear James, I just don’t get it. What are they still struggling for? Besides us, there are no other large orders for chips, especially for in-stock ones.”

Zhao Zhanlong said, “Mr. Herman, it is a significant amount of money, after all. Over a billion, isn’t it?”

A total of over a billion US dollars was a massive order no matter where you were.

It was understandable for them to be cautious.

Just then, the conference room door opened.

Wang Chengdong was back, looking as if he were in a frantic rush, like a horde of zombies was chasing him.

Even Sun Yafang was startled by his appearance.

Michael and Zhao Zhanlong were even more bewildered.

What was with Big Mouth Wang? Was it the end of the world?

Wang Chengdong’s eyes were red, but he quickly composed himself, suppressed his emotions, and whispered a few words to Sun Yafang.

Sun Yafang froze, her expression turning quite peculiar.

Then, she actually stood up.

“Mr. Herman, CEO Zhao, I’m sorry, but let’s call it a day. We can schedule the next round of negotiations for another time, alright?”

Zhao Zhanlong quickly asked, “Wait, President Sun, CEO Wang, we’re not done talking yet. What’s the rush?”

Sun Yafang remained noncommittal.

Wang Chengdong smiled faintly. “We really do have something urgent to attend to. No need to see us out. Please, carry on.”

With that, Sun Yafang and Wang Chengdong opened the door and left the conference room.

Michael and Zhao Zhanlong were left dumbfounded and utterly stunned.

After a long moment, Michael finally said, “What happened? Have these two gone crazy? Why did they suddenly leave? Don’t they want this deal anymore?”

“Well… I don’t think that’s the case.”

Zhao Zhanlong couldn’t find the right words either.

It was unlikely that Wang Chengdong and Sun Yafang had gone crazy, but their behavior was certainly abnormal.

The two quickly calmed down, a wave of regret washing over them.

Zhao Zhanlong couldn’t help but say, “Mr. Herman, did we push them too hard? You don’t think they’re going to give up on this order, do you?”

Michael shook his head. “Impossible. That’s impossible. James, let me ask you, where else can they find such a large quantity of in-stock chips? There’s no one else but us!”

Zhao Zhanlong also knew that Huayao was in a critical situation with few options; they most likely wouldn’t give up on this order.

In a few days, once the new semiconductor act officially took effect, Huayao wouldn’t be able to buy any chips even if they were waving cash around.

Yet, a sense of unease lingered in Zhao Zhanlong’s heart. He felt they had made a huge mistake.

“Mr. Herman, how about this? I’ll call President Sun later and schedule the next meeting. I’ll tell her… tell her the price is still negotiable.”

Michael hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. “Okay, okay, James, I’ll leave it to you. Ask them when they can come back to talk. No, or maybe we can go to Guangzhou-Shenzhen. I’ve heard Guangzhou-Shenzhen City is a nice place.”

Clearly, Michael was also conflicted.

If they really lost such a massive deal, it would be a colossal failure.

This wasn’t just a bird in the hand; it was a gold nugget right under his feet.

If he messed this up, not only would he be blamed by the head office, but more importantly, his performance commission, bonus, and everything else would go down the drain.

Michael had been planning to take a nice vacation in Thailand after closing this deal.

He was even thinking of finding a nice spot in Southeast Asia to buy a big house.

Meanwhile, a black commercial van was driving through the bustling streets of Shanghai.

Inside were none other than Wang Chengdong and Sun Yafang.

Sun Yafang asked, “Old Wang, what’s the situation? Was the prototype fabrication really successful?”

Wang Chengdong nodded. “They just called to inform me that the prototype fabrication was a success.”

Sun Yafang glanced at Wang Chengdong. “That can’t be right. A semiconductor manufacturing company from Hong Kong Island? Old Wang, do you think it’s reliable?”

Wang Chengdong fell silent for a few seconds. “He sounded very certain. I think he was serious.”

“Serious…”

Sun Yafang didn’t finish her sentence.

In truth, Wang Chengdong knew exactly what she was thinking.

Semiconductor manufacturing was an industry with an incredibly high technical barrier to entry, dominated by major players.

Producing wafers and chips with advanced fabrication processes was something ordinary companies couldn’t handle at all. The fact that the other party claimed to have succeeded in prototype fabrication made it hard to believe they weren’t just talking nonsense.

But that raised a question: if Mr. Hu from Hong Kong Island was lying to him, what was his motive?

Whether the prototype fabrication was successful or not would be too easy to expose.

Wang Chengdong said, “President Sun, I’ll go confirm it right away. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll go back and talk to Vincent International about the order.”

Chapter 45: Isn’t This Our Kirin 990?

Sun Yafang nodded. To be honest, even if Wang Chengdong hadn’t made that move, she was already hesitant to continue the negotiation.

Although Vincent International did have a large stock of chips, which was rare, the price Huayao would have to pay to acquire them was so steep it would be a crippling blow.

Thinking about it calmly, accepting this deal under such harsh conditions was by no means a wise decision.

Sun Yafang said, “Old Wang, hurry and confirm whether this prototype fabrication business is true or not. And how strong is that company’s technical capability? What’s their background? We must investigate this thoroughly.”

Wang Chengdong nodded. “Don’t worry, President Sun, I’ll get on it right away.”

A short while later, the two arrived at their hotel.

Without even changing his clothes, Wang Chengdong immediately called Xu Zhijun.

Meanwhile, on General’s Island, inside the production line facility.

Hu Jiangshan was in the central control room of the production line, staring at a screen and checking various data.

Seated next to him was Zhang Rui.

Hu Jiangshan was looking at the data from the just-completed prototype fabrication.

Prototype fabrication, in essence, is the process of creating corresponding chip samples according to the IC design blueprints provided by a client.

The entire process is extremely complex and serves as a test of a semiconductor production line’s capabilities—whether it can produce qualified chips according to the IC design.

This was no easy task, especially for a seven-nanometer chip. The technical barrier was staggeringly high.

Seven-nanometer was a truly advanced process, especially in 2018, when a seven-nanometer chip was unequivocally flagship-level.

Generally speaking, even for major semiconductor manufacturing giants like Island Electromechanical or Samsang, the prototype fabrication for advanced process chips would take several months to complete.

But the production line on General’s Island was different. Its level of automation and intelligence was remarkably high, and it had smoothly completed the entire prototype fabrication process in just two days.

To be honest, when they succeeded, even Zhang Rui and his team members couldn’t believe it.

Such high efficiency was one thing, but for the success rate to be so high was another.

This semiconductor production line not only produced the wafer but also performed the dicing and packaging.

In other words, this semiconductor production line wasn’t just for wafer fabrication; it also had integrated packaging functions.

At that moment, Hu Jiangshan was focused on examining the various parameters of the chip samples.

Zhang Rui and his team had already tested the samples. Everything was perfect; they hadn’t found any problems.

After finally finishing his review, Hu Jiangshan nodded. “Dr. Zhang, the replication is truly excellent. You’ve achieved one hundred percent.”

Zhang Rui smiled and said, “Boss, look, even the flaw in the IC design was replicated.”

“Yes, well done. This is exactly the effect I wanted.”

Zhang Rui asked, “Boss, what now?”

Just as Hu Jiangshan was about to answer, his phone rang.

[Caller ID: Wang Chengdong]

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly. Wang Chengdong was getting anxious, as expected.

Hu Jiangshan had already called Wang Chengdong earlier to inform him that the prototype fabrication was successful.

At the time, Wang Chengdong had been so shocked he was incoherent, even blurting out a few swear words from his hometown. Hu Jiangshan found it amusing just thinking about it.

Hu Jiangshan gestured to Zhang Rui and stepped aside to answer the call.

“Hello, CEO Wang.”

Wang Chengdong’s frantic voice came from the other end. “Hello, Mr. Hu, I just want to confirm something with you again. The prototype fabrication was successful, right?”

“Yes, it was.”

“Did your friend tell you this personally?”

“Yes, he told me himself. The prototype fabrication was a great success.”

Wang Chengdong quickly asked again, “So the post-fabrication wafer and chip samples are ready?”

“Yes, they’re all ready. I can pick them up from my friend’s place anytime.”

“Then when can you hand them over to us?”

Hu Jiangshan thought for a moment and replied, “CEO Wang, if you’re in a hurry, I can mail them to you now. They should arrive tomorrow.”

Wang Chengdong immediately blurted out several “no’s”.

“Mr. Hu, we’ve already sent people over.”

Hu Jiangshan was taken aback. “Over? Over where?”

“To Hong Kong Island, of course. They should be there in a little over an hour.”

Good heavens, Hu Jiangshan thought, Wang Chengdong and his people are really in a rush.

But it was only normal. If he were in their shoes, he would be just as anxious.

Forget waiting a day; they couldn’t even wait an extra hour.

Hu Jiangshan said, “Alright, no problem. I’ll get the samples ready immediately.”

Wang Chengdong was overjoyed. After settling on a time and place for the handover with Hu Jiangshan, he hung up in a hurry.

Hu Jiangshan could tell that Wang Chengdong still had doubts mixed in with his excitement.

Producing samples of a seven-nanometer chip in just two days was indeed hard for anyone in the industry to accept.

No matter. Soon, they would know the true extent of his capabilities.

Night fell in Guangzhou-Shenzhen City. The Huayao headquarters building was ablaze with lights.

Huayao was famous for its “wolf culture.” Even without a mandatory overtime policy, a large number of employees worked late into the night, some even pulling all-nighters, just to get their work done as quickly as possible.

At this moment, Zhou Hua was sitting idly in his office, with another employee, Gao Jingtao, next to him.

Zhou Hua was a senior chip testing engineer, and Gao Jingtao was his capable assistant.

Gao Jingtao took a sip of water and asked, “Hua, our department hasn’t had much to do these past two days, has it? Why do we still have to stay and work overtime?”

Zhou Hua replied, “The boss asked us to stay.”

“Why?”

“Why else? There’s work to be done.”

Gao Jingtao sat up straight. “Is there a new chip to be tested?”

“Probably. Otherwise, there’d be no reason for us to stay.”

“What kind of chip is it? Is it that important?”

Zhou Hua waved his hand. “Don’t be anxious. We’ll know in a bit.”

In the past, only an extremely important chip would warrant this much attention from their superiors.

Just then, someone entered.

It was Young CEO Xu, Xu Zhijun. Zhou Hua and Gao Jingtao quickly greeted him.

Xu Zhijun handed the case in his hands to Zhou Hua. “Test this chip right away. It doesn’t need to be too detailed. Just do a quick check of the fabrication process and structure first.”

Zhou Hua looked puzzled but didn’t ask any questions. After all, a chip personally delivered by Young CEO Xu had to be something extraordinary.

Zhou Hua opened the case and saw the wafer and chip inside as expected.

He picked up one of the chips and examined its appearance.

Xu Zhijun remained silent, closely observing Zhou Hua’s reaction.

Zhou Hua’s expression grew perplexed. Xu Zhijun’s heart sank. Could this chip be a piece of junk?

“Young CEO Xu, isn’t this… the 990?”

“Hm?”

Zhou Hua looked up at Xu Zhijun and said, “Isn’t this our Kirin 990?”

Xu Zhijun was stunned. “Are you sure?”

Zhou Hua nodded. “Look, the pin layout is that of the Kirin 990. Huh? That’s right, why isn’t the model number silk-screened on the front? Is it a sample?”

Xu Zhijun took a deep breath and said, “Zhou Hua, you two get to testing right away. I need the results tonight!”

Chapter 46: Let’s Talk Orders Today!

Zhou Hua acknowledged and hurried to prepare the testing equipment with Gao Jingtao.

Xu Zhijun, however, didn’t leave. Instead, he walked into the conference room next door.

Gao Jingtao glanced in the direction of the conference room and whispered, “Hua, is Young CEO Xu not planning to leave?”

Zhou Hua also took a look. “Alright, let’s get to work.”

“But isn’t this the Kirin 990? We’ve already tested it many times, why do we need to test it again?”

Zhou Hua looked again at the chips in the box and the wafer slices. “It does look like the Kirin 990, but something feels off.”

“What’s off about it? Aren’t the pins all correct? It must be the Kirin 990.”

“Don’t just look at the pins. Take a good look at the packaging.”

Puzzled, Gao Jingtao picked up a chip and examined it closely, finally noticing something unusual.

“Hey, Hua, the packaging process is really different from before.”

As he said this, Gao Jingtao’s expression changed. “No way! Could these be Kirin 990s re-packaged by another packaging plant?”

Zhou Hua shook his head. “I don’t know. Alright, cut the chatter and get to work. It’s going to be a tough night.”

Gao Jingtao nodded and began to focus on calibrating the development board and other testing instruments.

Just a different packaging plant?

Zhou Hua didn’t believe it was that simple.

Young CEO Xu had just made it clear: test the chip’s fabrication process and architecture as soon as possible.

Chip packaging wouldn’t affect either of those two things.

Could it be that these Kirin 990s were made by a different foundry?

But was that possible?

This was a seven-nanometer processor chip. Only a handful of semiconductor companies on Blue Star could handle it.

And right now, none of those companies could possibly do contract manufacturing for Huayao.

Zhou Hua couldn’t figure it out, so he decided to just knuckle down and work.

Even though they only needed to test the chip’s architecture and fabrication process, the testing procedure was complex. Both Zhou Hua and Gao Jingtao were veterans of chip testing, but getting a result in one night was still a mountain of pressure.

At the same time, Xu Zhijun sat restlessly in the small conference room.

Xu Zhijun didn’t want to get his hopes up, because reason told him that these chip samples were probably just mock-ups, not a real Kirin 990.

It was impossible for any semiconductor manufacturing company in Hong Kong Island to achieve this.

Forget Hong Kong Island, even mainland China didn’t have one.

But as soon as the chip samples arrived, Xu Zhijun’s resolve was shaken.

The higher the hope, the greater the disappointment. How could Xu Zhijun not understand this principle?

No matter. In any case, success or failure would be decided tonight.

He had things to do tomorrow and couldn’t stay here watching all the time. After a while, seeing that Zhou Hua and Gao Jingtao had begun testing in an orderly manner, Xu Zhijun returned to his own office.

Huayao’s executives were also workaholics, sometimes not going home for ten days or half a month at a time.

Tonight, Xu Zhijun would just make do in his office.

He didn’t know how much time had passed when, in a state of half-sleep, his phone began to ring.

Picking it up, Xu Zhijun became instantly wide awake.

The call was from Zhou Hua.

Xu Zhijun quickly answered the phone.

“Hello, CEO Xu, the chip test is done.”

“It’s done? Do you have the results?”

“Yes, the data for the fabrication process and architecture is out.”

Xu Zhijun immediately jumped up from the sofa. “Zhou Hua, what’s the situation?”

Zhou Hua said, “It looks… quite normal.”

Xu Zhijun paused for a moment. “Quite normal? What do you mean? Be clearer.”

Zhou Hua explained, “CEO Xu, whether it’s the fabrication process or the architecture, it is indeed the Kirin 990.”

“…What!? Are you sure!?”

Hearing this, Xu Zhijun could hardly believe his ears. He felt like Zhou Hua was pulling his leg.

But there was no reason for Zhou Hua to do so, nor would he dare to joke with Xu Zhijun.

After hanging up, Xu Zhijun quickly washed his face and ran to the Testing Department.

As he entered, he noticed an extra person.

Xu Zhijun was surprised. Wang Chengdong was back.

“Old Wang, when did you get back?”

Wang Chengdong grinned. “I just arrived myself.”

Wang Chengdong couldn’t wait any longer and had taken an overnight flight back.

The two didn’t say much and quickly gathered around the screen to check the test results.

A moment later, Wang Chengdong’s face was alight with excitement, a grin stretching from ear to ear. “Young CEO Xu, look at this! This prototype fabrication is impeccable! Look at this architecture, it’s our Kirin 990, and the fabrication process is a solid seven-nanometer!”

Xu Zhijun was momentarily speechless. He never expected to hit the jackpot like this, to actually run into a miracle company that could produce seven-nanometer chips.

Just then, Zhou Hua said, “CEO Wang, CEO Xu, I just noticed something different from our previous Kirin 990s. It seems to be a flaw.”

Hearing this, Xu Zhijun’s soaring heart sank. Then he noticed that Wang Chengdong’s expression remained unchanged.

Xu Zhijun remembered. To prevent the other party from faking the chips by sanding down and re-packaging existing Kirin 990s, they had intentionally altered the IC design schematics to leave a mark.

Xu Zhijun asked in a low voice, “It was left there on purpose, right?”

Wang Chengdong nodded with a smile. “Yes, that’s exactly what we wanted.”

Xu Zhijun sighed. “Old Wang, it looks like your gamble really paid off.”

“The same goes for you, Young CEO Xu. So, what’s our next move?”

Xu Zhijun’s eyes widened. “What else can we do? Let’s go negotiate the contract right now!”

“Have you forgotten? We can’t go to Hong Kong Island.”

The realization dawned on Xu Zhijun.

It was usually him reminding Wang Chengdong, but now he had completely forgotten about it.

Meanwhile, at Lishan Apartments on Victoria Peak, Hong Kong Island.

Hu Jiangshan had just woken up and was washing his face when his phone rang.

[Caller ID: Wang Chengdong]

Hu Jiangshan spat out the water in his mouth and pressed the answer key.

“Hello, CEO Wang. You’re up early.”

Wang Chengdong’s hearty laughter came from the other end. “Mr. Hu, it’s not early at all! Look at the time, it’s almost nine o’clock!”

Hu Jiangshan was speechless for a moment. Was nine in the morning considered early?

Wang Chengdong asked, “Mr. Hu, when is your friend available?”

Hu Jiangshan paused. “Which friend is that?”

“Your friend in semiconductor manufacturing.”

“Oh, him… He’s not available at the moment. He’s engrossed in research and development. Is there something you need him for?”

Wang Chengdong immediately said, “We’ve tested the chip samples, and the results are in.”

“The results are out so quickly? How are they?”

“Excellent, absolutely excellent! That’s why I’d like to talk to your friend about an order.”

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly. “Sure, no problem. CEO Wang, you can talk to me.”

Wang Chengdong was stunned. “Talk to you? Is that okay?”

“Of course it is. I have shares in his company, so I can call the shots.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Chengdong immediately said, “Then can you make a trip to Guangzhou-Shenzhen City?”

“I can. When should we talk? Tomorrow?”

“No, no, no, Mr. Hu. Today. We’ll talk today!”

Chapter 47: Arriving in Guangzhou-Shenzhen City, A Chance Encounter with Miss Hong Kong

Hu Jiangshan was at a loss for words.

He had expected Huayao to be in a hurry, but not this big of a hurry.

Hu Jiangshan said with a wry smile, “CEO Wang, discussing the order today… isn’t that a bit too rushed? I haven’t prepared anything at all.”

“Hey, what’s there to prepare? No need. For this kind of thing, it’s better to talk first and figure out the rest later.”

But Wang Chengdong didn’t give Hu Jiangshan a chance to refuse. “Alright, let’s do this. We’ll set it for three o’clock in the afternoon, at a place near the port. Mr. Hu, is that okay with you?”

Fine, fine, so that’s how it’s going to be.

Hu Jiangshan had no choice but to agree.

“Mr. Hu, I’ll send you the address of the meeting place in a bit. See you there! You have to come!”

Hu Jiangshan agreed.

After hanging up, Hu Jiangshan began to ponder how he should negotiate the partnership with Huayao.

But after thinking it over and over, he couldn’t come up with any clear ideas.

Hu Jiangshan gave up. In any case, it wasn’t like Huayao would try to trick him. He’d just meet them and figure it out then.

His phone chimed with a notification. Wang Chengdong had sent the location of the meeting.

In the afternoon, Hu Jiangshan drove out and arrived at Futian Port.

Futian Port could be considered the busiest port of entry to the mainland, but since it was already afternoon, there weren’t many people.

Hu Jiangshan passed through the port smoothly, taking only twenty minutes, much faster than he had imagined.

He glanced at the time—it was only two o’clock.

His meeting with Wang Chengdong was scheduled for three in the afternoon, so he still had an hour to kill.

Whatever, I might as well head over first.

The meeting place was called Fu Mao Times Square, which was very close to Futian Port. It was just a five-minute walk after exiting the port.

With time to spare, Hu Jiangshan decided to wander around the shopping mall.

Guangzhou-Shenzhen City in 2018 was already bustling. The mall had everything, from all sorts of luxury and high-end brands to affordable, everyday ones.

Unfortunately, Hu Jiangshan wasn’t particularly interested in any of it.

Just then, as Hu Jiangshan was passing a claw machine arcade, he unexpectedly spotted some familiar faces.

It was the siblings, Feng Hua and Feng Qiuyi.

There was another girl with them, very pretty, fashionably dressed, with a fantastic figure.

At first, Hu Jiangshan thought the girl looked familiar, and then he remembered. She was Deng Zhuoying, the newly crowned Miss Hong Kong for this year.

Well, well. Feng Hua was really something else. How did he manage to ask out the newly minted Miss Hong Kong?

As mentioned before, Feng Hua was part of the ‘rich guy’ circle and was on pretty good terms with Hu Jiangshan. Even the current Hu Jiangshan felt a certain sense of familiarity with him.

Feng Hua was trying to win a prize from a claw machine, while the two girls stood beside him watching excitedly.

“It’s got it! It’s got it!”

“It’s almost there!”

“Aiya! It dropped.”

Amidst the cheers of encouragement, Feng Hua still failed to get the doll, shaking his head in disappointment.

The two girls seemed even more frustrated than Feng Hua.

Hu Jiangshan chuckled. That kid Feng Hua just doesn’t have the luck.

Hu Jiangshan turned to leave, but then he heard Feng Hua call out.

“Young Master Hu! Young Master Hu! Where are you going!?”

Great, he spotted me after all.

Hu Jiangshan had no choice but to walk back.

Feng Hua grinned and said, “Young Master Hu, why didn’t you let me know you were coming to Guangzhou-Shenzhen? We could’ve hung out together!”

Hu Jiangshan waved his hand. “It’s not that, I’m meeting someone.”

Feng Hua immediately gave him a mischievous grin. “No wonder, no wonder. Which beauty is it?”

“Huh? It’s not a woman.”

“I don’t believe you. If it wasn’t a beauty, what could possibly bring the Young Master Hu all the way to Guangzhou-Shenzhen City?”

Hu Jiangshan was speechless. There was simply no way to explain himself.

There was nothing he could do. After all, the old Hu Jiangshan had been exactly that kind of person.

While the two were talking, Feng Qiuyi and Deng Zhuoying were whispering to each other in the background, deep in discussion.

Deng Zhuoying asked, “Is that Hu Jiangshan?”

Feng Qiuyi nodded. “That’s him.”

“He looks alright. Not as terrible as the rumors say.”

Feng Qiuyi glanced at Deng Zhuoying. “You can’t just judge by appearances. What can you really tell from that?”

Deng Zhuoying waved her hand. “I know, I was just saying.”

Deng Zhuoying looked up and sized up Hu Jiangshan again, still feeling that this second-generation rich kid didn’t quite match his infamous reputation.

Of course, you can’t judge a book by its cover, and you never know what’s truly in a person’s heart.

Deng Zhuoying had officially made her debut and had long understood the harsh realities of the world.

Just then, Feng Hua said to Hu Jiangshan, “Young Master Hu, how about helping us win a doll?”

Hu Jiangshan waved his hand dismissively. “What’s the point of playing with this stuff?”

“Just give it a try. If you win one, you can give it to the ladies.”

Hu Jiangshan raised his wrist to check the time. It was still a while before his meeting, so playing a couple of rounds wouldn’t hurt.

“Alright, I’ll give it a shot.”

Feng Hua said, “Young Master Hu, let me tell you, I think there’s something wrong with these claw machines. I’m pretty experienced, but I’ve already spent several hundred yuan and haven’t caught a single one.”

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly. “Every claw machine has a different success rate. If you want to win a doll, you just need to find the machine with the highest probability.”

Feng Hua was stunned. “How do you find it?”

Hu Jiangshan held out his hand to Feng Hua, who immediately understood and handed over the tokens he was holding.

Hu Jiangshan first walked up to the first claw machine, inserted a token, wiggled the joystick a few times to check the claw, and then moved on.

He then went to the second machine, inserted another token, wiggled the joystick, but again, he didn’t drop the claw and simply walked away.

His actions were the same for the third and fourth machines.

Deng Zhuoying and Feng Qiuyi exchanged bewildered glances, not understanding what he was doing.

Deng Zhuoying asked in a low voice, “What is he doing?”

Feng Qiuyi’s eyes widened. “How would I know? It’s not like I’m a mind reader.”

Just then, when he reached the ninth claw machine, Hu Jiangshan stopped.

Hu Jiangshan said to Feng Hua, “This is the one.”

Feng Hua asked curiously, “What’s with this one? Is there a problem with it?”

Hu Jiangshan didn’t answer and just pressed the button to drop the claw.

The claw slowly descended, accurately grabbing a Pikachu doll and lifting it up.

Then, the claw began to move back, wobbling precariously. It looked as if the Pikachu might fall at any moment.

However, the Pikachu moved steadily over to the prize chute and dropped down.

Deng Zhuoying and Feng Qiuyi stared with wide eyes, exchanging a look of disbelief.

Hu Jiangshan had actually succeeded!

Winning a doll wasn’t that strange. The key was, why had Hu Jiangshan been so certain that he would be able to win one?

It was as if Hu Jiangshan had the ability to predict the future.

Feng Hua was also shouting in amazement, “Whoa, whoa, whoa! Young Master Hu, how did you know this machine would definitely work?”

Hu Jiangshan said, “This machine has a higher probability of winning a doll, but it’s not a guaranteed win every time. You guys can give it a try.”

“How did you know?”

“Just luck.”

Hu Jiangshan glanced at the gold watch on his wrist. It was almost time for his meeting. “Alright, I have to go now. You guys have fun.”

Chapter 48: The Real Skill-Based Player

Watching Hu Jiangshan’s departing figure, Feng Hua and the other two were completely bewildered.

He came and went in a flash.

Feng Hua murmured, “Which girl is Hu Jiangshan meeting? It’s rare to see him in such a rush.”

Deng Zhuoying asked curiously, “It’s amazing. How did he know this machine had a higher chance of winning a doll?”

Feng Qiuyi pursed her lips. “I think he was definitely just talking nonsense. There’s no way he could know. How could he possibly know?”

“But he really did catch one.”

As she spoke, Deng Zhuoying glanced at the yellow Pikachu in Feng Hua’s hand.

It had to be said, it was quite cute.

Feng Qiuyi looked at the claw machine before them and said, “It must have been a coincidence. Let’s try again. I refuse to believe it. No matter how high the success rate of this claw machine is, how high can it really be?”

So, Feng Qiuyi also inserted a token and began to try her luck.

The claw missed, and she didn’t get anything this time.

Feng Qiuyi chuckled. “Ying, see? It’s still impossible to win. He just got lucky.”

Deng Zhuoying said, “Let me try.”

But then, Deng Zhuoying managed to successfully grab a doll.

All three of them were stunned.

Two for two. The success rate was terrifyingly high!

Feng Hua stroked his chin and said, “Looks like the success rate of this machine really is high. Hu Jiangshan knows a thing or two; he wasn’t just talking nonsense.”

Feng Qiuyi’s eyes widened, her expression like she’d seen a ghost.

As mentioned before, Hu Jiangshan used to be a ruthless character who did nothing good and every bad thing imaginable. He had even made a move on Feng Qiuyi with an extremely arrogant attitude, so she had no fondness for him.

Of course, Feng Qiuyi wouldn’t believe that Hu Jiangshan was that capable.

Feng Qiuyi asked, “But how did he know? How could he tell? Is it really that magical?”

Feng Hua was at a loss for words. He also felt it was impossible for Hu Jiangshan to have such an ability.

It was complete nonsense!

But this claw machine really did have a high probability of winning.

Could it really be a coincidence?

Right, it was also possible that Hu Jiangshan had played the claw machine here before, so he knew this particular machine’s secret.

That was the only possible explanation now. What else could it be? They couldn’t just treat Hu Jiangshan as some kind of deity.

In reality, Hu Jiangshan was no deity, of course; he just knew the operating principles of the claw machine.

Just now, Hu Jiangshan had tested the claws of the machines one by one to judge their success rate based on their condition.

Hu Jiangshan was a real skill-based player, and that was what allowed him to successfully show off.

Meanwhile, at Pacific Coffee.

Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun were sitting at a table by the window.

The two of them had just arrived, a hint of nervousness on their faces.

Wang Chengdong looked around. “He’s not here yet, is he?”

Xu Zhijun: “Old Wang, don’t worry. We still have ten minutes.”

Wang Chengdong asked, “This Hu… right, his name is Hu Jiangshan? How old is he, exactly?”

Xu Zhijun shook his head. “He’s Hu Yingxiang’s grandson, so he can’t be that old. Probably around thirty.”

Wang Chengdong nodded. “He sounded quite young from his voice.”

Xu Zhijun said, “Age doesn’t matter. The important thing is whether he’s reliable.”

“Young CEO Xu, do you think he’s reliable?”

Xu Zhijun glanced at Wang Chengdong and said in a low voice, “If the rumors are anything to go by, Hu Jiangshan is definitely not reliable.”

Wang Chengdong was speechless for a moment.

In fact, Wang Chengdong had also been gathering information on Hu Jiangshan recently.

To be frank, the situation was not optimistic.

Hu Jiangshan wasn’t just a playboy; he was a top-tier con artist among playboys.

Hu Jiangshan’s character was truly terrible. He was capable of any ridiculous deed, short of murder and arson.

If Hu Jiangshan weren’t Hu Yingxiang’s grandson, he probably would have been sent to prison long ago.

But Wang Chengdong had spoken to Hu Jiangshan on the phone a few times and felt that he sounded quite reliable. He was logical, well-spoken, and very polite.

This left Wang Chengdong confused.

Just what kind of person was the legendary playboy, Hu Jiangshan?

Wang Chengdong was very curious.

But then again, phone calls were a very limited way to get to know someone.

A few sentences were hardly enough to get a true measure of the man.

In truth, Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun didn’t care what kind of person Hu Jiangshan was. The key was his friend in semiconductor manufacturing.

As long as Hu Jiangshan’s friend was reliable, that was enough.

Xu Zhijun said, “We can now confirm that this semiconductor company does have the capability for prototype fabrication, or rather, that they possess extremely high technical strength. But a successful prototype fabrication doesn’t mean they can mass-produce seven-nanometer chips.”

Wang Chengdong nodded. “That’s right. But to be honest, successfully fabricating a prototype for a seven-nanometer chip is already quite remarkable.”

Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun’s state of mind could be described as being caught between hope and fear.

On one hand, the successful prototype fabrication of the Kirin 990 gave them immense hope.

It meant that as long as it could be mass-produced, they could escape their predicament.

On the other hand, they worried there might be some kind of trickery involved in this prototype fabrication.

They had actually encountered situations like this before, where some chips with complex designs could indeed have successful prototypes fabricated, but for various reasons, they were difficult to mass-produce.

This meeting was crucial. They had to get clear answers to all their questions.

Just then, the door to the coffee shop opened.

A young man walked in and began looking around.

Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun exchanged a glance.

“Young CEO Xu, is that him?”

“Probably not. He doesn’t look the part.”

It had to be said that this young man was handsome and impeccably dressed, looking sharp and dapper—a real looker. He absolutely did not look like a playboy.

Moreover, he came alone, not surrounded by an entourage, without even a single follower. This didn’t match the description of the legendary profligate grandson of Hu Yingxiang at all.

However, the young man turned his head, his gaze paused on them for a moment, and then he actually walked over.

“CEO Wang, CEO Xu, hello. I’m Hu Jiangshan. I spoke with CEO Wang on the phone before.”

Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun were both stunned.

They never expected this incredibly handsome man to actually be the legendary Hu Jiangshan.

Wang Chengdong asked curiously, “We’ve never met, have we? How did you know it was us?”

Hu Jiangshan smiled. “CEO Wang, and Young CEO Xu, who doesn’t recognize the two of you?”

That was a fair point. Wang Chengdong had a high public profile, as he was the main speaker at nearly all of Huayao’s major press conferences. Young CEO Xu was also frequently seen in the media.

But Hu Jiangshan was from Hong Kong Island, a young master from a wealthy family. How much free time would he have to pay attention to happenings in China’s tech circle?

Hu Jiangshan’s speech and demeanor were indeed far from what the rumors suggested. Anyone who didn’t know him would surely mistake him for some business elite.

Chapter 49: Signing a Contract with Huayao

Three cups of coffee were brought over, and the three of them sat down facing each other.

Xu Zhijun and Wang Chengdong simultaneously sized up Hu Jiangshan.

Hu Jiangshan felt a little uncomfortable. “Is there something wrong with me? My clothes aren’t on backward.”

Xu Zhijun snapped back to his senses and quickly said, “No, no.”

Wang Chengdong also waved his hand. “Ah, it’s nothing, it’s nothing. We just think Mr. Hu is dashing, distinguished, and exceptionally talented.”

Hu Jiangshan grinned. “CEO Wang, I’m hardly what you’d call exceptionally talented. I’m just an ordinary person.”

Wang Chengdong said, “Oh, Mr. Hu is anything but ordinary.”

Could a second-generation rich kid be classified as an ordinary person?

Obviously not.

What kind of ordinary person stays home all day, just lying around and living well?

Hu Jiangshan said, “CEO Wang, CEO Xu, please don’t call me Mr. Hu. It feels a bit strange. I’m younger than you, so just call me by my name.”

Wang Chengdong thought for a moment. “How about this? We’ll call you Brother Hu, how does that sound?”

Hu Jiangshan raised an eyebrow. “Sure, no problem. That’s much friendlier.”

The three of them chatted idly for a bit, which helped to close the distance between them, before getting down to business.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “Have you tested the chip samples from the prototype fabrication?”

Wang Chengdong replied, “We have. There are no problems at all, which is why we wanted to talk with you, Brother Hu.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “Alright, what about?”

Xu Zhijun put down his coffee cup and said, “About a partnership, of course.”

This didn’t surprise Hu Jiangshan in the least.

Xu Zhijun added, “However, we need to understand some basic details, Brother Hu. Is that okay?”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “No problem. I’ll tell you everything I know.”

Wang Chengdong asked, “Brother Hu, what’s the situation with your friend’s semiconductor company? Is the production line complete? Can it start mass production now?”

Hu Jiangshan nodded and replied, “The production line has already been calibrated and can begin mass production at any time.”

Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun glanced at each other, both showing looks of surprise.

They hadn’t expected Hu Jiangshan to be so certain.

You see, even a successful prototype fabrication doesn’t mean mass production is possible.

The mass production of wafers and chips involves a key indicator.

The yield rate.

Only a yield rate of over sixty percent allows for the official start of commercial mass production.

If the yield rate is too low, the cost of the chips becomes very high, which naturally means they have no commercial value.

Wang Chengdong asked, “Brother Hu, may I ask what the yield rate is? Do you know?”

Hu Jiangshan thought for a moment and replied, “The current yield rate isn’t too high, only around eighty percent.”

Hearing this, Wang and Xu had a huge reaction.

“What!? It can reach eighty percent!?”

“Is that… is that the yield rate for the seven-nanometer process?”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “That’s right, the yield rate for the seven-nanometer fabrication process.”

Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun fell silent for a moment, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

It was hard to believe, simply incredible.

In 2018, the seven-nanometer semiconductor fabrication process was undoubtedly a state-of-the-art process, on par with mainstream flagship chips.

Even for Island Foundry, the strongest semiconductor manufacturing company on Blue Star, the yield rate for their seven-nanometer process had only just approached ninety percent at this time.

And yet, Hu Jiangshan was insisting that he could achieve an eighty percent yield rate. While not on par with Island Foundry, it was still a very high yield rate.

Commercial mass production would be no problem at all.

How could this be possible? It felt so unrealistic.

Xu Zhijun couldn’t help but ask, “Brother Hu, may I ask what kind of background your friend has? Does he understand semiconductor technology?”

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly. “Yes, he understands semiconductor manufacturing technology very well. Extremely well.”

“So his semiconductor production line, is it on Hong Kong Island?”

“Yes, it’s on Hong Kong Island.”

Xu Zhijun hesitated for a moment. “Then, would it be possible for us to visit?”

Hu Jiangshan thought for a moment and replied, “If it’s the two of you who want to visit, I’d welcome you with open arms. But if it were anyone else, we’d have to wait a while.”

Xu Zhijun was stunned. “Why? Brother Hu, why not others?”

Hu Jiangshan answered solemnly, “CEO Xu, the nature of this production line is too special. You two should know that it’s extremely sensitive. We need to maintain confidentiality as much as possible. The fewer people who know, the better. Otherwise, there will be big trouble.”

Hu Jiangshan’s meaning was clear. He only trusted Xu Zhijun and Wang Chengdong; everyone else was a different matter.

Xu and Wang looked at each other.

The two of them very much wanted to visit that mysterious semiconductor production line on Hong Kong Island, but they couldn’t go anytime soon.

It was a sensitive period, and in Huayao’s high-level meetings, they had been repeatedly warned—core executives like them were forbidden from leaving the country.

Although Hong Kong Island wasn’t a foreign country, they couldn’t go for special reasons.

Wang Chengdong asked, “Brother Hu, regarding something like the yield rate, perhaps you should confirm it with your friend again? It’s not that I don’t believe you, but I’m worried there might be a miscommunication.”

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly. “CEO Wang, CEO Xu, I just confirmed this with my friend. There’s no mistake. You can both rest assured on this point. Moreover, once we enter mass production, the yield rate can be improved even further.”

The way Hu Jiangshan said it, he really looked the part, not at all like a layman.

Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun exchanged a look and finally made a decision.

A few moments later, their discussion concluded. Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun left the Pacific Coffee shop first.

Hu Jiangshan didn’t leave right away. He leisurely drank his coffee.

On the table in front of him lay a contract.

It was a letter of intent that the three of them had just signed.

Hu Jiangshan glanced at the contract’s contents again, feeling very much at ease.

He hadn’t expected to sign the first order with Huayao so quickly.

This order included five hundred thousand Kirin 990 chips.

Given the scale of Huayao’s mobile phone business, this order wasn’t particularly large, but it was enough to last for about a month.

This was a test from Huayao to gauge the production capabilities on Hu Jiangshan’s side.

If these five hundred thousand Kirin 990 chips could be successfully produced, Huayao would undoubtedly increase the order size later on.

That would be when the real partnership between the two parties would officially begin.

Early the next morning, before Hu Jiangshan had even woken up, he heard a notification sound from his phone.

Groggy, Hu Jiangshan picked up his phone and saw that he had received a text message.

【Hong Kong Island Bank: Dear customer, a remittance of 30,000,000 Hong Kong dollars has been received by your personal account. Please check your balance. If you have any questions, please call your private customer service representative. Thank you for your trust in our bank.】

The moment he saw the remittance amount, Hu Jiangshan was wide awake.

Without a doubt, this was from Huayao.

It was actually thirty million Hong Kong dollars.

This was the advance payment for the chip order.

Hu Jiangshan remembered it wasn’t supposed to be this much.

It seemed Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun were really looking out for him. How generous of them!

Chapter 50: The Quartz Sand Refinery

While the semiconductor manufacturing industry has a high technical barrier to entry, it is undoubtedly an extremely profitable sector.

Single orders are calculated in units of hundreds of millions.

Hu Jiangshan’s first collaboration with Huayao wasn’t a huge order, but the total payment was still substantial.

With a processing fee of two hundred Hong Kong dollars per Kirin 990 chip, the order was valued at one hundred million Hong Kong dollars.

Of course, Hu Jiangshan wouldn’t profit that entire amount. After all, he had his own costs, and he was still continuously investing.

The Technology Engine App could indeed save Hu Jiangshan a lot of money, but not every expense could be spared.

When negotiating the contract with Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun, Hu Jiangshan had promised to complete the entire order of five hundred thousand Kirin 990 chips within two months.

The astonished expressions on the two Huayao big shots’ faces at that moment were still fresh in his memory.

This was not the production capacity of some unknown small factory; only a medium-sized wafer fab could possibly achieve it.

Moreover, the Kirin 990 was a seven-nanometer fabrication process chip, which was extremely difficult to manufacture.

In the eyes of the two big shots, Wang and Xu, Hu Jiangshan’s bold guarantee seemed a bit overconfident. Therefore, although they set a two-month deadline, they gave him a one-month extension option.

How considerate of them.

In reality, Hu Jiangshan had been conservative. At the efficiency of his semiconductor production line, five hundred thousand chips could probably be finished in just over a month.

If he had told the two big shots, Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun, the truth, they definitely wouldn’t have believed him and would have thought he was boasting.

Hu Jiangshan climbed out of bed, feeling light and carefree. The loan could finally be paid off.

Days of being short on money were truly hard to endure, so full of anxiety.

After washing up, Hu Jiangshan grabbed a quick breakfast on the street and then drove off.

A short while later, Hu Jiangshan arrived at the Pak Sha Wan Yacht Club marina, steering The Seahorse toward General’s Island.

The weather wasn’t great today; it was cloudy, making everything look a bit gloomy.

Without direct sunlight, the sea’s surface didn’t look as beautiful, but there was one advantage: it was cool.

Hu Jiangshan was so familiar with the route now that he didn’t even need to look at the navigational aids. He just set the autopilot in one direction, and twenty minutes later, he arrived at General’s Island.

Looking from a distance, a large ship was docked at the pier on General’s Island.

It appeared to be a medium-sized cargo ship.

The Seahorse slowly approached the pier, docking in a spot beside the cargo ship.

Fortunately, Hu Jiangshan had repaired the pier in advance, so docking two or three ships was no longer a problem.

Workers were frequently moving up and down the medium-sized cargo ship, transporting goods with small carts.

Hu Jiangshan understood at a glance—a batch of sand had been delivered.

As everyone knows, the raw material for manufacturing wafers is sand.

To be precise, it’s quartz sand. The material itself isn’t expensive, but the shipping costs are.

A single trip for this medium-sized cargo ship would cost over a hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars.

At that moment, Zhang Rui was on the shore, speaking with the ship’s owner.

Hu Jiangshan walked over after they finished their conversation.

“Dr. Zhang, how much sand was delivered today?”

Zhang Rui quickly replied, “One hundred bags arrived today.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “Thanks for your hard work.”

“It’s nothing, Boss. It’s what I should be doing.”

Hu Jiangshan and Zhang Rui chatted for a little while before Zhang Rui went to attend to his work.

Hu Jiangshan didn’t leave right away, instead watching the workers transport the sand.

It really was rather inconvenient.

The roads hadn’t been properly built, so efficient vehicles couldn’t be used. The island also lacked proper transportation equipment, so for now, they could only use pushcarts to move materials to the warehouse.

This was a high-tech semiconductor factory, yet they were using manual carts to transport things. It was just too crude.

Hu Jiangshan could barely stand to watch.

Fortunately, he had money now. Hu Jiangshan pondered how to improve the situation.

“Ding…”

Hu Jiangshan was startled for a moment, then immediately realized it was a notification sound from his phone.

He quickly pulled out his phone and took a look.

Well, what do you know. The Technology Engine App actually had a new message.

Hu Jiangshan was stunned at first, but he quickly understood.

This “Technology Engine” really was top-notch. Its approach to solving problems was always so refreshingly unconventional.

Just a moment ago, Hu Jiangshan was worrying about transporting raw materials. And now, the Technology Engine App had gone and offered up a quartz sand refinery.

That wasn’t a bad idea at all. This was an island, after all. Refining quartz sand from the sea sand was a brilliantly clever idea.

The key was, if they could produce their own quartz sand, they could save a huge amount on shipping costs and avoid a lot of hassle.

But then came the question: would this thing cause environmental damage or pollution?

Hu Jiangshan thought about it and felt he was overthinking things.

A typical sea sand refinery would definitely harm the environment, but the one created by the Technology Engine would be much better.

It would be high-tech and astonishingly efficient.

Besides, this was just a beginner-level refinery. If there were any problems, an upgrade could probably solve them.

This multi-functional quartz sand refinery required one million Hong Kong dollars and would take eight days to build.

Why was it so expensive? More expensive than the power plant and the water desalination facility.

But again, Hu Jiangshan had money now, so expensive was expensive.

Besides, building a quartz sand refinery for one million was practically a steal.

Hu Jiangshan pressed the confirm button. The familiar progress bar appeared, and the construction program started.

If the quartz sand refinery was completed, the raw materials needed for the semiconductor production line would be greatly reduced, and costs could be slashed again.

Hu Jiangshan inspected the various facilities on the island again. Everything was running normally.

General’s Island wasn’t large, but its infrastructure was now complete. It was self-sufficient in power and water. If the residents of the other nearby outlying islands found out, their jaws would surely drop.

Meanwhile, in the office building on General’s Island, a few employees had finished their work and were taking a break in the water bar.

The water bar was now equipped with a freezer and a cold drink cabinet, and employees could grab whatever they needed at any time.

The atmosphere, in particular, was like being in the garden restaurant of a resort hotel.

Feng Guangdou said in a low voice, “We’ve been at this for two months, haven’t we?”

Lou Xiuli nodded. “Just about. A few more days and it’ll be two months.”

“But it seems we don’t have any clients yet.”

“What’s the rush? Our production line’s technology is amazing, on par with top-tier manufacturers. You think we’ll have trouble finding clients?”

Feng Guangdou shook his head. “It’s not that simple. The technology of our production line is indeed impressive, but I’m afraid others won’t believe it. The expenses here are huge. Can the boss handle it?”

The others looked at each other, unsure of what to say.

What Feng Guangdou said wasn’t without reason.

Although none of them knew the exact expenses, they were all well aware that a semiconductor production line was a massive money pit.

The daily consumption of just electricity and water was enormous.

If they couldn’t find a major client soon and had no income, the pressure would be immense.

Just as they were speaking, Zhang Rui walked over and said, “Everyone, come in. We’re having a meeting to discuss preparations for mass production.”

Hearing this, everyone was stunned.

Mass production?

They actually had a client already!

Chapter 51: It’s Time to Register a Company

Everyone present was indeed very surprised.

Although they had all been very busy lately, it was all focused on debugging the semiconductor production line, conducting trial runs, and fabricating prototypes.

No one had noticed any clients visiting.

The news that they were about to start mass production felt incredibly sudden.

It wasn’t their fault for not knowing.

At the time, to maintain secrecy during the prototype fabrication for Huayao’s Kirin 990, only Zhang Rui knew the true origin of the chip. The rest of the team thought they were just testing the production line’s prototyping capabilities.

After the meeting, the team members all went back to work.

Zhang Rui, however, was ecstatic. They were about to begin mass production of the Kirin 990, which meant they had established a cooperative relationship with Huayao.

In the future, General’s Island would take over Island Foundry’s role, providing contract manufacturing for Huayao’s chips.

Once this batch of Kirin 990 chips was successfully delivered, it was bound to cause a sensation.

The thought of giving their peers on Blue Star a little shock was simply exhilarating!

Meanwhile, Hu Jiangshan was in his office, admiring the view from his window.

He was in a relaxed mood. After all, the most pressing issue—funding—had been resolved, and everything else was proceeding in an orderly fashion.

If there were no unexpected setbacks, the situation would only improve from here.

With time on his hands, Hu Jiangshan brewed himself a cup of coffee and started scrolling through social media on his phone while he drank.

He habitually opened Weibo.

Right on the front page, he saw a lot of content related to semiconductors and Huayao.

It was the same old story. Across all major social media platforms, “Huayao” was almost synonymous with the “chip crisis.”

Although there were some optimistic voices suggesting Huayao was in a better position than imagined and could hold out for a few years, such views lacked evidence and were largely dismissed by most netizens.

Moreover, more direct news kept breaking, such as Huayao’s overseas stores closing in large numbers due to lack of inventory.

There were even rumors that Huayao’s smartphone sales were in a free fall.

Just then, Hu Jiangshan came across a rather professional article by a blogger.

[If Huayao Went All Out, How Long Would It Take to Potentially Solve the Chip Problem?]

Honestly, it was a good topic.

The post had high numbers of clicks, comments, and shares.

After all, the blogger was a highly professional and influential figure in the tech community with a massive following and a reputation for authority.

Hu Jiangshan clicked on it.

The article was long, several thousand words, and even included charts and graphs.

Hu Jiangshan skimmed through it.

To be honest, it was well-written, with both arguments and supporting evidence, but the author clearly underestimated Huayao.

According to this influential blogger’s judgment, Huayao could last two years at most. After that, all sorts of problems would arise. Bankruptcy was unlikely, but it wouldn’t escape the fate of being broken up.

If Huayao was lucky and didn’t encounter any severe operational issues, it would still take a minimum of five to eight years to solve the chip problem.

If it really dragged on that long, it would be too late for everything.

Hu Jiangshan browsed the comment section. Most netizens agreed with the blogger’s view, believing that no matter how capable Huayao was, it was beyond saving.

Of course, there were still some netizens who disagreed.

These were likely Huayao fans, who believed in the company’s strong R&D capabilities and thought it could solve the chip problem in two to three years at most.

This viewpoint, however, was met with ridicule from many other netizens, who considered it to be indulging in wild fantasy.

Many of these users, thinking they knew a lot, argued that the technological barrier to chip manufacturing was too high. Without a stroke of luck, it would be impossible to break through in two or three years, let alone ten or eight.

Hu Jiangshan couldn’t help but sigh. Sometimes, the truth really is in the hands of the few.

Following the normal course of events, Huayao had actually solved the chip dilemma in less than three years.

Of course, that was the result of the combined efforts of all their peers in China.

And now, with a reincarnated prodigy like Hu Jiangshan in the picture, the breakthrough would only happen faster.

Just then, his phone rang.

[Caller ID: Wang Chengdong]

Hu Jiangshan was taken aback for a moment, wondering why Big Mouth Wang was calling again. Was there something they hadn’t cleared up yesterday?

Hu Jiangshan answered the phone, and Wang Chengdong’s hearty voice came through.

“Mr. Hu… no, Brother Hu, are you busy right now?”

Hu Jiangshan replied, “I’m not busy, just taking it easy. CEO Wang, what’s up?”

“I’m calling to confirm the time for our next meeting.”

“…Next meeting?”

“That’s right, Brother Hu. Have you forgotten? We still haven’t signed the formal contract.”

The realization dawned on Hu Jiangshan.

What they had signed yesterday was just a letter of intent. The formal contract required legal review before it could be signed.

Hu Jiangshan thought for a moment and said, “CEO Wang, I’m available anytime.”

Wang Chengdong was pleased. “That’s great! How about next Tuesday, then? You bring everything you need, and we can find a place to get it signed.”

Hu Jiangshan paused. “What else do I need to bring?”

“Proof of the legal representative and the company, of course.”

It finally clicked for Hu Jiangshan. Signing a formal business contract like this definitely required documents like proof of legal entity.

The problem was, Hu Jiangshan hadn’t registered a company yet. He had essentially started the business without getting the proper license.

After a moment’s thought, Hu Jiangshan said, “CEO Wang, I need to be upfront with you. For confidentiality reasons, the nature of my company on paper will not match its actual operations.”

Wang Chengdong was a smart man and naturally understood. “Alright, I get it. We have a gentleman’s agreement. We just need to go through the motions.”

After hanging up, Hu Jiangshan began to ponder.

It was time to register the company.

But that raised a question: what kind of company should he register?

As he had just told Wang Chengdong, it absolutely couldn’t be a semiconductor manufacturing enterprise.

He could register a technology company with a broad scope of business.

Although Hong Kong Island didn’t have any famous, large-scale tech companies, it had plenty of small companies, workshops, and shell companies of this type.

He still had time today. No time like the present.

Hu Jiangshan informed Zhang Rui, then piloted The Seahorse back to Hong Kong Island.

To register a company, he first needed a physical office address.

He couldn’t list General’s Island as the office location; that would expose everything immediately. So, he needed an office on Hong Kong Island.

An hour later, Central, Hong Kong Island. Hongyang Real Estate.

Hu Jiangshan walked in.

A young woman approached him. “Sir, how can I help you?”

The young woman’s name was Chen Guanglian. She had a delicate and pretty face and was a real estate agent here.

Hu Jiangshan said, “I need to rent an office space.”

“Ah, please wait a moment, sir. I’ll get you the information.”

With that, Chen Guanglian invited Hu Jiangshan to have a seat and went to fetch the files.

Hu Jiangshan figured that since he was registering a company, Central was the best location for the address, especially since tech companies here were said to have tax incentives.

When Chen Guanglian brought over the files on the office spaces, Hu Jiangshan couldn’t help but be taken aback.

The rent for office space in Central was truly steep!

Chapter 52: A Chance Encounter with the Star Qiu Xuezhen

Hong Kong Island itself wasn’t large, a place where an inch of land is worth an inch of gold, but for office space in Central to be this expensive was truly staggering.

Hu Jiangshan glanced through the listings. For a space less than one thousand square feet, a year’s rent was nearly three million Hong Kong dollars.

If Hu Jiangshan hadn’t earned some money recently, he wouldn’t have dared to even look.

Although Hu Jiangshan was a rich guy, he definitely didn’t know about these things. After all, he used to be a good-for-nothing who spent his days doing nothing but eating, drinking, and making merry.

Of course, on the surface, Hu Jiangshan remained completely composed—calm, confident, and utterly unruffled.

He was a member of the Hu family, after all. He couldn’t afford to look ignorant.

Seeing that Hu Jiangshan had finished looking through the brochure, Chen Guanglian asked, “Sir, what size are you looking for? I can recommend a few places and we can go see them in person.”

Hu Jiangshan said, “Nothing too big. Around a thousand square feet will do.”

A thousand square feet is roughly equivalent to one hundred square meters on the mainland.

That should be more than enough for a representative office.

Chen Guanglian looked quite young, but she was very professional. She immediately selected a few office spaces and took Hu Jiangshan to see them.

There were many office buildings in Central, but not many were up to his standards.

Some had their windows blocked by other buildings, letting in no sunlight at all, and some didn’t even have windows.

Thinking about it, this was normal. Many small businesses and shell companies wouldn’t invest much money; as long as they had a place to work, they would naturally choose these more cost-effective options.

But Hu Jiangshan couldn’t just settle. He had to choose a place with a good environment, one that looked the part.

After weaving through various office buildings for over an hour, Hu Jiangshan finally found one he was relatively satisfied with.

Taihe Tower in Central was a relatively new office building.

Chen Guanglian led Hu Jiangshan to the thirty-fifth floor and through a door.

“Mr. Hu, this unit has about one thousand two hundred square feet of usable space, which basically meets your requirements.”

“You see, this office building was just opened the year before last. The design, decor, and facilities are all relatively new. It’s spacious and bright, with a logical layout and the best natural light.”

Hu Jiangshan looked at the windows. They were mostly large, floor-to-ceiling panes with nothing obstructing the view outside. The lighting was indeed excellent.

“It is quite nice.”

Seeing Hu Jiangshan’s positive reaction, Chen Guanglian continued her pitch with even more enthusiasm.

“Mr. Hu, if you look outside, that very tall building is the Central International Finance Centre. It’s very close, which shows this location is prime.”

“Oh, and the companies in this building are all quite high-end. There are almost no disreputable shell companies here.”

Hu Jiangshan had to agree with what Chen Guanglian said.

Taihe Tower in Central was clearly a high-class office building; a shell company would never rent a place like this.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “What’s the rent for this office?”

Chen Guanglian said, “Mr. Hu, the annual rent is five million.”

Hu Jiangshan felt a headache coming on when he heard that.

My goodness, an office of just over one hundred square meters cost five million Hong Kong dollars a year. It was definitely high-end.

Hu Jiangshan had the money now, but it still pained him to spend it.

Chen Guanglian asked, “Mr. Hu, would you like to consider this one?”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “I’m very satisfied with it. I’ll give it serious consideration.”

The two of them walked and talked as they left the office.

“Ah Shan!”

Hu Jiangshan froze.

The voice was all too familiar. It was his beautiful mother, Yuan Caihua.

He saw Yuan Caihua with two other people—to his surprise, it was Qiu Xuezhen and her daughter, Shen Lan.

They were all great beauties!

Especially Qiu Xuezhen, who would be no stranger to anyone familiar with Hong Kong Island cinema.

In the eighties and nineties, Hong Kong Island’s actresses were a sea of beauties, a veritable clash of goddesses.

Among them, Qiu Xuezhen’s looks, aura, and figure could easily rank her in the top five, perhaps even the top three.

As mentioned before, Shen Lan was Qiu Xuezhen’s second daughter. She had perfectly inherited her mother’s looks, and even her temperament was very similar.

After his rebirth, Hu Jiangshan had seen Shen Lan before but had never spoken to her.

Of course, Yuan Caihua was no slouch either. She used to be an actress, a great beauty at TVB; otherwise, Hu Wenxin would never have taken a fancy to her.

It wasn’t strange for the three of them to be together. Yuan Caihua and Qiu Xuezhen both came from acting backgrounds and moved in similar circles. They were bound to run into each other, and over time, they became friends.

Hu Jiangshan quickly walked over. “Mom, what are you doing here?”

Yuan Caihua smiled and said, “I was just browsing around. By the way, you know who this is, right? The famous star, Qiu.”

Qiu Xuezhen smiled, pressing her lips together. “Oh, what kind of big star am I? Stop teasing!”

Yuan Caihua said, “Ah Shan, just call her Auntie Qiu.”

Hu Jiangshan quickly greeted Qiu Xuezhen.

Qiu Xuezhen was quite friendly. She kept sizing up Hu Jiangshan, a hint of surprise showing in her expression.

It was because Hu Jiangshan’s reputation was so terrible that she felt the rumors didn’t quite match the man in front of her.

Truth be told, Hu Jiangshan wasn’t bad-looking to begin with. When he was serious, he really gave off an air of being exceptionally talented, dashing, and handsomely upright.

On top of that, the Hu Jiangshan of today had been an outstanding scientist in his past life, and that scholarly and academic air had now merged with his personality.

On Hong Kong Island, the so-called elites were almost all in finance. Handsome men of this type were rare, which made him seem particularly special.

Yuan Caihua glanced at Hu Jiangshan, then at Chen Guanglian, and asked in a low voice, “Who is this?”

Hu Jiangshan cleared his throat, knowing his mom had gotten the wrong idea. He quickly explained, “This is an agent, a real estate agent.”

Yuan Caihua froze when she heard that. “What are you doing with a real estate agent? Are you renting a place?”

“Yes, I want to rent an office.”

“Huh? What do you need an office for?”

For a moment, Hu Jiangshan didn’t know how to explain.

Yuan Caihua’s eyes lit up. “Oh, right, Ah Shan, I remember now! You’re going to start a fish farm, aren’t you?”

Hu Jiangshan hadn’t expected his mother to remember that. He had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree.

Qiu Xuezhen asked curiously, “…A fish farm?”

Yuan Caihua enthusiastically explained to her best friend, “My son here has finally decided to start his own business! He’s planning to open a fish farm to raise fish!”

Qiu Xuezhen nodded. “Oh, that’s good, that’s very good. Fish farming is a fine business.”

“Of course it is! My son is so busy nowadays. He stays home all day, cooped up, just researching how to raise fish.”

Dark lines formed on Hu Jiangshan’s forehead. He felt like he was about to faint. Was this really something to be proud of?

Shen Lan looked at Hu Jiangshan curiously, her head full of question marks.

This second-generation rich, this playboy, this famous prodigal son of Hong Kong Island, was actually going to open a fish farm to raise fish?

Is this a joke? Who would believe it?

Yuan Caihua patted her son’s arm and said, “Ah Shan, why didn’t you tell me you needed an office?”

“Huh?”

“What ‘huh’? You don’t need to rent one. I’ll find an office for you!”

“Huh?”

Chapter 53: Whoops, I’m a Real Fish Farm Owner Now

Yuan Caihua said, “Did you not know our family has a lot of office space? Many of them are empty, too.”

Hu Jiangshan was stunned for a moment. “We do? I had no idea.”

Yuan Caihua shot Hu Jiangshan a look. “How would you know? You’re never around. And your father is the same; he never tells you anything.”

Hu Jiangshan was speechless. What Yuan Caihua said was true.

Never mind the current Hu Jiangshan; even the old Hu Jiangshan had never cared about how much office space the Hu family owned, let alone how many of them were vacant.

Seeing Hu Jiangshan in a daze, Yuan Caihua raised an eyebrow. “What’s this? Ah Shan, were you really planning to spend money on rent?”

Hu Jiangshan quickly waved his hands. “Of course not. If I can save money, I will. I couldn’t be happier. I’m not that much of a spendthrift.”

“That’s more like it.”

Qiu Xuezhen and her daughter, Shen Lan, exchanged a look of disbelief.

Hu Jiangshan claiming he wasn’t a spendthrift—if they had heard that on any other day, they would have thought it was a joke.

But seeing Hu Jiangshan as he was now, it somehow felt believable. It was just too strange.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “By the way, Mom, where is this office space? It’s not in some remote location, is it?”

Yuan Caihua waved her hand dismissively. “Remote? How remote could our Hu family’s office spaces be? There’s one right in this building.”

“Huh? In this building?”

“That’s right. We’re on the 35th floor, right? There’s a vacant office one floor up, on the 36th. How about this, I’ll take you to see it.”

“Okay.”

Hu Jiangshan agreed, then quickly apologized to the real estate agent, Chen Guanglian, saying that he would definitely contact him first next time he needed anything.

Chen Guanglian wasn’t upset. He even left his contact information with Hu Jiangshan.

It was obvious Hu Jiangshan was from a prominent family. Perhaps there would be real opportunities for cooperation in the future.

Yuan Caihua led Hu Jiangshan toward the elevators, with Qiu Xuezhen and Shen Lan following behind.

The two of them didn’t seem to have anything else to do, so they tagged along to see the office.

The layout of the thirty-sixth floor was similar to the thirty-fifth, but it had an atrium—a lounge area—where one could drink coffee or have a light meal.

Yuan Caihua pointed at a glass door and said, “This is it.”

Hu Jiangshan peered inside through the glass door.

It was indeed an empty office, and it looked quite spacious.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “Mommy, how big is this place?”

“I don’t know, I’ve never been inside. Right, I’ll call the building management and have them send over the key.”

A moment later, a member of the building management staff arrived and helped open the office door.

Everyone walked inside.

This office was indeed very spacious, much larger than the one Chen Guanglian had shown him earlier.

Yuan Caihua asked the building manager, “Manager Wang, what’s the area of this office?”

Manager Wang replied immediately, “This one should be about two thousand five hundred square feet.”

Hu Jiangshan’s eyes widened. Two thousand five hundred square feet was equivalent to over two hundred square meters. The area was indeed much larger.

Hu Jiangshan took another careful look around the room.

The office really had everything. Besides the large open-plan work area, there was a smaller workstation area, as well as a conference room, two private offices, and even a small pantry.

On Hong Kong Island, where an inch of land is worth an inch of gold, this setup was quite impressive.

Yuan Caihua asked Hu Jiangshan, “Ah Shan, what do you think of this one? If you think it’s too small, there are other offices.”

Hu Jiangshan quickly waved his hands. “Mom, this one is fine. Let’s go with this one.”

“Alright, this one it is.”

“Mom, is it really okay for me to use it?”

Yuan Caihua said, “It’s our family’s property. What could be the problem?”

Hu Jiangshan thought about it and realized she was right. How could he keep forgetting he was a second-generation rich kid?

A second-generation rich kid should act the part, even if it’s just an act.

Yuan Caihua added, “Just use it. For as long as you want. I’ll just have a word with your father.”

Hu Jiangshan gladly accepted the office.

At that moment, Qiu Xuezhen asked Hu Jiangshan curiously, “Are you really going to start a fish farm?”

Hu Jiangshan had no choice but to say, “Yes, I’m starting a fish farm.”

“Where are you planning to open it?”

“In…”

Before Hu Jiangshan could answer, Yuan Caihua said, “I know he bought an island recently. He’s probably setting up the fish farm there.”

Hu Jiangshan’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “Mom, you knew?”

Yuan Caihua smiled faintly. “It’s not just me. Your father and your Grandpa know too.”

Hu Jiangshan was speechless. It seemed he had underestimated the intelligence-gathering capabilities of a tycoon family.

Although Hu Yingxiang and Hu Wenxin had never asked Hu Jiangshan what he was up to, they knew everything.

However, they probably only knew that he had bought an island. As for what he was doing on it, they likely didn’t know, nor did they care.

Qiu Xuezhen said with a smile, “That’s great! When the fish farm is built, can you take us for a tour?”

What could Hu Jiangshan say? He could only repeat “yes” a few times.

Now that he had an office, the next steps were simple. Hu Jiangshan planned to go to the company registration department on Hong Kong Island tomorrow to register his company.

Just then, Yuan Caihua said, “Ah Shan, you haven’t registered the company yet, have you?”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “I plan to register it tomorrow.”

“You don’t need to go.”

“Huh? I don’t? Why not?”

“I can get it done for you with one phone call. I’ll have the whole set of documents sent to you when it’s ready!”

Hu Jiangshan felt it was a bit strange, but there was nothing he could do. He couldn’t very well refuse; he had no reason to.

“Alright, then I’ll just wait at home.”

The next afternoon, someone delivered a file folder to Hu Jiangshan.

It was a complete set of company registration documents.

Hu Jiangshan took out the company information sheet and browsed it casually while sipping his coffee.

Suddenly, the expression on Hu Jiangshan’s face froze.

[Company’s Scope of Business: Fish Farm]

Hu Jiangshan stared, dumbfounded. He almost dropped his coffee cup.

My God! It was registered as a company that operates a fish farm!

This took ridiculous to a whole new level!

He had really become a fish farm owner!

For a moment, Hu Jiangshan was thrown into disarray, his mind a tangled mess, completely at a loss for what to do.

But there was nothing Hu Jiangshan could do. Changing a company’s scope of business after registration was a hassle and involved a long process. It would be easier to just register a new company.

Hu Jiangshan looked at the information below.

[Specialization: High-tech, Intelligent]

Since when could a fish farm be associated with those two words?

Hu Jiangshan sighed.

Forget it, let it be, he thought. A fish farm and semiconductor manufacturing were completely unrelated, which actually made for a great cover.

But Hu Jiangshan was also worried. What if his parents, on a whim, decided to visit his fish farm one day?

He couldn’t possibly build a real fish farm, could he?

Hu Jiangshan decided not to dwell on it. He had to sign the contract with Huayao next week, so there was no time for anything else. He could only take it one step at a time.

Chapter 54: The Predicament of HiSilicon

There’s a saying: one lie needs countless others to cover it up.

Back then, Hu Jiangshan had just casually said he was going to start a fish farm, never expecting to actually become a fish farm owner now.

This boomerang really came back to hit him hard.

What could Hu Jiangshan do?

He mulled it over and felt he couldn’t just ignore it.

What if someone actually wanted to see his fish farm?

Taking it a step further, what if someone actually wanted to come and buy fish?

How would Hu Jiangshan explain it then? Say he’d lost money and the fish farm had gone out of business?

It wasn’t impossible, just rather embarrassing.

In his past life, as a top-tier scientific researcher, Hu Jiangshan had been very competitive and found it hard to accept failure, even a verbal one.

An idea sparked in Hu Jiangshan’s mind. Perhaps he really could set up a fish farm near General’s Island.

That way, it would also serve as a good cover for the semiconductor production line.

Hu Jiangshan was a scientist. As long as he had the funds to invest, creating a high-tech, automated, or even an unmanned, maintenance-free fish farm wasn’t out of the question.

However, this was a major project that required some preparation.

Besides, Hu Jiangshan knew nothing about fish farming right now and would have to learn from scratch, which was the biggest headache.

Forget it, he’d set it aside for now. After all, it wasn’t a problem that needed to be solved urgently.

Hu Jiangshan reviewed the company’s documents one more time. Seeing no issues, he just had to wait to sign the contract with Huayao next week.

A few days later, in Guangzhou-Shenzhen City, at Huayao’s Bantian Base.

The Bantian Base was Huayao’s most important office location, housing almost all of its core research and development departments.

Compared to Huayao’s other offices, the Bantian Base was much busier, and the R&D staff worked tirelessly.

If there was a major project in a crunch period, the relevant researchers would even go into seclusion here for several months, just like going to war.

And among all the R&D departments, HiSilicon was the most unique.

All of Huayao’s proprietary chips came from the HiSilicon department.

At that moment, a few employees from the HiSilicon department were chatting in the rest area outside the office building.

They were supposedly chatting, but every one of them wore a grave expression.

“Have you guys noticed? There’s been less work lately.”

“Almost all projects have been shelved. Of course there’s less.”

“This can’t go on. We design chips, but they can’t be manufactured. What are we supposed to do?”

“What else can we do? Wait for the higher-ups to negotiate. Maybe it’ll be resolved soon.”

“That’s true. It can’t stay deadlocked forever. It’s good that we’re not busy now. We can use this time to rest and spend time with our families.”

Just then, someone sitting not far away let out a cold laugh.

Everyone looked over and saw it was Wu Xueming.

Wu Xueming was a level-nineteen employee, which was a considerably high rank at Huayao. At that level, you were either in management or a specialist.

Wu Xueming was indeed a specialist. He had been with Huayao for less than a year and was a high-level professional who had returned from abroad.

And Wu Xueming was indeed very arrogant, rarely interacting with others outside of work-related matters.

Huang Chao asked, “What are you laughing at? Is this funny?”

Wu Xueming glanced at him. “Isn’t it funny? You think that guy in the US White House is a pushover? If a simple negotiation could get them to let you off the hook, they would never have signed that order in the first place.”

“What? You mean they’re not going to let up?”

Wu Xueming said flatly, “Don’t think I’m being harsh. Their goal is to have Huayao…”

As he spoke, Wu Xueming made a throat-slitting gesture, which was horrifying.

The others looked at each other, speechless for a moment.

Huang Chao couldn’t help but say, “It’s not time to despair yet. If we work our hardest, we can definitely overcome this. Similar things have happened before, and we always made it through, didn’t we!”

Hearing this, the others couldn’t help but nod in agreement.

Wu Xueming glanced at Huang Chao as if looking at an idiot.

“You’re being too naive,” he said. “This time is different.”

“How is it different?”

Wu Xueming’s expression turned cold. “Let me tell you, if this continues, it’s not even certain this department will still exist in half a year!”

“Wh-what!?”

“Wu Xueming, what are you trying to say?”

Wu Xueming said, “Exactly what it sounds like.”

Even Huang Chao fell silent for a moment.

Wu Xueming’s words couldn’t be dismissed as mere alarmism.

The top chip foundries would no longer accept orders from Huayao. HiSilicon’s design capabilities were strong, arguably world-class on Blue Star, but if the chips they designed couldn’t be manufactured, it was all for nothing.

To put it simply, the current HiSilicon couldn’t generate any revenue; it was a department that only burned through money.

Chip design is an extremely expensive endeavor. Leaving aside other costs, just the salaries of the department’s employees were unimaginably high for the average person.

Huayao was currently besieged from all sides. How long it could afford to keep HiSilicon running was indeed a major question.

Wu Xueming added, “I suggest you all start looking for your next employer. Staying here is a waste of time.”

Liu Yunchang asked, “What, from the sound of it, have you already found yours?”

Wu Xueming smiled faintly. “I’m not as foolish as you all.”

Wu Xueming had indeed found a new employer. Although the salary was significantly lower, he had decided to leave.

Moreover, Wu Xueming had already spoken to the department head about his resignation and submitted his resignation request through the system.

Now, all that was left was to complete the departure procedures.

What was that saying again? A wise man doesn’t stand under a crumbling wall.

Man strives for greater heights, just as water flows downward. In Wu Xueming’s heart, Huayao was no longer a place he could stay.

The others were somewhat displeased with Wu Xueming’s remarks, especially Huang Chao, who couldn’t stand people who made cynical comments.

If you want to leave, then just leave. No one is stopping you. Are you trying to kick us while we’re down?

Just then, someone walked over, carrying a case in his hand.

It was clearly a special protective case for wafers and chips.

And the person carrying the case was none other than one of the department’s top leaders, Fang Haitao.

Fang Haitao glanced at the group, his gaze sweeping past Wu Xueming before landing on Huang Chao.

“Huang Chao, come with me for a moment.”

Huang Chao nodded, stood up, and followed Fang Haitao into the office building.

Seeing this, the group couldn’t help but let their imaginations run wild, and they immediately started to speculate.

“What’s Director Fang carrying?”

“Can’t you tell? They’re probably chip samples.”

“My God, no way. How could there be any chip samples now?”

“Yeah, no manufacturer is doing contract manufacturing for us anymore. It’s impossible for there to be chip samples!”

“Maybe they found a new foundry?”

Wu Xueming couldn’t resist saying, “How is that possible? Don’t indulge in wild fantasies. Besides Island Foundry and Samsang, no other manufacturer can meet the requirements!”

Liu Yunchang said, “Then what do you think is in the case?”

Wu Xueming was at a loss for words.

Chapter 55: If the Chip Passes, Huayao Lives

Wu Xueming’s department was responsible for evaluating chip samples and developing improvement plans.

The main chip design department would submit the new chip’s IC design schematics to a wafer foundry, like Island Foundry or Huaxin International.

After the foundry’s prototype fabrication process, they would receive chip samples, which would then be brought back for evaluation, testing, and improvement.

However, for reasons known to all, it had been a long time since any new chip samples had arrived.

What was going on today?

Why were there new chip samples all of a sudden?

And Fang Haitao himself had brought them over, which meant this set of samples was extremely important.

Recalling Fang Haitao’s cautious and tense expression just now, Wu Xueming felt even more strongly that something was afoot.

Also, he, Wu Xueming, was the top expert in the department, the highest-ranking specialist, yet Fang Haitao hadn’t called for him. Instead, he had called for that guy, Huang Chao.

Of course, he couldn’t blame Fang Haitao. After all, Wu Xueming had already submitted his resignation.

Wu Xueming sneered. He felt that Fang Haitao and the others were definitely on a fool’s errand, or perhaps just putting on a show. It was simply impossible for Huayao to find a reliable contract manufacturing partner right now!

Meanwhile, Fang Haitao led Huang Chao into a conference room.

As he watched, Fang Haitao placed the case on the conference table.

Huang Chao couldn’t help but ask, “Director Fang, what’s inside this…”

“Chip samples, of course.”

Huang Chao swallowed hard. “Director Fang, which chip are these samples for?”

“The Kirin 990.”

“Huh? The Ki-Kirin 990? Director Fang, we’ve already tested it, haven’t we? We tested it many times last year. Are we testing it again?”

Is it because the department has no work, so management is trying to make some up? Huang Chao thought.

That was not a good sign.

Fang Haitao patted the case. “This time is different.”

Huang Chao suddenly realized something and hurriedly asked, “Director Fang, could this be from Huaxin International’s prototype fabrication?”

Fang Haitao glanced at Huang Chao. “Huaxin International? Do you think they can do it? This is a seven-nanometer chip.”

“Well…”

Huaxin International was indeed the strongest wafer manufacturer in mainland China, but their technology could only go as far as fourteen nanometers at the moment, and even then, they couldn’t guarantee the yield rate.

Of course, it was possible to produce a seven-nanometer chip using cruder methods, but it was completely unfeasible for commercial mass production.

Fang Haitao said, “Alright, don’t worry about who made it for now. I need you all to test this chip first. See what the craftsmanship is like, what flaws it has. Oh, and be sure to compare it with Island Foundry’s version of the Kirin 990 to see how big the gap in the fabrication process is. Then write a test report.”

“Okay, I understand.”

Huang Chao didn’t ask any more questions. The most important thing was that he had work to do now.

Besides, Fang Haitao’s attitude was extremely cautious. There must be some secret behind this version of the Kirin 990.

Huang Chao said, “Don’t worry, Director Fang. We’ll get it done as quickly as possible.”

“Good. Go on, then.”

Huang Chao hesitated for a moment before asking, “Director Fang, are we going to be okay here?”

Fang Haitao glanced toward the door and said in a low voice, “As long as this chip is fine and meets Huayao’s requirements, then we’ll be fine.”

Huang Chao’s eyes lit up. Like a withered tree in spring, he was revitalized, so full of new life he felt like he could jump for joy.

“Understood, Director Fang. I’ll get right to it.”

“Alright, go.”

Huang Chao picked up the case and strode out of the room, his head held high and his posture proud, his face aglow with renewed energy.

Several people were standing outside the door—the same colleagues he had been chatting with earlier.

It seemed they were also curious about what Director Fang had been holding and what task he was assigning to Huang Chao.

“Brother Chao, what’s the situation?”

“What did Director Fang say to you? Give us a hint.”

“Hey, you brought the case out. Are there chips inside?”

“Did Director Fang give you a new task? Come on, tell us.”

Huang Chao smiled faintly. “Alright, let’s find a conference room to go over the situation. We’re going to be busy for the next few days.”

Hearing this, everyone grew excited.

Hot damn, we have new work!

And it seemed there were new chip samples, which was a huge deal!

Just then, Wu Xueming walked over. He glanced at the case in Huang Chao’s hand and smiled faintly. “So mysterious. What kind of trick are you pulling now?”

Huang Chao wasn’t angry. He just smiled and said, “That’s none of your concern. You should focus on finding your next job.”

Wu Xueming’s expression changed. “You… Let me tell you, it’s impossible for Huayao to find a new foundry now. All your efforts are futile. I’d advise you all not to waste your time.”

Huang Chao said calmly, “That’s not for you to worry about. It has nothing to do with you anymore.”

With that, Huang Chao left with the case.

The other colleagues followed closely behind him, not even sparing Wu Xueming a second glance.

Wu Xueming stood frozen on the spot. Being treated like this as a specialist-level expert was immensely uncomfortable.

More importantly, Huang Chao’s attitude seemed so self-assured, as if he had an ace up his sleeve.

Could Huayao have really found a new foundry?

But how was that possible?

Completely impossible!

Besides Island Foundry and Samsang, no other company could produce advanced seven-nanometer mobile chips.

Even if Intel had the capability, it would require a great deal of preparatory work to achieve it.

The key was that it was impossible for any of these three companies to do contract manufacturing for Huayao.

Thinking of this, Wu Xueming let out a cold laugh. He wanted to see just how these people would struggle in their death throes.

Meanwhile, Huang Chao held a ten-minute meeting with his team, and then they all got busy.

They were going to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the “new Kirin 990’s” fabrication process.

After preparing the test instruments, Huang Chao opened the case, revealing the chips and the wafer.

Everyone crowded around, eager to get a look.

“It really is the Kirin 990!”

“Wow, look at the packaging. The quality is pretty good.”

“The pins are very neat, too. This is clearly quality work.”

“That only proves the packaging process is good. We still need to test the chip itself to know for sure.”

Wu Xueming sat at his own desk, watching coldly from the side.

These guys are indulging in wild fantasy. Those chips are clearly just mock-ups. It’s questionable if they can even power on.

At that moment, Huang Chao had already placed a chip on the development board and was beginning the power-on test.

Everyone was tense.

This first step was crucial. If it could power on, it meant the chip could at least function.

Many chip samples failed even this simple test.

Beep.

A cheer erupted from the crowd. The chip had lit up.

The cup in Wu Xueming’s hand trembled, and he nearly spilled water on his desk.

What’s going on? It actually powered on?

Wu Xueming couldn’t help but stand up. He took two steps forward, craning his neck to watch.

Chapter 56: Huayao’s Supply Chain Is Under Immense Pressure

When Huang Chao and the others saw that the device had powered on successfully, they knew they had a shot, but they didn’t get overly excited. After all, this was only the first step.

The team split up and began a comprehensive fabrication process analysis of the Kirin 990 chip.

This set of samples included fully sealed, finished chips, unpackaged chips, and even more primitive wafers, so the testing process was not overly complicated.

They were all seasoned professionals, so they naturally fell into a familiar routine.

Wu Xueming, with nothing to do, stood idly by, feeling uneasy and out of place.

As mentioned before, Wu Xueming was a top-tier returnee from abroad and a level nineteen employee at Huayao—a veritable top expert in his department. But now, he had become a nobody, completely excluded.

However, Wu Xueming didn’t think he had done anything wrong. He believed these people were just wasting their time.

He had already overheard them; it was a set of Kirin 990 chips sent for testing.

Although he didn’t know which company had done the contract manufacturing, it certainly wasn’t a major one.

Any wafer fabrication company worth its name would no longer be able to cooperate with Huayao.

Therefore, this set of chips had to be defective. Even if they could be powered on, the actual test data would be far from ideal.

With this in mind, Wu Xueming got himself a cup of coffee and continued to observe calmly.

He was sure he would see the disappointment on their faces soon enough.

Just then, he suddenly heard someone exclaim, “Wow, this craftsmanship is amazing! It’s so precise!”

Hearing this, the others immediately gathered around, followed by a chorus of gasps and praise.

“It really is! The craftsmanship is incredible! Look at the density of these transistors, it’s definitely at a sub-ten-nanometer level!”

“Let me see… Whoa, why do I feel like the process integrity and transistor density are even better than before?”

“Hey, Brother Chao, who on earth made this? It doesn’t look like Huaxin International’s work.”

“What are you talking about? Of course it’s not Huaxin International. Their fabrication process isn’t advanced enough.”

Hearing their discussion, the coffee in Wu Xueming’s hand lost its aroma.

What’s going on? The fabrication process is excellent?

What a load of crap!

Wu Xueming put down his coffee cup and couldn’t resist walking over.

On a large screen, a magnified image of the chip’s transistors was displayed.

Dense tiny dots were distributed within a square representing the chip’s area.

Using an instrument to magnify and image the chip produced the picture now on the screen.

Wu Xueming was an expert. One look at the screen was all he needed to gauge the level of the chip’s fabrication process.

This density was absolutely at a sub-ten-nanometer level.

No, it might even have reached seven nanometers!

More importantly, the magnified transistors were arranged in perfect order, and the gaps between them were uniform, with almost no discernible variation.

Wu Xueming’s scalp tingled. He was utterly dumbfounded, tongue-tied.

They were right. This craftsmanship was second to none!

It was absolutely impossible for it to be from Huaxin International!

And it was impossible for Island Foundry or Samsang to do contract manufacturing for Huayao again…

So which company was responsible for this?

Wu Xueming felt the situation was becoming increasingly strange.

At the same time, a sliver of regret crept in. He had submitted his resignation too early. He should have observed for a few more days before acting.

By the time the end of the workday approached, Wu Xueming was even more unsettled.

Huang Chao’s team had finished their tests, and the preliminary assessment was “Excellent.”

This was an extremely good result, which meant it had definitely passed.

Watching the cheering crowd, Wu Xueming felt a mix of anger, resentment, and regret, as if he had been made a fool of.

Meanwhile, at the Huayao headquarters building.

Wang Chengdong was in his office, sipping coffee while casually browsing the web.

He paid close attention to online trends and frequently checked major social media platforms.

Lately, however, online public opinion had been very unfriendly toward Huayao.

But that didn’t matter. Wang Chengdong was a strong-willed man with an astonishing ability to handle pressure.

Soon, these uninformed netizens would learn that Huayao was not so easily defeated.

And this time, with a benefactor’s help, it would be even easier for Huayao to climb out of the mire.

Just then, a knock came at the door.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and two men walked in.

It was Li Long and Cao Guoping.

Li Long was the Vice President of Huayao’s mobile terminal business, essentially Wang Chengdong’s second-in-command.

Cao Guoping was the head of Huayao’s supply chain department.

Wang Chengdong was pleased to see them.

“Well, it’s a rare sight to see you two together. Come, have a seat.”

Li and Cao sat down.

Wang Chengdong had his assistant brew them each an Americano.

“What brings you two over?” Wang Chengdong asked.

Li Long cleared his throat. “Old Cao here is a bit on edge and wanted to have a chat with you.”

“Oh? On edge?”

At this, Wang Chengdong looked at Cao Guoping.

Cao Guoping’s condition was indeed not good. He was listless with bloodshot eyes, and even his hair was a mess, as if he hadn’t slept in days.

Li Long said, “That’s right, Old Wang. Last time, you said the problem might be resolved soon, but you never gave us a definite answer. How will it be resolved? What’s the solution? And when, exactly? So, we’re all feeling uneasy.”

Wang Chengdong couldn’t help but chuckle.

It seemed it wasn’t just Cao Guoping who was on edge; Li Long was as well.

During the senior management meeting a couple of days ago, Wang Chengdong had taken a moment to speak with Li Long, saying a few ambiguous things.

In truth, very few people at Huayao knew of Hu Jiangshan’s existence; even Li Long was not aware of the details.

The matter was simply too sensitive. It had to be kept under the strictest secrecy before everything was finalized. Not too many people could know.

Of course, as core senior executives, it would be fine for Li Long and Cao Guoping to know.

Wang Chengdong thought for a moment and decided to lay all his cards on the table to prevent the management team from making misjudgments or mistakes.

Just then, Cao Guoping spoke up. “CEO Wang, our supply chain department is under immense pressure right now. We can’t get chips, so should we place orders for other components or not? You have no idea how anxious the suppliers are. They’re worried we won’t be able to renew our contracts. Some of them have exclusive deals with us; their entire livelihood depends on Huayao.”

Huayao’s supply chain was vast and complex. Due to the high sales volume of Huayao phones, many of their suppliers were living the good life.

If Huayao was truly unable to produce products like smartphones and tablets, a significant number of component suppliers would face major business difficulties, and some might not even survive.

Wang Chengdong smiled. “Rest assured, you two. We now have a preliminary solution.”

Hearing this, both men nearly leaped from the sofa.

Li Long couldn’t help but ask, “Old Wang, how are we going to solve it? Have you found a new supplier?”

Cao Guoping glanced at Li Long, his expression seeming to say, “So naive. That’s impossible.”

To his surprise, Wang Chengdong smiled faintly. “We have indeed found a supplier.”

“What!?”

“Really!?”

Chapter 57: The Fabrication Process Also Met the Standard

Cao Guoping asked frantically, “CEO Wang, is it a chip supplier? What kind of chips are they supplying? Gaoxin, or Liantek?”

Cao Guoping had misunderstood, thinking the chip supplier Wang Chengdong mentioned was one that resold processor chips from other manufacturers.

“Neither,” Wang Chengdong said.

“…Then what is it?”

“It’s our Kirin chip.”

“…Huh?”

Li Long and Cao Guoping’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

Li Long said with a bitter smile, “Old Wang, stop teasing us. If there’s another foundry that can do contract manufacturing for us, that’s something I can only dream of.”

“Exactly, CEO Wang,” Cao Guoping said. “Please don’t joke around with us. Look at the time. We need to think of a solution, and fast.”

Wang Chengdong placed his coffee cup on the table and said in a low voice, “I really did find a foundry. It’s just a bit obscure. We’ve already signed a preliminary contract for the work, and we’re about to sign the official one.”

“Holy shit! You’ve already signed a contract!?”

“When did this happen?”

“There wasn’t even a whisper about it!”

“Old Wang, you’re not kidding, are you?”

Wang Chengdong waved his hand. “Don’t get so excited. Let me finish.”

He then told the two of them about Hu Jiangshan on Hong Kong Island.

Li Long and Cao Guoping were dumbfounded. It took them a good while to come back to their senses.

Li Long thought for a moment and asked in a low voice, “Can we trust a tech company from Hong Kong Island? Old Wang, are you sure this isn’t a scam?”

Cao Guoping chimed in, “Yeah, we have to be absolutely sure. Theoretically, a high-tech company like this shouldn’t even exist in Hong Kong. It doesn’t have the right ecosystem for it! Especially not a semiconductor manufacturing company with such a high barrier to entry.”

Wang Chengdong spread his hands. “But it does exist.”

Seeing they were still unconvinced, Wang Chengdong added, “Young CEO Xu and I were both very cautious. We even had them do a prototype fabrication.”

Li Long’s eyes widened as he asked, “And? Was the prototype fabrication successful?”

“It was.”

“Did you test it?”

Wang Chengdong nodded. “Our Testing Department here has already tested it, and the results were excellent.”

Li Long and Cao Guoping fell silent, staring at Wang Chengdong with wide eyes.

Wang Chengdong knew that this news was so far beyond the cognition of industry insiders that it would take them some time to digest it.

“By the way,” Wang Chengdong added, “the new Kirin chip samples have now been sent to HiSilicon. They’re currently undergoing fabrication process testing.”

Li Long and Cao Guoping glanced at each other.

With Wang Chengdong having said this much, they were mostly convinced, but a sliver of doubt remained.

It wasn’t that they suspected Wang Chengdong of lying, but that they simply didn’t dare to fully believe it.

If they allowed themselves to believe it one hundred percent, and it turned out to be false, the disappointment would be even greater.

No hope, no disappointment.

Just then, the ringtone of Wang Chengdong’s phone, which was sitting on the desk, went off.

Wang Chengdong got up, picked up his phone, and glanced at the screen. “Oh, it’s a call from Fang Haitao.”

Li Long and Cao Guoping stood up in unison.

Fang Haitao was a department director at HiSilicon. Could it be that there was feedback on the new Kirin chip they had sent for testing?

They watched as Wang Chengdong answered the phone.

“Hello? Yes, it’s a good time. Go ahead.”

“…I see. Got it. That’s great. Continue with the tests then. Be comprehensive, the more detailed the better. Try your best to find any issues.”

“Alright, that’s it then. Goodbye.”

As soon as Wang Chengdong hung up, Li Long and Cao Guoping eagerly started asking questions.

“CEO Wang, are the test results from HiSilicon in?”

“Does the fabrication process meet the standard?”

Wang Chengdong gestured for them to sit down. “You two can set your minds at ease,” he said. “The preliminary test results are out. There are no issues with the fabrication process. It’s confirmed to be seven-nanometer, basically on the same level as Island Foundry.”

The other two were overjoyed.

With both testing departments having approved it, it meant the chip samples were reliable.

Now, there was only one question remaining: could the other party actually achieve mass production?

This was the most critical point.

If they couldn’t mass produce it, it wouldn’t matter how beautiful or perfect the chip samples were.

Still, this at least gave Huayao a great deal of hope.

Cao Guoping hesitated for a moment before asking, “CEO Wang, what about the component suppliers? Should we increase our orders?”

Wang Chengdong fell into deep thought.

The situation was indeed awkward. If they didn’t place the orders, then even if the chip supply issue was resolved, they would run out of phones to sell.

This was an especially critical period for stocking up on the next-generation flagship phone, the P30 series. If the component suppliers halted production, it would be very difficult to ramp up capacity again.

But the problem was, if the chip supply issue wasn’t successfully resolved in the end, they would have ordered a massive batch of components that would be left gathering dust. That was a huge amount of money!

Wang Chengdong gritted his teeth. “Old Cao! Place the orders! Contact the suppliers and tell them to hurry up and prepare the inventory!”

Wang Chengdong could only hope that Hu Jiangshan wouldn’t drop the ball.

The next day, at Futian Port.

Li Changxi passed through customs and arrived in Guangzhou-Shenzhen City.

Beside him was a beautiful girl.

Her name was He Yiting, and she was the runner-up in last year’s, that is, 2017’s, Miss Hong Kong pageant.

Li Changxi had been involved with He Yiting for a while, but his real target was Shen Lan. He would only ask He Yiting out when he had nothing better to do.

Behind Li Changxi was a follower named Ah Hu, who was skilled in combat and a good bodyguard.

Li Changxi looked up at the various skyscrapers, a sneer automatically forming on his lips. He found it all very tacky.

Li Changxi didn’t much care for the mainland, much like his grandfather, Superman Li.

He had come to Guangzhou-Shenzhen City this time to meet up and have fun with some of his unsavory friends.

Just then, Li Changxi suddenly spotted someone and narrowed his eyes.

“…Hu Jiangshan?”

He Yiting was taken aback. “Hu Jiangshan? The young master of the Hu family? Is that him?”

Li Changxi nodded. “What’s this kid doing in Guangzhou-Shenzhen?”

“Maybe he’s here to have fun?”

“Unlikely. Having fun all by himself?”

He Yiting thought about it and had to agree. Second-generation rich scions like them always went out in groups. There was no fun in being alone.

“Maybe he’s here for a date,” He Yiting suggested.

A glint appeared in Li Changxi’s eyes. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s follow him.”

“…Follow him? Why?”

“To see what he’s up to.”

At that moment, Hu Jiangshan had no idea he was being followed, much less that the person tailing him was Li Changxi.

Hu Jiangshan once again made his way to Fu Mao Times Square.

He was here today to officially sign the contract with Huayao, and they had arranged to meet at this shopping mall again.

After all, it was the most convenient place.

It was the same Pacific Coffee. Hu Jiangshan was a little early, so he ordered an Americano and sipped it while he waited.

Not far away, Li Changxi, He Yiting, and their companion also sat down.

Chapter 58: The Bigger the Waves, the More Expensive the Fish

From a distance, Hu Jiangshan could be seen sipping coffee while looking at his phone, the picture of leisure.

Li Changxi was confused.

Was this guy, Hu Jiangshan, actually waiting for someone? Or was he just here drinking coffee, wasting his life away?

Li Changxi already knew that Hu Jiangshan was tens of millions in debt and had also heard he’d bought an island, though he didn’t know what for.

Li Changxi felt Hu Jiangshan had to be up to something, which was why he had followed him. He might even make an unexpected discovery.

He Yiting glanced at Hu Jiangshan and said, “Something feels off about this young master of the Hu family.”

“What’s off?”

“He doesn’t look as…”

He Yiting trailed off, not finishing her sentence for fear of angering Li Changxi.

What He Yiting actually wanted to say was that Hu Jiangshan didn’t look as pathetic as the rumors claimed.

On the contrary, sitting there now, Hu Jiangshan was actually a little handsome.

His manner was elegant, his demeanor calm and composed—he was even quite close to the image of the rich young master from a young girl’s dreams.

He Yiting changed the subject. “Who do you think he’s waiting for?”

Li Changxi sneered. “Who else could it be? A woman, or his fair-weather friends. No one Hu Jiangshan knows is a decent person.”

He Yiting shot Li Changxi a sideways glance.

That was a strange thing to say. After all, Hu Jiangshan knew Li Changxi, so wasn’t he indirectly insulting himself?

Just then, someone entered.

Li Changxi turned to look at the newcomers and froze.

“Hey, is that…”

He Yiting asked, “Who is it?”

“Wang Chengdong.”

“Wang Chengdong? Who’s he?”

Li Changxi didn’t answer, certain that it was indeed Wang Chengdong.

The man didn’t have a common face; he was very recognizable. Anyone who paid even the slightest attention to industry news would know him.

This was Guangzhou-Shenzhen City, so it wasn’t surprising to run into Wang Chengdong.

Li Changxi’s mind began to race. Should he go over and greet Wang Chengdong? Maybe he could find out what was going on with Huayao.

They must be in a terrible state.

Wang Chengdong hadn’t come alone. Two people, a man and a woman, followed behind him.

Just as Li Changxi was about to get up, he suddenly saw Wang Chengdong and his companions walk over to Hu Jiangshan’s table.

He watched as Hu Jiangshan stood up, shook hands with all three of them, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then sat back down.

No way…

What was happening?

That scoundrel Hu Jiangshan actually knew a big shot like Wang Chengdong?

And from the looks of it, Wang Chengdong was the one Hu Jiangshan had been waiting for!

What a joke!

The two of them couldn’t be more unrelated. How could they possibly have any connection!?

Li Changxi even began to think there was something wrong with his eyes, or that his brain had malfunctioned and he was hallucinating.

Meanwhile, after a brief exchange, Hu Jiangshan and Wang Chengdong’s group got down to business.

They were about to sign a formal chip supply contract.

Wang Chengdong had brought people from Huayao’s legal department. The man was named Zhang Tao, and the woman was Yang Lili.

They were well-versed in these matters.

Wang Chengdong motioned for Zhang Tao to take out the contract.

“Brother Hu, take a look. If there are any issues, we can change them on the spot.”

Hu Jiangshan gave the contract a quick scan.

Overall, there was nothing that needed changing. It was a perfect contract.

Besides, for a supply contract like this, as long as the supply quantity, order value, product quality, and delivery date were clearly stated, the rest was standard and followed general legal contract templates.

Hu Jiangshan said, “Looks good.”

Zhang Tao said, “Alright then, let’s start signing. Mr. Hu, you brought the company and legal representative’s certification documents, right?”

“I brought them.”

With that, Hu Jiangshan took a full set of company documents out of his bag.

Zhang Tao and Yang Lili flipped through them and were stunned.

“Um, Mr. Hu, is this… a fish farm?”

As he spoke, Zhang Tao glanced at Wang Chengdong.

Wang Chengdong had just taken a sip of coffee. When he heard the words “fish farm,” he nearly spat it out all over the table.

“Brother Hu…”

Before Wang Chengdong could finish, Hu Jiangshan said with a wry smile, “CEO Wang, I’m a fish farm owner. There’s no problem with me selling fish, is there?”

Wang Chengdong finally understood what Hu Jiangshan meant.

The two of them had discussed it before. For the sake of confidentiality, Hu Jiangshan’s company couldn’t be related to semiconductors, wafers, or chips.

But a fishing company? Wasn’t that taking it a bit too far?

Wang Chengdong asked, “Brother Hu, has that friend of yours switched to fish farming too?”

Hu Jiangshan took a sip of coffee and said in a low voice, “CEO Wang, we do high-tech fish farming. It’s very expensive. Can Huayao afford it?”

Wang Chengdong raised an eyebrow. Well now, they were speaking in riddles.

“We can. Absolutely! Brother Hu, since there’s no problem with the contract, let’s sign.”

“Alright.”

The contract was in triplicate, and both parties began to sign and stamp it.

And this was a very unusual contract. There was no mention of “chips” anywhere. Even the name of the product involved in the order was replaced with a code number.

This code number wasn’t random; Huayao had it notarized by a state department, giving it legal effect.

In any case, these confidentiality measures were second to none—absolutely world-class.

Of course, the order amount couldn’t be changed.

And just like that, an order totaling one hundred million was signed.

Wang Chengdong asked in a low voice, “Brother Hu, I hope the order can be delivered soon.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “Don’t worry, I won’t disappoint you.”

“Good. Hearing you say that sets my mind at ease.”

Wang Chengdong shook hands with Hu Jiangshan and left with his two colleagues.

Hu Jiangshan was left alone. As he was about to clear the table, he noticed someone approaching.

Hu Jiangshan looked up and was taken aback.

He hadn’t expected it to be Li Changxi.

Li Changxi brazenly sat down opposite Hu Jiangshan and asked, “Hu Jiangshan, ’fess up. How did you get involved with Huayao?”

Hu Jiangshan said coolly, “It’s just business. Why can’t we be involved?”

“Business? You’re not selling chips to Huayao, are you? Let me tell you, reselling chips at a time like this will bring big trouble to your Hu family!”

As he spoke, Li Changxi glanced at the contract on the table with a sneer, but his expression changed slightly.

Because Li Changxi had seen the amount on the contract.

“One hundred million Hong Kong dollars? It really is chips! Hu Jiangshan, are you tired of living!?”

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly. “Look carefully. Where on here does it say chips?”

Li Changxi was stunned and immediately began to flip through the contract again.

Indeed, there was nothing related to chips.

Li Changxi snorted. “Who do you think you’re fooling with a trick like this? It’s just a smokescreen!”

Hu Jiangshan said, “I told you, I’m not selling chips to Huayao.”

“…Then what is it?”

“Fish.”

“…Fish?”

It dawned on Li Changxi. “Are you insane!? Where are you going to get fish!?”

Hu Jiangshan tossed his company’s documents to Li Changxi.

When Li Changxi looked at them, his eyes nearly popped out of his head and landed on the table.

[Jiangshan Fish Farm]

Hu Jiangshan was actually a fish farm owner!

“You… Fish, how can fish be worth one hundred million Hong Kong dollars?”

“That’s where you’re mistaken. Mine is a deep-sea fish farm.”

“What does that mean?”

Hu Jiangshan said nonchalantly, “The bigger the waves, the more expensive the fish.”

Chapter 59: The Quartz Sand Refinery is Complete

Li Changxi was stunned and speechless. It took him a long moment to realize what was wrong.

Huayao was a tech company, so why on earth would they be buying fish?

“What would they want fish for? Are you trying to fool a three-year-old? You’re full of shit!”

Hu Jiangshan packed the things on the table into his bag and said nonchalantly, “They want to give their employees a perk—high-end fish. It’s a play on the saying ‘may you have a surplus every year,’ a good luck charm. Is that not allowed?”

“Well…”

Without paying Li Changxi any more attention, Hu Jiangshan left the coffee shop.

He didn’t have time to play a game of tug-of-war with Li Changxi; he had too much to do.

Although mass-producing chips with this high-tech production line wasn’t a problem, the logistical pressure would still be immense.

Especially since this was the first mass production run, neither Hu Jiangshan nor Zhang Rui and his team had much experience. Problems were bound to arise, and they would just have to deal with them as they came.

Hu Jiangshan wasn’t worried that Li Changxi would discover anything. Their security measures were already more than adequate.

If something was still discovered, the problem definitely wouldn’t be on his end.

The next day, on General’s Island, inside the cave factory.

Zhang Rui was in the control room, debugging and checking the various parameters of the production line.

Mass production had already started the day before, and the entire team had pulled an all-nighter. No one had left the island yet.

That was why Zhang Rui’s eyes were bloodshot from lack of rest, but his spirits were still high.

A moment later, Zhang Rui breathed a sigh of relief.

He had finished checking all the data, and everything was normal.

The next step was to have his boss, Hu Jiangshan, look it over to see if anything had been missed.

Just then, Du Jiahui walked over.

Du Jiahui was the team’s top expert, second only to Zhang Rui. He had previously worked at a major overseas company but had returned to the country in frustration after hitting a “glass ceiling” that prevented his advancement.

Du Jiahui said, “Dr. Zhang, the first batch of wafers is out.”

“How many are there?”

“About one hundred.”

Zhang Rui smiled faintly. “That’s not bad. We can slowly increase production capacity later.”

Du Jiahui continued, “But we’re running out of quartz sand now.”

Zhang Rui froze for a second, a headache coming on.

Other things were manageable, but the amount of quartz sand needed to manufacture wafers was enormous.

The line had only been running for a day, and the quartz sand was almost completely gone.

Zhang Rui had called Hu Jiangshan just two days ago to mention this.

At the time, Hu Jiangshan had confidently promised it would be resolved immediately, but so far, there wasn’t even the shadow of a ship in sight.

Du Jiahui asked in a low voice, “Dr. Zhang, don’t tell me the boss has run out of money? He can’t afford to ship the quartz sand?”

Quartz sand itself was very cheap, but the shipping costs were high.

Especially for an offshore location like General’s Island, the shipping fees were two or three times higher than for mainland areas.

Zhang Rui shook his head. “How could the boss be out of money? He paid this month’s salaries in advance.”

Du Jiahui thought about it and agreed. Not only were the salaries generous, but there had been substantial bonuses as well.

“But the quartz sand will be gone soon,” Du Jiahui said. “We’ll have to shut down the production line then, and starting it up again will be a huge hassle.”

Zhang Rui nodded. “Alright, I’ll call the boss in a bit. It should be solvable.”

Du Jiahui acknowledged and went back to his work.

Meanwhile, Hu Jiangshan, piloting The Seahorse, had already arrived at the pier on General’s Island.

He had come today for something very important.

That morning, he had received a message on his phone: the Quartz Sand Refinery was complete.

Hu Jiangshan was here for the final inspection.

While at sea earlier, he had already noticed something different.

A new facility had appeared on one side of General’s Island. That must be the Quartz Sand Refinery.

Sure enough, Hu Jiangshan quickly found the new facility.

The refinery was much smaller than he had imagined, only about the size of a few houses.

Its exterior was also very plain; if you didn’t look closely, you might mistake it for a few large boulders.

There were no visible structures on the sea surface either.

Strange, he thought. The sand should be on the seabed. How is it refined into quartz sand?

Hu Jiangshan arrived at the facility’s entrance and, as usual, scanned his finger to get through the access control system.

With a swish, the door opened.

Heh, don’t judge a book by its cover. It might look unremarkable, but it’s packed with technology.

Hu Jiangshan walked inside and was immediately stunned.

So that was it. Most of the facility was underground, accessible by an escalator.

He entered the refinery’s central control room and, after studying it for a while, basically understood how the facility operated.

All production and refining activities were conducted on the seabed, so nothing unusual could be seen on the surface.

What was even more incredible was that the part of the facility on the island also had an underground tunnel with a rail track.

The refined quartz sand was transported directly to the production line’s raw materials warehouse via this track.

Well, damn. This is a complete, all-in-one, fully automated service.

Without further hesitation, Hu Jiangshan initiated the quartz sand refining process.

The real-time feed clearly showed machinery under the sea slowly suctioning up sea sand—the initial stage of the refining process.

The underwater equipment made some noise as it operated, and the seawater became slightly murky, but it was within an acceptable range. The environmental impact on the seabed was probably not significant.

About half an hour later, a rail car finally emerged, carrying the refined quartz sand and slowly entering the underground tunnel.

The production process wasn’t particularly fast, but it was enough to keep up with demand.

Hu Jiangshan watched for a while longer before leaving the facility and heading toward the office building on the island.

“Boss, you’re here!”

Before he even entered the office building’s courtyard, he saw Zhang Rui jogging toward him.

Zhang Rui must have just come from the factory floor.

“Dr. Zhang, you didn’t leave again yesterday, did you?”

“That’s right, boss. We pulled an all-nighter.”

“You’ve all worked hard. Once this rush is over, I’ll make sure you all get a few days off to rest.”

Zhang Rui waved his hand. “It’s nothing, boss. We’re in good shape. But there is something I need to bring up.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “What is it?”

Zhang Rui said, “Boss, we’re consuming too much quartz sand. We’re already running out. I doubt we have enough to last through today.”

Hu Jiangshan laughed.

Zhang Rui found his boss’s reaction strange. Why wasn’t he worried at all?

Shouldn’t he be contacting a quartz sand supplier to place an order right now?

Hu Jiangshan said to Zhang Rui, “Come on, let’s go have a look.”

“…Go where?”

“The raw materials warehouse.”

A few moments later, the two arrived at the entrance of the cave factory’s raw materials warehouse.

As he opened the door, Zhang Rui said, “Boss, the other raw materials are fine, but the quartz sand is almost completely gone.”

Inside the door was the material monitoring room.

When Zhang Rui checked the quartz sand inventory, he was utterly astonished.

The monitor now showed that the remaining quartz sand was at 31 percent. No, 33 percent, 35 percent…

The amount of quartz sand was actually increasing!

“…Holy hell! What’s going on!?”

Chapter 60: Huayao Is Running Out of Time

Zhang Rui thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. He quickly rubbed them and looked again at the quartz sand reserve gauge.

Holy cow! In the blink of an eye, the quartz sand reserves had increased by another two percent.

Zhang Rui couldn’t help but exclaim, “My God, what’s going on? How can it be going up?”

Just then, Du Jiahui happened to walk over.

Zhang Rui quickly called out to him, “Dr. Du, come and see! What’s happening here?”

Du Jiahui acknowledged him and hurried over when he saw his boss, Hu Jiangshan.

“Are you talking about the quartz sand? We’re almost at the bottom.”

“No, look! The quartz sand reserves are increasing,” Zhang Rui said.

Du Jiahui was completely dumbfounded. “Huh? The quartz sand has increased? For real?”

He glanced at the reserve gauge and was stunned.

The quartz sand was indeed increasing instead of decreasing.

“This is bizarre,” Du Jiahui said. “I clearly saw that there was less than thirty percent left just a moment ago. How is it forty percent now? How can we have more the more we use?”

Zhang Rui and Du Jiahui stared at each other, speechless.

This was practically a supernatural event, challenging the very logic of these two men of science.

Had the laws of physics ceased to exist?

Hu Jiangshan was amused by their expressions.

“Alright, I won’t hide it from you anymore. It’s increasing because the quartz sand is being continuously replenished.”

“Huh?!”

Zhang Rui and Du Jiahui were even more dumbfounded and quickly asked what was going on.

Hu Jiangshan explained it to them.

“The Quartz Sand Refinery on the island is now complete. We no longer need to buy and ship quartz sand from outside. We can refine and produce it at any time, allowing for immediate replenishment.”

Zhang Rui and Du Jiahui looked at each other in dismay.

This in itself was very strange. Why had a Quartz Sand Refinery suddenly appeared on the island?

That thing wasn’t a small wooden cabin you could just throw together.

But then they both thought about it. If Hu Jiangshan could erect that high-tech, top-standard smart office building in an instant, what couldn’t he do?

Realizing this, both Zhang Rui and Du Jiahui grew excited.

The other mysteries were no longer important. The key was that the quartz sand supply problem had been solved.

As mentioned before, quartz sand was the most consumed raw material in wafer production. Once this issue was resolved, everything else was a minor problem.

Hu Jiangshan then went with Zhang Rui to look at the wafers that had already been produced.

To the naked eye, the quality was excellent, and a team was conducting further tests.

Zhang Rui said, “Boss, the highest yield rate has now reached eighty-two percent. With further adjustments, we should be able to increase it.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “There’s no need to rush. We can take our time.”

A yield rate of eighty percent was indeed ideal for the advanced seven-nanometer fabrication process.

In 2018, only Island Foundry could achieve a yield rate close to ninety percent for its seven-nanometer process.

Meanwhile, Samsang, another major wafer manufacturer, had a yield rate of less than eighty percent for its seven-nanometer process.

In this respect, General’s Island had at least surpassed Samsang in its fabrication process.

This was already a remarkable achievement.

Hu Jiangshan chatted with Zhang Rui for a little longer before letting him get back to work.

He then left the Cave Factory and went to his office.

He brewed himself a cup of coffee and stared out at the charming sea view, starting to mull over another matter.

Should he set up a fish farm nearby?

Logically, he should. After all, he was the owner of the Jiangshan Fishery Company. What kind of fishery company would it be without a fish farm?

But a fish farm wasn’t so easy to set up. Hu Jiangshan hadn’t been a fish farmer or a fisherman in his past life, so he would need to cram a lot of knowledge.

Capital was also an issue.

The fishing industry was a capital-intensive business; an initial investment of tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars was a must.

Although Hu Jiangshan had already received the thirty million advance payment from Huayao, he had also spent a lot of it.

It certainly wasn’t enough to build a proper fish farm.

If he was going to build a fish farm, he would have to wait until Huayao’s chip order was fully delivered and he received the final payment. By then, his funds would be much more ample.

In short, Hu Jiangshan needed to focus all his efforts on the mass production of the chips during this period. There could be no mistakes.

Having made up his mind, Hu Jiangshan stopped letting his thoughts wander.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

Lishan Apartments, Hong Kong Island.

Hu Jiangshan was taking a day off and hadn’t gone to General’s Island.

It was hard to put into words, but he had been exhausted recently, constantly running back and forth.

Although he didn’t have to personally handle the production, maintenance, and monitoring of the semiconductor production line, small, hard-to-diagnose problems would occasionally crop up during production.

At times like these, Hu Jiangshan would help Zhang Rui and his team troubleshoot.

These problems were usually data-related and extremely minute, but they had a huge impact on production results.

For example, the yield rate for the seven-nanometer wafers had risen to over eighty percent, but it wasn’t stable and required constant correction of production data.

As capable as Zhang Rui was, he was no match for Hu Jiangshan.

Faced with a massive amount of production data, Hu Jiangshan could quickly identify the problem, which earned him the wholehearted admiration of Zhang Rui and his team.

Hu Jiangshan had been incredibly busy during this time, so much so that his feet barely touched the ground. He had even pulled several all-nighters.

Fortunately, his efforts were not in vain. The production line had now stabilized, production efficiency was increasing, and the yield rate had improved by a few percentage points.

With the experience from this mass production run, Zhang Rui’s team had matured considerably.

Hu Jiangshan, as the boss, could finally relax a bit. At the very least, he didn’t have to be on duty every day.

Yesterday, Zhang Rui reported to him that ninety percent of Huayao’s order was complete, which was even faster than Hu Jiangshan had imagined.

At this moment, Hu Jiangshan had just finished breakfast. The weather was beautiful, and so was his mood.

As usual, he sat on his balcony, scrolling through social media from the mainland on his phone.

This had long been a habit of his.

On social media, Huayao’s situation was getting worse and worse.

Related news and topics had been incessant during this period.

For instance, today, as soon as Hu Jiangshan opened Weibo, he saw several related topics.

【The US Department of Commerce’s New Semiconductor Act, in effect for over a month, is indeed worsening Huayao’s situation.】

【Rumors: Huayao’s revenue in freefall, nearly halved, struggles to maintain high profits.】

【Time is running out for Huayao; the tech industry is pessimistic about its future.】

【Experts: Huayao desperately seeking new contract chip manufacturers, but chances of success are slim to none.】

Hu Jiangshan saw a Weibo post with a very high click rate and a catchy title.

【What will Huayao face in the next three years?】

The content of this post was a reprint, and the author was surprisingly Elon Musk.

This man was known as the real-life Iron Man and was also the boss of Tesla.

Chapter 61: The Prophecy of Iron Man Elon Musk

No wonder this article was so popular.

Besides the title, the author was another major reason.

Elon Musk was a superstar in the tech world.

He was another world-class icon and entrepreneur after Steve Jobs.

Musk wasn’t just the boss of Tesla; he was also the founder of the space exploration company, SpaceX.

Of course, Musk now also owned his own media platform, which was Twitter.

Hu Jiangshan found it strange.

Musk and Huayao shouldn’t have any connection, right?

Their core businesses didn’t overlap.

But Musk was also a media personality with a huge social media presence, always voicing his opinions on various matters.

The Huayao chip issue was a major event, so it was normal for Musk to share some thoughts on it.

But in the past, Musk’s commentary on most events was usually just a few tweets.

He never expected Musk to write such a long, well-structured article this time, almost like he was publishing a thesis.

Hu Jiangshan was also quite curious about Musk’s take on the Huayao chip incident.

After all, Musk was known for being outspoken, always saying something shocking.

Hu Jiangshan skimmed through the article’s content.

Musk believed Huayao would definitely fight to the death, uniting with China’s domestic semiconductor companies to pour all their efforts into R&D, striving to break the blockade.

Huayao had strong R&D capabilities and might even make the Blue Star Big Boss in the US White House panic for a few days.

But Musk’s viewpoint quickly took a sharp turn, stating that all of Huayao’s efforts were doomed to fail and would be in vain.

Musk argued that Huayao would eventually realize the technological barrier for chip manufacturing was too high, a true jewel of human industry, an insurmountable mountain for China. A single company, or even a single country, simply couldn’t solve it.

Therefore, Huayao’s fate would be either acquisition by a competitor or being broken up into several smaller companies.

And Huayao could hold out for three years at most. After three years, it would basically be the end of the road.

Hu Jiangshan was a bit speechless after reading it.

He had seen this kind of argument many times before, and more than one person had written about it.

Of course, the people who wrote those previous opinions were just ordinary prominent tech bloggers, not nearly as influential as Elon Musk.

As everyone knew, Musk had many followers.

They treated his words as the word of God, a divine revelation.

Sure enough, when Hu Jiangshan looked at the comments section, it was full of sycophants.

“Ah, Musk is so on point!”

“Mr. Musk is the light of humanity, of course what he says is objective.”

“Musk is the one with real insight, his arguments are so well-founded.”

“I’m completely conquered by Musk’s thinking. No wonder he can repeatedly create miracles for humanity.”

“Unless China has a Musk of its own, there’s no way they can conquer chip manufacturing.”

“Mr. Musk, please take me to Mars!”

Hu Jiangshan was speechless seeing these comments.

Truly worthy of being Elon Musk. His idol status was so strong; he was basically the cult leader of a new generation.

Of course, there were some dissenting opinions in the comments section as well.

These people were either relatively rational or were Huayao supporters.

But their voices were too small and were quickly drowned out by the flood of praise for Musk.

You had to understand, in 2018, Musk’s fame was at its zenith. Very few people would question such a great tech leader.

Hu Jiangshan stopped reading. It was pointless.

He had thought Musk might say something new, but it was just the same old cliché.

Meanwhile, in Guangzhou-Shenzhen City, at the Huayao headquarters building.

Inside the conference room, everyone wore a grim expression.

This was a national distributor communication meeting for Huayao’s mobile phone division.

Attending the meeting, besides the executives from Huayao’s consumer business, were major national distributors and some telecommunication carriers.

But right now, most of the meeting’s agenda couldn’t be discussed in depth.

The US Department of Commerce’s Semiconductor Act had been in effect for over a month, and Huayao was indeed facing immense difficulties.

The main problem was that Huayao had no more phones to sell.

Demand for Huayao’s phones had been extremely high in the past two years.

In 2017, they sold nearly two hundred million units, securing the number three spot globally.

Beyond the numbers, the proportion of high-end Huayao phones was very high, and they were even on the verge of surpassing Samsang.

Before the first half of 2018 was over, Huayao’s total global sales had already reached one hundred million units.

Within China, Huayao’s high-end phones could already go toe-to-toe with Apple, and even had a slight edge.

Originally, the distributors were full of drive, even vowing to crush Apple’s phones in 2019.

Who would have thought a situation like this would suddenly arise.

Demand was booming, but there were no phones to sell.

Even now, Huayao’s flagship phones could only be supplied in limited quantities. They were sold out instantly upon release, and those who couldn’t get one were cursing up a storm.

Jiang Weiping said, “CEO Wang, CEO Li, could you two give us a hint? When exactly will the P30 be announced? We need to prepare in advance.”

Ma Xiaohui also said, “That’s right. It’s almost the end of the year. Normally, the P30’s development should be complete by now, right? But we haven’t heard any news.”

Jiang Weiping in the north and Ma Xiaohui in the south were both owners of major distribution businesses and were always the most proactive participants.

Whenever Huayao had a new phone in development, they were guaranteed to get the news in advance.

But now, they were panicking.

Because there wasn’t even a shadow of Huayao’s next-generation flagship, the P30, to be seen.

Sitting across from the distributors were none other than Wang Chengdong and Li Long.

They were the number one and number two in charge of Huayao’s consumer business.

Wang Chengdong and Li Long exchanged a look, a bitter smile on their faces.

Wang Chengdong said, “It’s not the end of the year yet. There are still four or five months to go.”

Jiang Weiping held up four fingers. “CEO Wang, at the very most, there are only four months left.”

Li Long cleared his throat. “Everyone, please give us a little more time. The P30’s development has indeed run into a small problem, and we’re working on a solution.”

Hearing this, the crowd began to whisper amongst themselves.

Many of the distributors were very doubtful whether Huayao could even produce the P30.

“CEO Wang, CEO Li, just give it to us straight,” a distributor named Niu Jun asked. “Do you have any chips left to use or not?”

Wang Chengdong said, “We are working on it. It should be resolved. Don’t worry.”

Niu Jun shook his head. “CEO Wang, we can’t be at ease. If the P30 doesn’t come out, we’ll have no stock to sell. We can’t make any profit on just low-end products.”

Wang Chengdong said coolly, “I can guarantee that the P30 will definitely be released, and the chip problem will also be solved.”

“Alright, CEO Wang. Then tell us, how will you solve it?”

Even after he’d said that much, Niu Jun remained relentless.

An expression of displeasure crossed Wang Chengdong’s face, but he held back and didn’t lash out.

Chapter 62: No Phones to Sell, Distributors Are Dissatisfied

After all, they were distributors who had invested real money to sell Huayao’s products.

They had indeed been under immense pressure recently, and Wang Chengdong could understand their feelings.

But how could Wang Chengdong possibly reveal to them how the chip problem was being solved?

The matter was classified at the highest level; within all of Huayao, the number of people who knew the full story was absolutely no more than ten.

Seeing that neither Wang Chengdong nor Li Long was speaking, Niu Jun naturally assumed they had something to hide.

Niu Jun said coolly, “If you can’t answer our questions directly, then I can only say it will be very difficult for us to continue our partnership. Don’t force us to switch to representing other brands.”

As soon as he said this, the other distributors looked at each other in dismay, whispering and murmuring among themselves.

“What’s gotten into CEO Niu? Has he gone mad? Why is he speaking so aggressively?”

“He’s probably just angry. He’s just saying that out of frustration.”

“Tch! What do you mean, ‘out of frustration’? He’s definitely been planning to switch brands for a while. Last time, I heard him say that if the phone supply couldn’t be guaranteed, he definitely wouldn’t be able to stay in this business.”

“But that’s too rash. Huayao hasn’t reached that point yet.”

“I think so too. Huayao isn’t at a dead end yet. The phone supply is a problem right now, but it can be solved eventually.”

“Who knows? This situation probably won’t be resolved anytime soon. If this drags on for another year or two, forget about us—even Huayao itself will go under.”

“You have a point. I should start making other plans too.”

“I still believe in Huayao. I’m willing to give them more time.”

“Heh, you’re a die-hard Huayao fan, but I’d advise you to be more rational.”

Just then, Wang Chengdong spoke up: “I can’t make you any guarantees right now. All I can say is that we are doing our best to solve the supply problem. If you really can’t wait and want to pull out, we have no objection.”

Wang Chengdong’s words were soft but carried a hard edge, packing a significant deterrent effect.

Li Long worried that Wang Chengdong would scare all the distributors away, which would be a huge problem.

Li Long cleared his throat. “I can make a statement here. We have indeed found a way to solve the problem, but for confidentiality reasons, we cannot disclose the details right now. However, you will see the results before long.”

After hearing this, the distributors all had different expressions.

They naturally split into three factions: Those who believed, those who didn’t, and those who were wavering.

Niu Jun was definitely in the camp of the unbelievers.

“CEO Li, it’s not that I’m unwilling to believe you, but what’s the use of talking about these guarantees in the current situation?”

Then, Niu Jun turned to the other distributors. “Can’t you all see it yet? Huayao has no chips on hand. The P30 is definitely not happening. How can you still sit here so calmly?”

The faces of the crowd fell. Niu Jun had clearly hit a nerve.

Based on the current situation, the P30 would definitely face a difficult launch.

Even if Huayao managed to release it, supplies would be limited.

How many units each distributor would be allocated was a complete unknown.

They were panicking. They were truly panicking.

Li Long asked Wang Chengdong in a low voice, “CEO Wang, we can’t afford to lose our distributors. We must appease them somehow.”

“…How do we appease them?”

“How about we reveal a little about our progress with the chips?”

Wang Chengdong hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

Li Long cleared his throat, organized his thoughts, and said, “We have already found a partner who can handle contract manufacturing for our chips. The collaboration is already underway, so there’s no need for everyone to worry. If things go smoothly, there will be good news very soon.”

To be honest, it wasn’t easy for Li Long to be so direct, as this matter was an absolute secret.

Moreover, these distributors were a mixed bag, and most of them had no real loyalty to the brand.

If word got out, it was hard to say what the consequences would be.

Of course, there most likely wouldn’t be any.

The reason was simple: any such news spreading from the distributors would be dismissed as unfounded rumors or a mere marketing ploy.

As expected, Niu Jun sneered, “CEO Li, what’s the point of saying all this? It’s like you’ve said nothing at all. There are no concrete details. I can only assume you’re just trying to placate us.”

Li Long didn’t get angry. He waved his hand and said, “With CEO Wang and me sitting here, how could we possibly be trying to placate you? We are communicating with you in earnest and I guarantee that what we’re saying is the truth.”

The crowd looked at each other in dismay. They could indeed sense that Li Long’s attitude was sincere.

The key point was that both Wang Chengdong and Li Long were big shots at Huayao.

If Huayao really wanted to fool them, there would be no need for two such heavyweights to show up in person.

But everyone here had been in the business world for many years. Whether to believe it or not depended entirely on their individual experience.

Some of the distributors did seem to grasp something and were willing to trust Huayao.

For example, Jiang Weiping and Ma Xiaohui, who had spoken earlier.

After all, Huayao had always had a good reputation over the years. Especially toward their distributors, their attitude had always been proper, and they never engaged in any shady business.

Jiang Weiping asked, “CEO Li, is this partner you mentioned a domestic one?”

Li Long nodded. “At this point, we can only look for domestic partners. I think you all know, more or less, that foreign semiconductor companies can no longer work with us.”

“May I ask which domestic company it is? Huaxin International?”

Li Long smiled. “That I cannot disclose. It’s a top, top secret.”

Niu Jun sneered, “CEO Li, we’re not laymen here.”

Li Long frowned. “What do you mean?”

“When it comes to ordinary chips, some domestic companies might be able to handle them. But mobile processor chips aren’t something just anyone can make. No company in China can handle it. And even if they could, would the US Department of Commerce allow such a thing to happen?”

The others fell silent once more.

To be fair, Niu Jun’s words were blunt, but his reasoning was sound and well-founded.

Setting aside whether there were any domestic semiconductor companies capable of contract manufacturing for Huayao, even if there was such a high-tech company—Huaxin International, for example—it was highly unlikely they could actually do it.

The reason was none other than the production equipment.

The lithography machines currently in use are basically all ASML products.

The moment they power on the machines, the other side will know what’s being produced. The US Department of Commerce absolutely has the ability to make ASML shut down the equipment remotely, and then everything would be dead in the water.

So, upon careful consideration, what Li Long had said was indeed very hard to believe.

Li Long spread his hands. “I’ve said everything that can be said and should be said. If CEO Niu still doesn’t believe me, there’s nothing more I can do.”

Niu Jun said, “I don’t care about the rest. I just want to know if the P30 can actually be released on schedule.”

Chapter 63: Chips, Can You Deliver a Portion First?

Li Long hesitated for a moment. “We can only say we’ll do our best to release it on time. If we really run into problems, it’ll be delayed by one or two months at most.”

In reality, the development of Huayao’s latest flagship phone, the P30 series, was already complete. Even all the testing was finished.

The only problem was the processor chip—they didn’t have enough Kirin 990s.

Although they had stocked up on extra Kirin 990s from Island Foundry in advance, they only had a few million units.

For a company with sales volume as large as Huayao’s, a few million phones could be described as “a drop in the bucket.”

Forget the global market; even if they were all released in the domestic market, they would barely make a ripple.

Niu Jun chuckled coldly. “One or two months? I’m afraid you won’t be able to get it done even after one or two years.”

Jiang Weiping couldn’t stand it anymore and said, “CEO Niu, don’t take it too far.”

Ma Xiaohui also tried to persuade him, “That’s right, CEO Niu. Don’t be so rash. CEO Wang and CEO Li are right here. They wouldn’t lie to us.”

Niu Jun curled his lip. “You people… you’re counting the money for the person who sold you. Look at the situation! I’m sure of it! One hundred percent sure, the P30 will never be released!”

Wang Chengdong and Li Long exchanged a glance.

To be honest, neither of them was in the mood to argue with someone like Niu Jun right now.

In reality, their hearts were also in a state of unease, plagued by anxiety and doubt.

As long as Hu Jiangshan hadn’t delivered the chips, no one at Huayao could rest easy.

Only with chips in hand could they feel at ease.

As for these distributors, it was, of course, best to keep them. After all, these channels had been cultivated for many years and were a valuable resource.

But if they really couldn’t keep them, there was nothing to be done.

Niu Jun seemed to have thrown caution to the wind, adding, “CEO Wang, CEO Li, if you still can’t give me a clear answer, then I’m definitely pulling out!”

Li Long remained good-tempered. “CEO Niu, let’s not rush to a decision. It’s almost noon now. Let’s have lunch first, and we can continue our discussion this afternoon, alright?”

This time, Niu Jun didn’t say anything more.

A moment later, Wang Chengdong and Li Long found a meeting room to chat.

‘Chat’ was a loose term; they were actually sighing, venting their frustrations, and finding comfort in solidarity.

Li Long said, “Old Wang, this can’t go on. There must be quite a few distributors who think like Niu Jun. If they all pull out, we’ll have a huge problem.”

Wang Chengdong took a sip of water. “What else can we do? Beg them on our knees? It would be one thing if kneeling actually worked, but the key is that it definitely won’t.”

Li Long was speechless for a moment.

What the distributors wanted were goods, and the goods were phones.

They only made money if they had phones; otherwise, nothing else mattered.

Suddenly, Li Long said, “Right, Old Wang, why don’t we give them a call?”

“…Who?”

“The ones on Hong Kong Island, of course.”

“A phone call? Why?”

“To ask how they’re doing.”

Wang Chengdong was stunned. “How they’re doing with what? It’s only been a little over a month. The order definitely isn’t finished yet.”

Li Long said in a low voice, “Even if they haven’t finished the order, they must have at least made a portion of it.”

An idea sparked in Wang Chengdong’s mind. “You mean…”

“Exactly, Old Wang. Let’s have them deliver a portion of the chips first. We need to see if it’s a mule or a horse—let it out for a trot. Then we’ll know where we stand.”

“Is that… appropriate?”

“What’s not appropriate about it? Let’s hurry! Old Wang, aren’t you usually thick-skinned? This is no time to worry about saving face!”

Wang Chengdong’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.

Good grief! Who’s the shameless one here? It’s obviously you, Li Long!

But Wang Chengdong was indeed tempted.

Based on their progress, Hu Jiangshan’s side should have completed nearly half of the chips by now.

If Hu Jiangshan could deliver a portion of the chips, it would prove that the matter was settled once and for all.

If Hu Jiangshan couldn’t deliver, it would mean they had run into trouble, and this would allow Huayao to know the outcome sooner and prepare accordingly.

To be honest, Wang Chengdong was quite nervous.

He was afraid that Hu Jiangshan really wouldn’t be able to deliver, that the mass production had genuinely run into difficulties. If so, wouldn’t their only hope be dashed?

But Wang Chengdong was not a pessimistic person, and he was even less willing to be an ostrich.

“Alright, I’ll call them now and ask about the situation.”

Clap! Li Long clapped his hands, his face a mixture of excitement and worry.

Clearly, Li Long was also worried that Hu Jiangshan’s side hadn’t been able to start mass production.

Wang Chengdong picked up his phone, quickly found Hu Jiangshan’s contact information, and dialed the number.

However, it rang nineteen times, and still, no one picked up.

[The user you are calling is unavailable. Please try again later…]

Wang Chengdong’s expression turned grim.

Li Long was scared out of his wits. He couldn’t help but stand up and pace around the meeting room a few times, saying, “It’s over, it’s over, it’s over… They definitely didn’t manage mass production…”

Wang Chengdong’s lips had turned pale. He said, “Old Li, calm down. He might be busy and didn’t hear his phone ring.”

To be honest, even with his strong mental fortitude, Wang Chengdong was panicking now too.

It couldn’t be helped. Concern leads to confusion; no matter how composed he usually was, it didn’t matter now.

Just as he was speaking, Wang Chengdong’s phone started vibrating.

[Caller ID: Hu Jiangshan]

Wang Chengdong quickly picked up his phone again, his hands trembling.

“Hello, Brother Hu? Ah, yes, I just called you, but you didn’t pick up.”

“Oh, oh, I was in the shower.”

“…Here’s the thing, Brother Hu. What’s the situation with the chip mass production? Has it started?”

“It’s started. So… what’s the progress like now?”

When Wang Chengdong asked this, Li Long’s heart tensed up, and his ears perked up.

The answer that came next was what mattered.

Then, they heard Wang Chengdong’s eyes suddenly go wide. “Wha-what!? It’s… it’s almost done!? Brother Hu, are you saying the order is almost complete?”

Swoosh! Li Long shot to his feet, lost his balance, and promptly sat back down with a thump.

Wang Chengdong, ever the big shot, quickly regained his composure and continued the conversation with Hu Jiangshan.

“So, in that case, Brother Hu, we’re in a tight spot for chips over here. Could you deliver a portion first? Half would be enough. Yes, say, two hundred thousand units.”

“…What? Okay! Okay! It’s a deal! Brother Hu, thank you for your trouble.”

Wang Chengdong finally finished the call, hung up, and then stared blankly out the window.

Li Long couldn’t help but ask, “Old Wang, what’s the situation? What did this Brother Hu say? Did he not agree to deliver a portion first?”

Wang Chengdong snapped back to his senses and burst out laughing.

Li Long was both baffled and alarmed.

Could Old Wang have cracked under the pressure and gone mad?

Then, Wang Chengdong slammed his hand on the table and finally said, “Brother Hu said he’ll deliver three hundred thousand units first.”

“Ah!? Really!? Old Wang, when can he deliver?”

“The day after tomorrow at the latest. We can go pick them up the day after tomorrow!”

Chapter 64: We’re Really Not Short on Chips Now?

Li Long opened his mouth, but no words came out for a long time.

Good heavens, that was so sudden! This good news came out of nowhere, leaving him momentarily at a loss.

Li Long couldn’t help but confirm it one more time. Wang Chengdong explained again, “Brother Hu has given his assurance. We can receive the shipment the day after tomorrow. At the latest.”

Li Long asked, “Thr-three hundred thousand chips?”

“Yes, three hundred thousand chips.”

To be honest, Li Long found it hard to believe this was real.

The Kirin 990 was a seven-nanometer chip, the current mainstream flagship processor, and a semiconductor manufacturing company on Hong Kong Island had actually managed to produce it.

Man, who could possibly understand this feeling!

Who would believe it if word got out?

If anyone else had said this, he would have just thought they were bullshitting.

But as things had unfolded, it seemed undeniably real from every angle. There wasn’t a single flaw in the story, leaving Li Long no choice but to believe it.

If Hu Jiangshan was lying, what could he possibly gain?

If it was a lie, it would be exposed the day after tomorrow. What would be the point?

Weren’t they just asking for trouble? Huayao’s legal department wasn’t just for show.

A short while later, Wang Chengdong and Li Long returned to the large conference room.

The distributors were already in their seats, waiting for the two to return.

Niu Jun was still among them, his presence still imposing, but he had at least calmed down and no longer seemed as furious as before.

But from the look in his eyes, it was clear he didn’t believe a word of anything.

Wang Chengdong sat down, opened a bottle of mineral water, took a sip, and said, “Alright, let’s resume. If anyone has any more questions, now’s the time to ask.”

The distributors looked at each other in dismay. They had already asked everything they could think of; there was nothing left to ask.

Their sitting here now was really just in the hopes that Wang Chengdong and Li Long could give them some definite news.

Would the Huayao P30 series actually be released or not?

But they also knew that these two big shots couldn’t possibly give them an answer right now. Verbal assurances were useless.

Just then, Niu Jun spoke up again.

“CEO Wang, I have the same question. I hope Huayao can give a definitive answer. When is the P30 coming out?”

Niu Jun, true to his bullish nature, was determined to press the issue and force an answer out of them.

But it was no use. Could Wang Chengdong and Li Long even say?

If they could, they would have said so long ago.

Who would have thought that Wang Chengdong would simply smile and say, “The P30 series will be launched very soon.”

“Huh?”

Everyone was stunned.

Niu Jun pressed, “Launched very soon? How soon is ‘very soon’? When exactly?”

Wang Chengdong said, “Let me put it this way. I can guarantee right now that we will definitely be able to launch the P30 series on schedule. That’s the bare minimum. If conditions permit, we might even launch it early.”

This statement left everyone dumbfounded.

Not only could the P30 series phones be launched on time, but they might even be early?

Could there be any news more explosive than this?

Jiang Weiping couldn’t help but ask, “CEO Wang, is this true? Can it really be launched on schedule?”

“Of course, it’s true.”

A smile spread across Wang Chengdong’s face, his confidence practically radiating. It was the first time he had worn such an expression all day.

Jiang Weiping clapped his hands, his face alight with excitement. “That’s fantastic news!”

Ma Xiaohui also smiled and said, “Hearing you say that, CEO Wang, puts my mind at ease.”

Most of the distributors also showed expressions of relief.

Wang Chengdong was no ordinary figure at Huayao. Although he was known as “Big Mouth,” that was because he often made sensational statements at press conferences. In reality, he rarely bragged and had a reputation for being very credible.

And even those sensational statements he made at press conferences were, for the most part, ultimately realized.

Most people calling him “Big Mouth Wang” was really just teasing; there was no real mockery behind it.

So now that Wang Chengdong had clearly stated that the Huayao P30 could be launched on schedule, his promise naturally carried a lot of weight.

However, there were naturally some distributors who remained unconvinced.

Niu Jun said flatly, “CEO Wang, I’m very curious. How are you going to guarantee this? Has the chip problem been solved? Everyone knows the P30 still uses the Kirin 990, and there can’t be much stock left, right?”

Li Long said, “That is no longer an issue.”

Niu Jun snorted coldly. “Without any proof, how convincing can you be? Whoever wants to believe it can believe it. I, for one, don’t!”

Wang Chengdong waved his hand dismissively. “If you don’t believe it, then don’t.”

Niu Jun shot to his feet and said loudly, “If you can’t produce any evidence, then I’m pulling out!”

This time, neither Wang Chengdong nor Li Long said a word.

Furious, Niu Jun stormed out of the room.

In truth, Niu Jun wasn’t just bull-headed; he was also calculating.

Niu Jun thought that by taking the lead, he could incite many other distributors to protest, thereby putting more pressure on Wang Chengdong and Li Long.

Niu Jun didn’t actually want to leave Huayao’s distribution network, at least not yet. But he needed more benefits, a higher sales rebate.

But Niu Jun had overestimated his own influence. He did manage to lead a few distributors out, but not many—only a handful, the ones he had colluded with over lunch.

None of the other major distributors followed.

Niu Jun and the few who had followed him stood in the hallway, staring at each other speechlessly, an awkward air settling over them.

“CEO Niu, what’s going on? No one else came out.”

“What are you talking about? Aren’t we people?”

“But it’s just a few of us. It’s useless.”

“Yeah, we don’t have enough numbers. This won’t have any effect.”

Niu Jun frowned and said, “What’s the rush? Let’s wait and see. Do you really think Huayao can get its hands on chips? Don’t be so naive!”

A short while later, they saw the conference room door open in the distance.

The distributors began to file out.

Judging by their expressions, they were relaxed and at ease, with no trace of the earlier tension.

How bizarre. Who knew what kind of magic spell Wang Chengdong had cast on them.

Seeing Jiang Weiping, Niu Jun immediately went over to him.

“CEO Jiang, you’re out.”

Jiang Weiping was taken aback for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, the meeting’s over. CEO Niu, you haven’t left yet?”

Niu Jun didn’t answer, instead lowering his voice to ask, “CEO Jiang, did CEO Wang say anything else? You all look quite happy. Is there good news?”

Jiang Weiping chuckled. “CEO Wang said there’s a high probability the P30 will be launched early.”

“Wh-what!?”

Niu Jun’s eyes widened in utter disbelief.

Jiang Weiping added, “And CEO Wang and CEO Li have already guaranteed that they will increase the supply of the current flagship, the Mate 20 series, to ensure supply moving forward.”

After hearing this, Niu Jun’s head was buzzing.

Before Niu Jun could react, Jiang Weiping waved goodbye and left.

Niu Jun said viciously, “What nonsense! They’re short on chips right now! How are they going to increase supply? With Wang Chengdong’s big mouth? Let’s just wait and see what a joke they make of themselves!”

Chapter 65: An Additional Order of One Million Chips

Two days later, early in the morning, at Huayao’s southern factory in Guangzhou-Shenzhen City.

The southern factory was Huayao’s own phone assembly plant, primarily responsible for assembling high-end mobile phones, tablets, and laptops.

The assembly of low and mid-range phones was mostly outsourced to specialized electronics assembly companies, such as the Honghai Group.

Ma Zhenyu was an employee in the factory’s logistics department.

He had come in very early today and thought he would surely be the first one in. Who would have thought that when he reached the office, there were already people there?

Two people, in fact.

One was Manager Zhao Yi, the head of the logistics department.

The other was Zhao Yi’s assistant, Zhang Yuanyuan.

Ma Zhenyu walked over to Zhang Yuanyuan and asked in a low voice, “What’s going on? You and the manager are both here so early? You two aren’t…”

Zhang Yuanyuan shot Ma Zhenyu a glare. “What nonsense are you thinking! Manager Zhao called and asked me to come in early.”

Ma Zhenyu chuckled. “So, why so early?”

Zhang Yuanyuan glanced at Zhao Yi and lowered her voice even more. “I heard a shipment is arriving today.”

“A shipment? What kind of shipment?”

“I think it’s chips.”

“…Huh? Chips?”

Ma Zhenyu was very surprised because, for the past month, very few chip shipments had arrived.

It had gotten to the point where three of the southern factory’s five production lines were already shut down. The other two, while still running, were not operating at full capacity.

This was not because Huayao had no phone orders.

On the contrary, the demand for Huayao’s phone orders was currently very strong, with a serious backlog of unprocessed orders. Many distributors would even come to the factory to hurry them for their deliveries.

There was only one reason for the southern factory’s production cuts: a shortage of chips.

A high-tech end-user device like a mobile phone requires many different kinds of chips. For now, the others were not the issue. The current shortage was in processor chips.

For example, the production of Huayao’s current main flagship phone, the Mate 20 series, could not be ramped up to full capacity due to insufficient stock of processors.

Right now, complaints about the shortage were everywhere online.

Ma Zhenyu asked in a low voice, “What kind of chips are they this time? Memory chips?”

Zhang Yuanyuan hesitated for a moment before answering, “I think they said they’re processor chips.”

“Huh? Processor chips? Where are they from?”

“I have no idea.”

Ma Zhenyu began to wonder. Why was this all so mysterious?

These processor chips couldn’t possibly be the Kirin 990, could they?

Not only was it impossible for them to be the Kirin 990 now, but the logistics department probably wouldn’t see an arrival notice for that Kirin chip for a long time to come.

Just as they were speaking, more people walked in.

Ma Zhenyu jumped in surprise.

Walking at the front was Wang Chengdong, followed by Xu Zhijun, and then Li Long…

Good heavens, they were all big shots!

What was going on? Was some major event happening today?

Besides these three big shots, a few others followed behind them. They looked relatively young, and some were familiar faces, like chip testing engineer Zhou Hua.

Zhao Yi went over to greet them and exchanged a few pleasantries with the big shots.

Wang Chengdong was heard asking, “Manager Zhao, are they almost here?”

Zhao Yi nodded. “I just called. They’re almost here, twenty minutes away at most.”

Xu Zhijun said with a smile, “Good, that’s great! It seems we’ve arrived at just the right time!”

These Huayao big shots had come today specifically to receive this shipment.

What was unusual was that this shipment had been transported from Hong Kong Island.

It had first traveled by sea, then by land, arriving covered in the dust of a long journey.

The shipment was of chips, none other than Hu Jiangshan’s masterpiece—the new version of the Kirin 990 produced on General’s Island.

This batch contained only three hundred thousand chips, not a large quantity, but it was of crucial importance, which was why all the big shots had come.

After they had chatted in the conference room for a while, Zhao Yi’s phone rang.

Zhao Yi answered the call, then said to the executives, “They’re at the gate.”

Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun exchanged a look, their excitement tinged with nervousness.

Wang Chengdong even couldn’t help but rub his hands together, like a young man about to meet his sweetheart.

A moment later, the group arrived at the factory’s parts-transfer warehouse.

Several large trucks were already parked inside.

Box after box of goods was being unloaded.

One of the large boxes was brought before Wang Chengdong, Xu Zhijun, and Li Long.

Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun looked at each other, suddenly feeling as if a dream had come true, so much so that it felt unreal.

Meanwhile, on Hong Kong Island, at Lishan Apartments.

Hu Jiangshan had just finished washing up and was wondering where to go for breakfast.

Yesterday, Hu Jiangshan had spent another full day on General’s Island.

He was mainly busy with the order delivery.

To be honest, while building a production line on the island had its advantages, it also came with quite a few drawbacks.

The biggest drawback was that transporting goods in and out of the island was not very convenient.

This time, he needed to deliver three hundred thousand chips to Huayao. The volume of goods wasn’t huge, but getting them out was still a lot of trouble.

Of course, the main reason was that the infrastructure on the island was still too poor, with no paved roads, making it impossible for large freight vehicles to enter the island.

I really need money!

With money, he could build roads and solve these problems.

Fortunately, with this batch of chips delivered, he had gained some experience. The next order delivery would be much smoother.

Just then, Hu Jiangshan’s phone rang.

[Caller ID: Wang Chengdong]

Hu Jiangshan felt a little uneasy. Could there have been a problem with the chips during transit?

Hu Jiangshan pressed the “answer” button, and Wang Chengdong’s hearty voice came from the other end.

“Brother Hu, are you busy?”

“Not at all, I just got up.”

“Ah? Just getting up now? Brother Hu, you sleep in!”

Hu Jiangshan gave a wry smile. He was a playboy, a rich young master, after all. What was wrong with sleeping in?

The old Hu Jiangshan used to spend his days and nights in debauchery, never even coming home!

Hu Jiangshan quickly changed the subject. “CEO Wang, that batch of three hundred thousand chips should have been delivered.”

Wang Chengdong seemed to perk up. “Yes, yes, Brother Hu, that’s exactly why I’m calling. We’ve received the chips.”

Hu Jiangshan was quite surprised. That was very efficient. They had been delivered in the morning? He had thought they wouldn’t arrive until the afternoon.

“CEO Wang, is everything alright with the shipment?”

Wang Chengdong chuckled. “No problems, of course, no problems! Brother Hu, you’re really something else! You actually managed to pull off something so difficult!”

“CEO Wang, you flatter me.”

“Alright, Brother Hu, we’re old friends now, let’s drop the pleasantries. There’s something else I need to talk to you about today.”

“Okay, go ahead.”

“We want to place an additional order!”

“Huh? You want to add more now? The other two hundred thousand chips haven’t even been delivered yet.”

“Ah, it’s all the same whether it’s sooner or later. The key is not to waste time. We want to add another one million chips to the order.”

Wow, that was a huge order!

Chapter 66: Upgrade, Semiconductor Production Line

Of course, for Huayao, one million chips was a drop in the bucket.

After all, Huayao’s annual phone sales had already surpassed one hundred million units back in 2017.

And of the one hundred million Huayao phones sold, high-end models accounted for more than half, an extremely high ratio.

However, an order of one million chips was no small job for Hu Jiangshan’s single semiconductor production line.

Currently, the semiconductor production line was only at the primary level, with a maximum monthly production capacity of fifty thousand wafers.

This volume was actually quite high.

For seven-nanometer chips, a single twelve-inch wafer could be diced into about one hundred chips.

Fifty thousand wafers could therefore yield five million chips.

This sounded like a lot, but one had to account for the yield rate in wafer production.

With the current eighty-percent yield rate, that left only about four million chips.

And that was just the line’s maximum production capacity.

Under regular production, three million chips a month was the absolute limit.

So, Hu Jiangshan actually hoped Huayao would continue to place orders little by little, which would at least keep the pressure on his side manageable.

If a massive order for tens of millions of chips came in all at once, the entire staff of his Jiangshan Fishery Company would have to work day and night.

But Hu Jiangshan didn’t indulge in any wishful thinking; Huayao would place a large order sooner or later.

The reason they had only ordered one million chips for now was simply to be cautious, to further test Hu Jiangshan’s mass production capabilities and the quality of his chips.

Early the next morning, just as Hu Jiangshan woke up and before he could even wash up, he heard a short notification chime from his phone.

Hu Jiangshan picked it up and took a look, his spirits instantly lifting.

【Hong Kong Island Bank: Dear customer, a remittance of 70,000,000 Hong Kong dollars has been credited to your personal account. Please check your balance. If you have any questions, please call your private customer service representative. Thank you for your trust in our bank.】

It turned out that Huayao had made another payment to Hu Jiangshan.

This time, Huayao had settled the entire final payment for the previous order.

With seventy million Hong Kong dollars suddenly in his account, Hu Jiangshan’s financial pressure was instantly relieved.

But semiconductor production was a capital-intensive industry. Thinking about all the expenses yet to come, he didn’t feel particularly wealthy.

No, wait. Hu Jiangshan suddenly realized something felt off.

He, Old Hu, was a second-generation rich kid, a playboy, Hong Kong Island’s famous prodigal son.

Why was he worrying about money?

It seemed that building a business was indeed far more expensive than a life of leisure and pleasure.

No wonder they say you shouldn’t worry about a second-generation rich kid who idles his life away; you should worry about one with ambition.

A lifetime of partying wouldn’t cost that much, but in business, you could lose several hundred million in just six months.

Hu Jiangshan shook off his wandering thoughts, lay in bed for a little longer, then got up to wash and called Zhang Rui.

Hu Jiangshan decided not to go to General’s Island today.

He had been too busy lately and planned to take a few more days off to recharge.

Zhang Rui would take care of Huayao’s additional order.

With the two orders back-to-back, it was a seamless and very smooth transition.

A week later, on General’s Island, in the office building.

Hu Jiangshan stood on the basement level, watching the beautiful, oversized seawater aquarium with a contented expression.

He could never get tired of looking at this thing.

As mentioned before, this aquarium wasn’t completely sealed; a channel connected it to the ocean floor.

As a result, the marine life inside was constantly changing. Occasionally, even small sharks and sea turtles would appear, which was quite interesting.

Just then, someone walked over. It was Zhang Rui.

“Boss, so this is where you are,” Zhang Rui said.

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “What is it?”

“Boss, here’s our new production plan and a technical improvement report. Please take a look.”

Hu Jiangshan briefly scanned the documents and said, “This is very well done. I have no objections. How’s the progress on the current order?”

Zhang Rui replied, “Everything is on schedule. The first order for five hundred thousand chips is complete and ready for the second delivery. We’ve already started on the second order.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded, very satisfied with the current situation.

Zhang Rui hesitated for a moment before saying, “Boss, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

“Go on, Dr. Zhang. Just say whatever’s on your mind. No need to be reserved.”

“Boss, while our production line is very capable, it still has a capacity limit. We can barely manage orders for a few million chips right now, but if a truly super-sized order comes in later, it will be a major struggle.”

Hu Jiangshan glanced at Zhang Rui. “Dr. Zhang, you’re right. I’ll find a way to solve this.”

“Okay.”

Zhang Rui didn’t bring it up again. After exchanging a few more words with Hu Jiangshan, he went back to his work.

In truth, the development on General’s Island had already surpassed the wildest expectations of everyone on the team.

Before arriving on the island, several team members had thought that even with the best luck, massive investment, and strong technology, getting this semiconductor production line operational would take at least three to five years.

But what actually happened? It had only been two or three months from the establishment of the production line to the start of mass production.

For a new semiconductor manufacturing enterprise, this level of efficiency was simply shocking, to the point of being utterly absurd.

If the engineers at Island Electromechanical knew about the situation on General’s Island, they would never believe it. They would just think they were being told a fairy tale.

Of course, Zhang Rui was only planning ahead, and he felt it was necessary to give Hu Jiangshan a heads-up.

At this rate, General’s Island would soon hit a production bottleneck.

After all, Huayao’s orders were not so easily fulfilled.

They required immense production capacity to support them; otherwise, they simply couldn’t be handled.

In fact, Hu Jiangshan had been considering this very issue for the past two days.

Right, what about opening another production line?

An idea flashed through Hu Jiangshan’s mind. He quickly took out his phone and opened the Technology Engine App.

In fact, the Technology Engine App had quite a few functions.

For instance, he could view the various facilities he had already built.

【Semiconductor Production Line, Primary, Operating Normally】

【Tidal Power Station, Primary, Operating Normally】

【Seawater Desalination Facility, Primary, Operating Normally】

【Quartz Sand Refinery, Primary, Operating Normally】

All of the major facilities were in good working order.

Hu Jiangshan tapped on “Semiconductor Production Line.”

【Objective】: Build Semiconductor Production Line

【Level】: Primary

【Status】: Operating Normally

Below the basic information were several buttons.

Indeed, it was possible to build additional units of a previously constructed facility.

He clicked the “Build Additional” button.

【Objective】: Build Semiconductor Production Line

【Level】: Primary

【Minimum Area Requirement】: 1000 square meters

【Construction Period】: 30 days

【Capital Investment】: 30 million Hong Kong dollars

【Prompt: Insufficient area, construction cannot be initiated】

Chapter 67: Huayao’s Counterattack

That was a lot to take in.

Building a second semiconductor production line was indeed possible, but the capital required was much higher, reaching thirty million Hong Kong dollars.

The first semiconductor production line had only cost ten million Hong Kong dollars. This was triple that amount.

Even so, construction couldn’t begin.

General’s Island currently lacked the required area, so a second semiconductor production line couldn’t be built.

This left Hu Jiangshan deeply disappointed.

Logically, while General’s Island wasn’t a large island, its usable area wasn’t small. Why wasn’t there enough space to build a second semiconductor production line?

Right, the factory building.

It wasn’t that the island’s area was insufficient, but that the factory’s space was.

The current factory was based in a cave.

The cave had a finite amount of space, and the first production line already took up more than half of it. Naturally, there wasn’t enough room for a second one.

The solution, then, was to construct a new factory building.

This was neither simple nor terribly difficult.

Besides a large sum of money, it also required time.

This was, after all, an outlying island of Hong Kong Island. The road construction on the island was inadequate, with almost no paved surfaces. It would likely be difficult to bring in large construction equipment.

Sigh, it all came back to building roads.

“If you want to get rich, you have to build roads first.” What a pearl of wisdom.

What now? Did he really have to build roads first?

Road construction would have its own timetable.

Although General’s Island had limited area, its terrain was relatively complex. An ordinary construction crew wouldn’t be able to handle it; he would have to find a highly skilled team.

The construction period for the roads wouldn’t be short, either—probably six months at a minimum.

Building a road network on General’s Island and then constructing a factory building would take almost a year.

He couldn’t afford to wait that long!

Just then, Hu Jiangshan noticed another function button.

That’s right, it was a green, upward-pointing arrow.

An upgrade button?

Hu Jiangshan tentatively clicked it, and sure enough, a series of information popped up.

【Objective】: Semiconductor Production Line Upgrade Project

【Level】: Intermediate

【Capacity Increase】: 100%

【Requirement】: Basic Semiconductor Production Line

【Construction Period】: 25 days

【Capital Investment】: 50,000,000 Hong Kong dollars

Holy cow! It really was an upgrade button for the semiconductor production line.

But when he saw the capital investment required to upgrade the line, Hu Jiangshan was stunned.

Upgrading from Basic to Intermediate also required fifty million Hong Kong dollars. That was even more expensive than building a second production line from scratch.

Hu Jiangshan had just received seventy million Hong Kong dollars. Was this going to wipe it all out in one go?

But at least this path was viable. It didn’t require more factory space; it could be upgraded in place.

Furthermore, once the semiconductor production line reached the intermediate level, its production capacity would double.

This was equivalent to having an extra production line.

The construction period was indeed long at 25 days, but it was still acceptable.

Thinking it over, this was a great deal.

An increase in the production line’s capacity meant the ability to accept large orders.

Right now, General’s Island’s maximum production capacity was fifty thousand 12-inch wafers per month. After the upgrade, the capacity would increase to one hundred thousand wafers.

By that calculation, he could produce a maximum of ten million chips per month.

With this in mind, Hu Jiangshan no longer hesitated and directly pressed the confirm button.

The screen switched to the familiar progress bar.

Twenty-five days from now, the semiconductor production line would see a massive improvement.

Hu Jiangshan was rather curious. The production line didn’t even need to be shut down for the upgrade; it could continue operating.

Could it be that the hardware remained unchanged, and only the software was being upgraded?

If so, this upgrade capability was truly powerful.

Having taken care of this, Hu Jiangshan felt a sense of relief.

Since he already had his phone out, he decided to check social media.

Hu Jiangshan had developed an occupational habit of paying attention to the international situation and the changes in mainland China’s tech circle.

As it turned out, the moment he logged into Weibo today, he discovered some interesting topics.

While they were still about Huayao, the tone had taken a sharp turn.

It was completely different from the pessimistic atmosphere of the past few days, replaced instead by a sense of surprise mixed with a hint of suspicion.

【Walked past a Huayao store today and discovered they have an unlimited supply of the Mate 20】

【Well, I’ll be damned! The Mate 20 is actually in stock. It’s only the high-end model, but they have all the colors】

【What on earth happened? The Huayao Mall has plenty of Mate 20s in stock, available for direct purchase. Did their chip shortage end?】

A smile spread across Hu Jiangshan’s face as he read these topics.

It seemed Huayao had finally begun its counterattack against the recent public opinion.

There are many ways to counterattack, but Huayao chose the most direct one: letting their actions do the talking.

You say I’m out of chips?

Fine, here’s an unlimited supply of chips for you. We’ll let you media outlets, independent content creators, and tech macro-influencers see just how ridiculously wrong you were!

And while we’re at it, here’s a little “Huayao shock” for you!

Evidently, the method was highly effective, because these topics had very high numbers of views, shares, likes, and comments.

One topic even started trending.

【The Mate 20 is in stock, and long lines are forming at Huayao stores again】

Hu Jiangshan clicked on it.

The text was relatively brief, essentially mirroring the title.

【This Huayao store received a large shipment of Mate 20s, and many people, hearing the news, rushed over to queue up and buy one.】

According to this blogger, the store sold nearly 200 Mate 20 phones that day alone, a truly explosive number.

Keep in mind, this was just a single store. If other stores were experiencing the same situation, the sales volume would be astonishing.

The Mate 20 was Huayao’s flagship phone, and it was very expensive.

A trending topic naturally wouldn’t lack for comments.

There were already nearly ten thousand comments.

“Holy cow! Is Huayao back from the dead?”

“No way? Didn’t they say Huayao was out of chips?”

“You misunderstood. It’s that Huayao won’t be able to buy chips in the future, not that they don’t have any inventory.”

“What inventory?! Huayao has a chip shortage right now. You couldn’t even buy a Mate 20 a while ago.”

“Yeah, even second-hand Mate 20s were selling for exorbitant prices.”

“Can someone please explain why Huayao can suddenly sell so many Mate 20s again? Where are all these Kirin 990s coming from?”

“Could this just be Huayao’s last gasp?”

“Maybe Huayao is just bluffing, but what’s the point?”

“I get Huayao. It’s a matter of pride.”

“You’re overthinking it. Huayao probably has a decent stock of Kirin 990s and is just offloading them now.”

“Offloading my ass! High-end chips are crucial for Huayao right now. They should be saving them. If they use them all up now, are they planning to starve later?”

“There’s only one other possibility: Huayao is preparing to abandon its mobile phone business.”

Hu Jiangshan opened the Huayao Mall app again, and the Mate 20 phone was, incredibly, still in stock.

They’re really going for it! He had no idea how many they had released, but it was clearly not a small number.

Chapter 68: The CEO of Apple Pays a Visit to Express Gratitude

Just as some online users had said, it was now certain that Huayao could no longer buy advanced chips, including the Kirin 990 used in the Mate 20.

Although the Kirin 990 was the flagship chip of its generation, and Huayao would surely have some in stock, the inventory wouldn’t be very large—a few million units at the absolute most.

Huayao would certainly use this stock of chips sparingly and with extreme caution.

However, Huayao was now selling the Mate 20 in large, unlimited quantities, both online and in physical stores. This behavior was highly unusual.

If they used up their entire remaining stock of Kirin 990 chips, what would Huayao use to manufacture phones?

Unable to produce flagship phones, Huayao’s mobile business would naturally be crippled.

There was only one plausible explanation: Huayao was planning to abandon its mobile business.

But was that possible?

Anyone in the tech industry felt this was highly unlikely.

Huayao’s mobile business was incredibly profitable, with extremely high margins, and now accounted for over half of the company’s total revenue.

The US’s new Semiconductor Act had just taken effect, and while Huayao’s mobile division was in serious trouble, it was far from being at a dead end. How could they possibly surrender so early in the game?

Huayao’s baffling moves had indeed left many people completely stumped.

In fact, even many people inside Huayao didn’t quite understand the decisions made by the top brass.

Most people were kept in the dark; only a select few knew the inside story, and Hu Jiangshan was one of them.

To be precise, Hu Jiangshan was the very person behind Huayao’s unusual actions.

The reason Huayao now dared to release the Mate 20 series in large quantities was because a new shipment of chips had finally arrived.

As the saying goes, “With chips in hand, you have nothing to fear.”

By now, Huayao’s core executives had confirmed that Hu Jiangshan could mass-produce chips, and three hundred thousand Kirin 990 units had already been delivered.

Subsequent chip orders were also proceeding smoothly through production.

While it might not be enough to fully satisfy Huayao’s enormous demand for chips, it had at least solved the problem of sourcing them.

Furthermore, the recent public opinion had been very unfavorable to Huayao, leaving everyone in the company with pent-up frustration and severely damaging morale. That was why the top brass chose this moment to push back hard, to take the wind out of the sails of all the detractors.

It had to be said, the effect was fantastic.

On social media, while there were still voices questioning Huayao for making its phones widely available, the predominant reactions were surprise and confusion.

Naturally, there were also large numbers of Huayao fans offering excited praise and cheers.

On platforms like Weibo and The Headlines, there were still some posts mocking Huayao, but the comment sections were spectacular. The bloggers who posted them were relentlessly ridiculed in return.

However, Hu Jiangshan knew that Huayao couldn’t keep up an unlimited supply of high-end phones indefinitely.

Releasing one or two million Mate 20 units over the next few days would be the best they could do.

Of course, Huayao’s chip crisis would only be truly resolved if the company officially placed a massive order with Hu Jiangshan—say, for tens of millions of chips—and he could successfully fulfill and deliver it.

Hu Jiangshan could achieve this in the future; it all depended on whether Huayao trusted him.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the ocean, in Washington D.C.

The weather was nice today—blue skies, white clouds, and bright sunshine.

The US Department of Commerce building seemed to be bathed in a hallowed glow, turning heads.

In the Secretary of Commerce’s office, Gina Raimondo stood by the window with a coffee cup in hand, admiring the view.

A slight smile played on Raimondo’s lips. She felt a sweet sense of satisfaction; she was clearly in a wonderful mood.

Raimondo certainly had reason to be happy. Several recent bills had passed smoothly, the President had signed them into law, and their effects were already quite apparent.

The new Semiconductor Act, in particular, had made things extremely difficult for their rival tech company since it officially took effect last month. The company’s situation worsened daily, and it was now on the verge of collapse.

Raimondo placed her coffee cup on the desk and sat down.

Raimondo was very fond of this chair, as it was a massage chair.

It had powerful features, was made of solid materials, and was very ergonomic.

An occasional massage was wonderfully relaxing, and it even seemed to alleviate the symptoms of her cervical spondylosis.

Goodness knows how much Raimondo loved this chair.

Ironically, this massage chair was imported directly from China.

Although it was a high-end product, its price was surprisingly affordable.

Raimondo found it incredible that you could get such an amazing massage chair for such a low price; she felt like she’d gotten a massive bargain.

Of course, she hadn’t actually paid for it herself; it was part of a bulk purchase by the Department of Commerce.

Sometimes, Raimondo truly didn’t understand the Chinese.

Why couldn’t those Chinese people just be content with producing nice things like massage chairs?

Things like toys, umbrellas, clothes, Christmas trees, or socks.

That’s what they, the Chinese, were good at.

Why did the Chinese have to meddle with high-tech that didn’t belong to them?

Weren’t they just breaking the rules? It was simply preposterous!

Then again, maybe it was a good thing. If everyone on Blue Star played by the rules, the Department of Commerce would be out of a job!

Just then, her assistant, Julie, knocked and entered.

“Julie, what is it?”

“Ms. Raimondo, a Mr. Hawke is here. He’d like to see you.”

Raimondo paused for a moment. “Mr. Hawke? Why is he here? What business does he have with me?”

“Well, he didn’t say, but I suspect he’s here to express his gratitude to you. Ms. Raimondo, shall I show him in? If not, I can make an excuse and ask him to leave.”

Raimondo waved her hand. “It’s fine. Since he’s already here, show him in.”

“Yes, Ms. Raimondo.”

With that, Julie left.

Raimondo switched off the massage chair, stretched, and continued to leisurely sip her coffee while waiting for Mr. Hawke’s arrival.

Tiram Hawke was the CEO of Apple.

Hawke himself was a very charismatic man and a skilled conversationalist. Raimondo, at the very least, didn’t dislike him; in fact, she rather admired him.

Hawke’s status was, of course, very high.

After all, Apple was one of the most powerful tech companies on Blue Star and a pillar of the US economy.

Even for someone like Hawke, federal officials like Raimondo were not to be taken lightly.

A few moments later, Hawke arrived at Raimondo’s office.

Hawke arrived alone, carrying a small, exquisite basket.

Raimondo smiled and said, “Mr. Hawke, welcome.”

Hawke said respectfully, “It’s an honor to see you, Ms. Raimondo.”

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Hawke offered her the basket.

Raimondo glanced at it curiously and saw that it was filled with several large apples.

Hawke explained with a smile, “These are a modified variety, air-freighted from Tanzhou. They’re very sweet, crisp, and delicious. Please have a taste, Ms. Raimondo.”

Raimondo nodded. “Thank you so much, Mr. Hawke. You seem to be aware of my fondness for apples.”

Chapter 69: Who Exactly Is Manufacturing Chips for Huayao?

Raimondo and Hawke sat down. The atmosphere was pleasant.

Raimondo called for Julie again, asking her to bring two more cups of coffee.

Hawke said, “The new Semiconductor Act has been very effective since its passage. I came especially to thank you, Ms. Raimondo. You’ve been a great help to us at Apple.”

Raimondo waved her hand dismissively. “What help? It’s just my job. By the way, Mr. Hawke, Apple’s performance must be quite good recently, isn’t it?”

Hawke smiled slightly. “It’s been excellent, actually. Our Apple phone sales have been growing rapidly lately, and we have your support to thank for that.”

Raimondo immediately corrected him, “It is the President’s support.”

“Yes, yes, you’re right. It is the President’s support.”

But Hawke was still very grateful to the Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo.

Raimondo had indeed done several great things for Apple.

For example, the new Semiconductor Act was a bill Raimondo had championed in the Senate and House of Representatives as Secretary of Commerce.

And its eventual signing by the President was also due in no small part to Raimondo’s efforts.

As for how much of an impact the passage of the new Semiconductor Act had on Apple?

It could only be described with one word—immense.

In the past two years, Huayao’s phones had been too formidable, so much so that Hawke couldn’t sleep well. Even when he managed to fall asleep, he would be startled awake by nightmares.

Now, things were different. Hawke slept soundly every night. The one time he woke up in the middle of the night, it was from laughing in his sleep.

Apple’s performance was indeed growing rapidly.

The North American market was a given; it had always been Apple’s stronghold, where phone brands from China could barely gain a foothold.

More importantly, Apple was now regaining the upper hand in the European and Southeast Asian markets.

And in China, Apple was seizing the opportunity to continuously increase its marketing investment, gaining ground and conquering territory. The situation was excellent.

If things went smoothly, Apple phones would only need a year or two to dominate the high-end smartphone market in China.

That was why Hawke’s visit was essential.

He needed to maintain a good relationship with Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

The two of them chatted happily, their faces wreathed in smiles, unable to contain their joy.

Hawke, in particular, felt like a general who had just won a major battle on the field.

He had wiped away his past shame and could finally hold his head high!

Just then, Hawke hesitated for a moment before asking, “Ms. Raimondo, I have one more question.”

“Of course, feel free to ask anything.”

“This Semiconductor Act won’t be easily amended, will it? What I mean is, its provisions are very favorable to Apple, and I hope this effect can continue.”

Raimondo smiled. “Mr. Hawke, you can rest assured. The Semiconductor Act was passed by an overwhelming majority in both the Senate and the House. It represents the strong will of the people, and the President has made up his mind. It will not be easily changed.”

Hearing this, Hawke finally nodded in relief. “That’s wonderful.”

In truth, Hawke’s biggest fear was that high-level officials from China would negotiate with Washington D.C., leading to some kind of trade-off that might result in the Semiconductor Act being repealed.

But from what Raimondo was saying, that was absolutely not going to happen.

At that moment, the landline on Raimondo’s desk began to ring.

Calls to her landline were typically important business matters that had to be answered.

Raimondo walked over and picked up the receiver.

“Hello, who is this?… Oh, it’s you, Mark. What is it?”

“…What? That can’t be right. Why would they do that?”

It was unclear what Raimondo had heard, but her whole demeanor soured.

“…How is that possible? Where did they get the chips? Who would dare sell to them? No, who would dare to manufacture chips for them?”

“Mark, what I mean is, you need to confirm this. Are they really Huayao’s own chips?”

“Alright, Mark. Have our people in China investigate this thoroughly. I need accurate information.”

Raimondo hung up the phone, her expression grave and tinged with anger, a complete contrast to her earlier mood.

Hawke obviously noticed the change in Raimondo’s mood.

He had also heard Raimondo mention the words “chip” and “Huayao.”

Had something changed over there? The thought made Hawke restless.

Hawke couldn’t help but ask, “Ms. Raimondo, what happened?”

Raimondo paced back and forth in her office a few times before asking, “Mr. Hawke, haven’t you heard? Huayao has been selling their flagship phones in large quantities these past few days.”

“…What!?”

Hawke was utterly shocked. It was unbelievable, inconceivable.

“How is that possible? Huayao shouldn’t have any phones left to sell. Ms. Raimondo, they can’t buy chips, and no company will manufacture for them, right?”

Raimondo remained silent.

Hawke muttered to himself, “Could it be they have a large inventory of chips?”

Then, he shook his head, dismissing the idea.

Huayao did have some chip inventory, but the quantity wasn’t large. For their flagship phones, they probably only had a few million units.

This was all information the Department of Commerce had on record; it wouldn’t be wrong.

If Huayao were to sell its flagship phones without restriction, that small inventory of chips would be depleted very quickly.

Just then, Raimondo said, “I just received information that Huayao recently received a new batch of chips.”

Hawke was stunned. The news was like a bolt from the blue.

“Ms. Raimondo, did they manage to buy Gaoxin chips through underground channels?”

Raimondo shook her head. “If they were Gaoxin chips, it would be a simpler matter. The batch Huayao received was of Kirin chips.”

“What!?”

Hawke stumbled back two steps, nearly falling over.

Hawke didn’t believe Raimondo’s source could be wrong.

The department that gathered intelligence for the Department of Commerce was Blue Star’s renowned Intelligence Agency.

The Intelligence Agency were professionals in this field. Their intelligence-gathering capabilities were top-tier on Blue Star, and they rarely made mistakes.

Raimondo said, “Mr. Hawke, you should also have your people in China look into this. Find out how Huayao managed it.”

“Alright, I understand. I’ll contact our China subsidiary right away to get to the bottom of this. Perhaps it’s just a misunderstanding.”

“Let’s hope so.”

After Hawke left, Raimondo pondered for a few minutes before immediately calling Mark at the Intelligence Agency again.

“Hello, Mark. Contact our informant at Huaxin International and ask if they are manufacturing chips for Huayao.”

“Yes, I understand, Ms. Raimondo. I’ll get on it right away.”

Raimondo’s line of thought was correct.

If any company was manufacturing those damn Kirin chips for Huayao, it could only be Huaxin International.

Raimondo swore that if this was confirmed, she would make Huaxin International suffer dire consequences.

Chapter 70: The Price of a Production Line Upgrade

The next day, on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon, at Wah Zai Pork Bone Noodle House.

This pork bone noodle house had a long history, said to be over a hundred years old. The current owner was already the third generation.

The food was delicious, made with genuine ingredients, but the service wasn’t the best. If you lingered too long over your meal, they’d try to rush you out.

Fortunately, the shop wasn’t full today, so the owner wasn’t bothering anyone.

At that moment, two young women were sitting near the door, leaning in and whispering to each other.

From time to time, they would glance at a seat further inside.

A young man was sitting there, his side profile quite handsome, slowly and methodically eating the signature pork bone noodles.

The two young women’s topic of conversation was related to him.

“Take a closer look. Doesn’t that handsome guy look familiar?”

“I can’t tell. Do we know him? Don’t just say he looks familiar every time you see a hottie. That line is so old-fashioned.”

“No, seriously, don’t you feel like you’ve seen him somewhere before?”

“I don’t. Have you? Where?”

“You forgot? At the beginning of the year, at the nightclub, a few guys hit on us. He was one of them.”

“…Huh? Really?”

“Yeah! Isn’t he that Hu… right, Hu Jiangshan!”

“Huh? Hu Jiangshan? That famous second-generation rich kid?”

“Yeah, that’s him. If you don’t believe me, search for him online.”

“…Wow, it really is him. He looks just like the pictures. But I remember that Hu guy being pretty sleazy. This person seems quite proper, even a little wholesome.”

“Well… maybe he’s just putting on an act.”

“Get real. He’s eating pork bone noodles by himself. What’s there to act for?”

“Xiao Xia, I think you’ve got a crush on him, don’t you? Go on, go talk to him!”

“No way. I wouldn’t dare. He has a bad reputation. He’s definitely a player!”

At this moment, Hu Jiangshan was still unaware that he was the subject of baseless speculation.

To be honest, Hu Jiangshan didn’t even realize he had a certain degree of fame in Hong Kong. He had, after all, appeared in the gossip tabloids several times, giving him the notoriety of at least a third-rate Hong Kong celebrity.

Just then, the phone on his table began to vibrate.

[Caller ID: Zhang Rui]

Hu Jiangshan wiped his mouth and answered the call.

“Hello, Dr. Zhang. What’s up?”

“Boss, we have a small problem with the production line, but we can’t figure out the cause.”

Hu Jiangshan was taken aback. The semiconductor production line had been stable ever since it started, without any issues.

“What’s the problem?”

Zhang Rui replied, “Starting today, production efficiency has dropped.”

“By how much?”

“About fifteen to twenty percent.”

Hu Jiangshan thought for a moment and said, “Alright, I’ll be there in a bit.”

Zhang Rui acknowledged and hung up.

A drop in production efficiency was unusual, and Hu Jiangshan didn’t know the reason either.

A drop of up to twenty percent was no small matter.

Wait, could it be…

An idea occurred to Hu Jiangshan, but he couldn’t be sure. He would have to go and see for himself.

An hour later, Hu Jiangshan arrived at General’s Island and went straight to the Cave Factory.

He entered the central control room and saw Zhang Rui examining the production logs, apparently still searching for the cause of the decreased efficiency.

Zhang Rui greeted Hu Jiangshan when he saw him arrive.

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “Let me take a look.”

“Okay.”

Zhang Rui stepped aside. Hu Jiangshan checked the production data. The efficiency had indeed dropped, and the decrease was not insignificant.

However, every piece of equipment on the production line was operating normally and stably, and there were no issues with any of the production metrics.

Hu Jiangshan thought for a moment and switched to the administrator interface.

Currently, only Hu Jiangshan had access to the administrator interface, which allowed him to monitor the deeper operational status of the semiconductor production line.

After checking the data, Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly.

So that was it.

A few new processes had appeared in the semiconductor’s production program, consuming a large amount of system resources. No wonder the production efficiency had slowed down.

Without a doubt, these processes were all related to a system upgrade.

This was the price of the production line upgrade.

It was acceptable.

Although it would slow down the production line’s progress, at least it wouldn’t have to go through a major shutdown.

A prolonged shutdown of the production line would result in considerable losses, both direct and indirect.

Hu Jiangshan didn’t hide it from Zhang Rui and explained the situation to him.

Although Zhang Rui was surprised that the production line was undergoing a system upgrade, he didn’t ask any more questions.

Just as Hu Jiangshan was about to take a stroll around the office building, his phone rang.

[Caller ID: Mommy]

It was his mother, Yuan Caihua.

Hu Jiangshan answered the phone.

“Ah Shan, where are you? Are you at your apartment?”

“Ah, I’m out right now.”

“Just wandering around?”

“…I guess so. Mom, what’s up?”

Yuan Caihua said, “Ah Shan, what else could it be? I miss you. Come and have a meal with me.”

Hu Jiangshan wanted to refuse, but on second thought, that wouldn’t be right.

He had been incredibly busy over the past month and had barely seen Yuan Caihua.

Though he was a transmigrator, he had also assimilated the original body’s memories and feelings, so he naturally wouldn’t neglect his family.

Hu Jiangshan said, “Sure. We’ll have to eat somewhere nice, then.”

Yuan Caihua was naturally delighted. “Don’t worry, how could I possibly mistreat my precious son!”

After hanging up, Hu Jiangshan spoke with Zhang Rui for a few more moments before piloting The Seahorse back to Hong Kong Island.

Yuan Caihua had booked a table at Lung King Heen.

Lung King Heen was a famous high-end restaurant on Hong Kong Island, located in Central, where an inch of land is worth an inch of gold.

The restaurant was renowned for its dim sum and Cantonese cuisine, and many of Hong Kong’s celebrities and tycoons enjoyed dining there.

Of course, the prices were also quite amazing.

Hu Jiangshan drove to the restaurant’s entrance and, by a stroke of luck, found an open parking spot.

After parking the car, he entered the restaurant and saw Yuan Caihua waving at him.

“Ah Shan, over here.”

Hu Jiangshan walked over, a little surprised. Yuan Caihua wasn’t alone; Qiu Xuezhen was also there.

As mentioned before, Qiu Xuezhen was a famous Hong Kong movie star, who once was—and for many, still is—the woman of their dreams.

Since his rebirth, Hu Jiangshan had run into Qiu Xuezhen more than once.

Yuan Caihua and Qiu Xuezhen were best friends, so it was normal for them to be eating together.

However, Qiu Xuezhen’s beautiful daughter, Shen Lan, wasn’t with them this time.

Besides Qiu Xuezhen, there was another heavyweight society matron present: Li Ruying.

Li Ruying was the matriarch of the Guo family, one of Hong Kong Island’s Four great families, and an influential figure in high-society circles.

After her husband was kidnapped, Li Ruying had single-handedly gone to negotiate with the kidnappers, haggled down the ransom, and brought him back.

Hu Jiangshan wondered to himself why these wealthy ladies had invited a young man like him to their dinner.

Still, he politely greeted both women.

Li Ruying sized up Hu Jiangshan for a few moments, clearly surprised.

Why was Hu Jiangshan so proper? This wasn’t the scion of the Hu family that she remembered.

Chapter 71: The Thirty Million Loan, I’ll Pay It Myself

Hu Jiangshan no longer cared about the looks from others. He sat down and took a sip of tea.

Yuan Caihua asked with a smile, “Son, what would you like to eat?”

Hu Jiangshan replied, “Mom, I’ll eat anything. You three go ahead and order whatever you like.”

Qiu Xuezhen said with a smile, “Caihua, your son is quite sensible.”

Yuan Caihua was grinning from ear to ear. “Of course. I’m not just bragging about my son, but he’s become much more grounded and mature lately. He’s getting better and better.”

Hu Jiangshan glanced at Yuan Caihua. He had every reason to believe that his mother had called him over for this meal just to show off her precious son in front of her best friends.

It made sense, really. Hu Jiangshan hadn’t been a source of pride in the past, causing his parents, Yuan Caihua and Hu Wenxin, to lose a lot of face.

Now, Hu Jiangshan had suddenly changed his ways, becoming more settled and stable. At the very least, he had spent most of his time at home for the past few months and hadn’t gone out causing trouble.

Yuan Caihua really couldn’t resist wanting to reintroduce her son to her best friends.

Whatever, he thought. Let her do as she pleases. As long as she’s happy.

Hu Jiangshan didn’t mind. He drank his tea and waited for the food to be served.

To be honest, Hu Jiangshan was feeling a bit hungry.

The round trip to General’s Island had made him digest the bowl of pork bone noodles he’d eaten in the morning long ago.

Just then, Li Ruying suddenly said to Hu Jiangshan, “I heard you took out a sizable loan from the bank recently. Are you starting some kind of business?”

Hu Jiangshan was stunned. How had word of this reached Li Ruying’s ears?

In truth, Hu Jiangshan didn’t know that the news of his thirty million dollar loan from the bank had spread far and wide. Not only did Li Ruying know about it, but even Qiu Xuezhen had heard of it.

Hong Kong Island was too small. For tycoon families like theirs, any news was tantamount to gossip, and there were no real secrets to speak of.

Seeing Hu Jiangshan remain silent, Yuan Caihua thought he felt he had lost face and said, “Ah Shan, it’s alright. It’s only thirty million. If you can’t pay it back, I’ll take care of it for you!”

Hu Jiangshan gave a wry smile.

Yuan Caihua was a wealthy woman, true, but she couldn’t just casually pull out thirty million Hong Kong dollars. She would most likely still have to ask his father, Hu Wenxin, for the money.

The money would be given, but Hu Jiangshan would undoubtedly get a harsh scolding, further cementing his reputation as a prodigal son.

Fortunately, that wouldn’t be happening.

Hu Jiangshan immediately said, “Mom, you don’t have to worry about this. I can pay back this money.”

The moment he said this, all three wealthy women looked astonished.

His words were indeed very surprising to them, and they didn’t fit Hu Jiangshan’s long-standing image.

Even if Hu Jiangshan had become a bit more stable and mature, looking more presentable, it was already impressive that he wasn’t out causing trouble every other day.

For Hu Jiangshan to now claim he could pay it back himself was very out of character.

That was thirty million Hong Kong dollars, not a small sum.

Even for the social elites of Hong Kong Island, earning thirty million was quite difficult, let alone for a playboy like Hu Jiangshan.

To put it bluntly, Hu Jiangshan had only managed to finish university because his family had pulled strings for him.

Yuan Caihua’s eyes widened as she asked, “Ah Shan, where are you going to earn that kind of money?”

That was a really difficult question to answer. Hu Jiangshan couldn’t very well say he was making money by manufacturing chips, could he?

Even if he dared to say it, who would dare to believe him?

Hu Jiangshan looked up and saw Qiu Xuezhen and Li Ruying looking at him curiously.

Good grief, he thought. Is this really such a big deal?

Hu Jiangshan had no choice but to bite the bullet and answer, “Mom, have you forgotten? I started a fish farm.”

“…Oh, right, the fish farm!”

Yuan Caihua was still staring, her face full of disbelief.

In fact, the news that Hu Jiangshan was starting a fish farm had also spread throughout their social circle, but everyone treated it as a joke to be laughed about after dinner.

Some people thought Hu Jiangshan was just talking nonsense.

Others believed that Hu Jiangshan would lose his shirt on this venture.

In any case, forget earning thirty million; it would be a success if Hu Jiangshan didn’t end up losing fifty million Hong Kong dollars.

Yuan Caihua pressed, “Ah Shan, can you really make money from it?”

“Yes, I really can. Mom, don’t worry. I’ve done the calculations. I’m not sure how much profit I’ll make, but I can at least pay back the loan.”

As he spoke, Hu Jiangshan picked up the teapot and poured tea for Yuan Caihua, Qiu Xuezhen, and Li Ruying.

His conduct was simply impeccable. Both Qiu Xuezhen and Li Ruying showed looks of appreciation.

Whether Hu Jiangshan could make money or not was another matter, but his etiquette was top-notch.

Just then, the dishes were brought out one after another. Hu Jiangshan’s performance was even more flawless, making everyone look at him in a new light.

Yuan Caihua was grinning from ear to ear, having long forgotten all about the loan repayment.

After the meal, everyone went their separate ways.

Qiu Xuezhen was sitting in the passenger seat of a red BMW, picked up by her second daughter, Shen Lan.

Shen Lan asked casually, “So what gossip did you chat about with Auntie Yuan and Auntie Li today?”

Qiu Xuezhen waved her hand. “Not much. Your Auntie Yuan’s son was there, so we couldn’t really gossip.”

Shen Lan was taken aback. “Auntie Yuan’s son? You mean Hu Jiangshan?”

“Yes, who else could it be?”

Qiu Xuezhen suddenly thought of something and said, “Speaking of which, that Hu Jiangshan is really different from before.”

Shen Lan asked curiously, “How is he different?”

Qiu Xuezhen then recounted Hu Jiangshan’s behavior at the table and his claim that he would pay back the loan himself.

After hearing this, Shen Lan laughed and said, “It’s good that he’s changed his ways, of course, but I don’t believe for a second that he can pay back a thirty million dollar loan.”

Qiu Xuezhen chuckled. “I don’t believe it either.”

Shen Lan added, “Forget thirty million Hong Kong dollars. If he can make three million from that fish farm, I’d say he’s already impressive.”

Qiu Xuezhen glanced at Shen Lan. “By the way, Lan’er, didn’t Hu Jiangshan pursue you once?”

Shen Lan sighed. “Oh, Mom, who hasn’t he pursued? He’s interested in any girl he sees.”

Qiu Xuezhen furrowed her brow and recalled, “But the last time he saw you, he seemed quite normal.”

Shen Lan fell silent too.

Hu Jiangshan’s change was indeed too drastic. It felt rather strange.

Meanwhile, Hu Jiangshan was actually planning to look into setting up the fish farm.

With his mother, Yuan Caihua, stirring things up like this, not starting the fish farm was no longer an option.

Hu Jiangshan was certain that sooner or later, Yuan Caihua would inevitably bring her group of best friends to tour her precious son’s fish farm business.

If there was nothing to see by then, he’d be done for.

Actually, being exposed wasn’t a big deal. The main concern was arousing the suspicion of interested parties.

The situation on Hong Kong Island was very complex. For one thing, more than half of the intelligence personnel that the US had placed in China were stationed long-term on Hong Kong Island.

These people had a keen nose for things; they could sniff out anything that seemed off.

Hu Jiangshan absolutely could not take that risk.

Chapter 72: One Million Mate 20s Sold in a Week

Instead of going straight home, Hu Jiangshan went to the Central Library.

The Central Library was the largest on Hong Kong Island, with twelve floors and a rich collection of books, particularly a comprehensive selection of books in the English language.

Hu Jiangshan wanted to find some books about fish farms and the aquaculture industry to take back and study.

Crossing into a new field is like crossing a mountain; this matter couldn’t be taken lightly.

Failing to establish the fish farm was a small issue. The real problem would be becoming a laughingstock and bringing shame to the Hu family. That would be a major transgression for Hu Jiangshan.

Hu Jiangshan was a very competitive person and didn’t want to carry the reputation of a spendthrift forever.

However, when he got to the library, it was just about to close for maintenance. Hu Jiangshan hastily picked two books and returned to his apartment.

He wasn’t in a rush to set up the fish farm. He could take his time to study it.

Meanwhile, in Guangzhou-Shenzhen City, at The Galaxy Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

This was a world-class hotel chain, considered a five-star luxury hotel in China.

A room cost no less than five thousand yuan a night.

Even during the discount season, the lowest it would go was three thousand yuan, and that was the absolute limit.

So, those who could afford to stay in this kind of five-star hotel were either business elites, bosses, celebrities, or big shots in certain industries.

At this moment, in a luxurious suite, Niu Jun was pacing back and forth.

Niu Jun had already paced five or six laps, but his heart still couldn’t quiet down.

It was no wonder he was in a panic. Huayao’s recent moves were too big—so big they were hard to believe.

That’s right, Huayao had suddenly released a large amount of stock, and it was the high-end Mate 20 series, no less.

Huayao’s phone sales had soared.

Niu Jun had just received news that in just one week, Huayao had sold nearly one million phones. It was an explosive success.

And most of them were the high-end Mate 20 series.

High-end phones meant high profits.

Normally, Niu Jun should have been happy, as he was one of Huayao’s major distributors.

But as luck would have it, during the distributor conference a few days ago, Niu Jun and several other distributors, dissatisfied with Huayao, had submitted the paperwork to terminate their contracts.

The process was now mostly complete, so Niu Jun had completely missed out on this wave of stock. He hadn’t benefited in the slightest.

Niu Jun was now shocked, angry, and anxious all at once. He desperately wanted to retract his termination request, but he had already contacted the relevant department at Huayao that morning. The process was finished, and there was no way to take it back.

What infuriated Niu Jun even more was that the distribution slots he and the others had vacated had already been filled by other distributors.

Damn, those guys really know how to take advantage of an opportunity! They were probably eyeing these spots for a long time!

If Niu Jun and the other distributors who had pulled out wanted to partner with Huayao again, they would have to get in line and wait for an opening.

How could a business big shot like Niu Jun tolerate that?

It was too humiliating!

Niu Jun gradually calmed down, feeling that the situation hadn’t reached rock bottom just yet.

Just then, someone rang the doorbell.

Niu Jun asked, “Who is it?”

“Brother Niu, it’s me.”

It was another distributor who had terminated his contract, a man named Wei Yebing.

Wei Yebing was on good terms with Niu Jun. They were birds of a feather, so when Niu Jun had called on everyone to pull out, Wei Yebing was the first to stand up and support him.

Niu Jun opened the door. Wei Yebing hadn’t come alone; two other men followed him.

One was named Meng Guotao, and the other was Xu Jian.

Like Wei Yebing, Meng Guotao was another one of the unlucky sap distributors who had followed Niu Jun in terminating their contracts.

Xu Jian, however, was a new face. Meng Guotao said he was a friend, so Niu Jun didn’t pay it much mind and simply exchanged pleasantries.

After the three came in and sat down, they stared at Niu Jun, who stared back at them, speechless.

The atmosphere was incredibly awkward for a moment.

Niu Jun got up, boiled a pot of water, found a tea set, and poured tea for the three of them.

Wei Yebing finally couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Old Niu, Brother Niu, you have to think of something.”

Meng Guotao quickly chimed in, “Yeah, Brother Niu, can we just… not quit?”

Niu Jun sighed. “I already asked about that. The applications we submitted can’t be canceled.”

Meng Guotao and Wei Yebing glanced at each other, their faces filled with regret and disappointment.

Now they could only watch helplessly as the other distributors raked in money while they and Niu Jun were left to stare.

Only two or three days had made all the difference, setting their fates on completely different paths.

It was like getting a set of winning lottery numbers from a fortune teller, deciding not to play, and then finding out they had hit the jackpot.

The two of them couldn’t help but feel immense regret. If only they had thought it through, if only they had delayed their decision to join Niu Jun’s protest, they wouldn’t have ended up in this predicament.

Just then, Xu Jian spoke up. “By the way, I’m very curious. With all this hype around Huayao these past few days, how many phones have they actually sold?”

Niu Jun glanced at Xu Jian, feeling that something was odd. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but something about this Xu Jian felt off.

Meng Guotao said, “I asked a colleague the day before yesterday. He said business was booming. Sales might have already hit six hundred thousand by then.”

Wei Yebing waved his hand dismissively. “That was two days ago. It’s been a couple of days since then; the number must have gone up a lot.”

Niu Jun picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said flatly, “I just asked. Sales have already passed one million units.”

Wei Yebing and Meng Guotao’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Holy cow! That’s insane, one million units! Are most of them the Mate 20?”

Niu Jun didn’t speak, just nodded with a grave expression.

“That’s just too crazy. The Mate 20 isn’t even a new model. How could it sell so many?”

“It makes sense. The Mate 20 has been out of stock for so long, the second-hand market was almost selling it for more than the original price.”

The three fell silent again, feeling as if they had missed out on a million.

This was so depressing!

Xu Jian spoke again. “This one million units, were they sold from existing stock? Or are most of them pre-orders?”

Niu Jun and the other two were taken aback. That was a difficult question to answer.

Meng Guotao said, “We can confirm that a lot of in-stock units were sold offline, but it’s hard to say exactly how many.”

Wei Yebing said, “It would be good if even half of the offline sales were from stock. The proportion of in-stock units online would be even smaller, a third at most. The rest of the orders can only be considered pre-orders.”

Xu Jian took a sip of tea. “I looked on social media. The shipping time for many Huayao phone orders is already a month later. The newest orders are even estimated to take two months to ship.”

Xu Jian then asked Niu Jun, “Brother Niu, how much of Huayao’s Mate 20 phone sales do you think is from actual stock?”

Niu Jun looked at Xu Jian, feeling that this man had some substance to him.

He seemed very calm and highly observant.

Niu Jun thought for a moment and said, “It would be good if even a third of Huayao’s Mate 20 phone sales were from existing stock.”

One-third of one million would be roughly three hundred thousand phones.

Xu Jian said, “That’s not a small number. Do you think Huayao scraped this together from their inventory?”

Chapter 73: Those Chips Came from Hong Kong Island?

Niu Jun, Wei Yebing, and Meng Guotao looked at each other in dismay.

The three of them had been major distributors for Huayao, so naturally, they knew some of the company’s internal news.

Huayao did indeed have a chip inventory, and a considerable one at that, with a certain stock of chips of various functions, grades, and models.

Niu Jun took a sip of tea and said, “I looked into it a while back. They have about three million Kirin 990 chips left in stock.”

Meng Guotao nodded. “That’s not a small amount, but for a company of Huayao’s size, it’s really not enough. That’s why they didn’t dare to sell openly before.”

Wei Yebing frowned. “Could it be that Huayao is using their stock this time? Using one-tenth of a three-million-chip inventory would make sense.”

Meng Guotao shook his head. “That doesn’t add up. They’ve just sold over a million units at once. They can’t just delay delivery. What will they do when the chips run out? Is Huayao going to stop making phones?”

“You never know. Isn’t everyone saying Huayao is giving up on its phone business?”

Wei Yebing’s comment made the former Huayao distributors feel much better.

If Huayao’s mobile phone business disappeared, it would mean they had cut their losses in time, a wise decision.

Niu Jun thought for a moment and said, “Something feels off. This isn’t Huayao’s style. Deciding to abandon the phone business now seems too rash.”

Wei Yebing said, “Brother Niu, I think it’s normal. Huayao won’t be able to get any more chips for the next few years. Not only is there nowhere for the Kirin chips to be manufactured, but they can’t even buy them if they want to.”

Meng Guotao added, “That’s right. Huayao must have analyzed the situation. The longer they drag it out, the greater the losses. An unprofitable phone business would drag the whole company down. The sooner they give it up, the better.”

Niu Jun finally smiled. “That would make sense.”

At this point, the three of them felt much more cheerful.

Just when they thought they were at a dead end, a new path opened up. It was like seeing the clouds part after a storm; everything would be alright in the end.

As long as Huayao’s phone business had no future, their decision to leave as distributors was undoubtedly the right one.

Conversely, the distributors who remained in Huayao’s channel network would suffer huge losses in the future due to various investments and binding costs.

Niu Jun said with a smile, “It’s rare for us to get together. Let me treat you to some drinks tonight.”

Meng Guotao waved his hand. “Brother Niu, it’s my treat. Don’t fight me for it!”

Just then, Xu Jian suddenly asked, “Gentlemen, are you sure Huayao can’t get chips from anywhere else?”

Wei Yebing was taken aback. “Who would sell chips to Huayao at a time like this?”

Meng Guotao also laughed. “Exactly. Who would dare to go against the grain? They’d have to be tired of being in the business.”

Xu Jian said, “I just mean it would be better to be certain.”

Niu Jun took a sip of tea. “That’s easy enough. I have a contact at Huayao’s southern factory. I can just ask him if Huayao has managed to get any more chips.”

With that, Niu Jun picked up his phone and casually dialed a number.

The person on the other end answered quickly.

Niu Jun started speaking.

“Hey, Old Zhao, are you busy right now?… Oh, I have something to ask you. The Mate 20 is available for open purchase now. Has the chip supply issue been solved?”

“…What I mean is, have you found a contract manufacturer? Or are you still looking for one?”

It was unclear what Niu Jun heard, but his expression changed drastically. “Wh-what? A batch came in a few days ago?”

At these words, Wei Yebing and Meng Guotao were aghast.

Xu Jian’s expression was also strange. His hand, holding a teacup, froze in mid-air as he listened intently.

Niu Jun’s face was grim, but his thoughts were clear as he continued the conversation.

“Alright, Old Zhao, can you give me a hint? Which factory made them?”

“…You don’t know? Come on, Old Zhao, don’t mess with me. Just a little hint will do. I definitely won’t tell anyone. How about this, I’ll treat you in a couple of days. Do you want Maotai, Jiannanchun, or Wuliangye? Oh right, you like Biluochun tea. I’ll get you five kilograms of the special grade stuff and bring it over!”

“What? You really don’t know? Old Zhao, you’re in the warehouse management department, how could you not know the source of the chips?”

“…I see. Okay, then can you help me ask around? I’m just curious, I want to know where the chips came from.”

Niu Jun hung up the phone, silent for a moment.

Wei Yebing couldn’t help but ask, “Brother Niu, what’s the situation? Does Huayao have chips?”

Niu Jun nodded. “Yes. He said a batch of chips did indeed arrive at the warehouse a while ago.”

Xu Jian quickly asked, “What kind of chips?”

Niu Jun looked up at him. “Kirin 990.”

“Wh-what!?”

“That’s impossible!”

“Brother Niu, is your source reliable!?”

Wei Yebing and Meng Guotao were both in a panic after hearing this.

Huayao could actually replenish its supply of advanced chips. That was huge.

What did this mean?

It meant Huayao could break through the blockade.

Niu Jun said calmly, “Alright, calm down. It’s not set in stone. The guy on the phone said that although a batch of Kirin 990s arrived, it was only a few hundred thousand units.”

Wei Yebing and Meng Guotao exchanged a glance.

A few hundred thousand Kirin 990 chips might sound like a lot, but as they had said before, for a company the size of Huayao, it was a drop in the bucket.

Meng Guotao said, “Could they have been transferred from other factories?”

Niu Jun thought for a moment. “That’s a possibility, but if that were the case, Old Zhao should have known. From the sound of it, the origin of this batch of chips is unknown.”

Xu Jian asked, “So you don’t know which company did the contract manufacturing?”

Niu Jun shook his head.

“Then does he know where this batch of chips was shipped from?”

Niu Jun glanced at Xu Jian. He found the other man’s attitude a bit strange but didn’t pay it much mind.

Niu Jun replied casually, “He doesn’t know the specific point of origin, but it passed through Hong Kong Island.”

Xu Jian froze at these words.

“…Hong Kong Island? So you’re saying the chips were shipped from abroad?”

“That I don’t know. Say, buddy, you seem pretty concerned about Huayao’s chips. Are you in this line of work too?”

Xu Jian was startled for a moment, then forced a smile. “Yes, I’m in a related industry. I’m just curious about Huayao’s chips, so I asked a few more questions.”

Niu Jun didn’t press the matter.

A moment later, Xu Jian stepped out of the room, silently took out his phone, and quickly sent a message to someone.

Xu Jian was no ordinary person. He was an intelligence officer for the US in China, and his Chinese appearance allowed him to work more effectively.

Xu Jian’s current mission was to find out the source of Huayao’s chips.

His contact with Niu Jun and the others hadn’t been entirely fruitless. At the very least, he now knew that the batch of chips that had just entered Huayao’s warehouse had passed through Hong Kong Island.

This made things much easier. He would have his colleagues in Hong Kong Island investigate it thoroughly.

Chapter 74: We Can Only Sell 4G Chips to Huayao

Meanwhile, also in Guangzhou-Shenzhen City, inside the Huayao headquarters building.

At noon, many Huayao employees were eating in the building’s cafeteria.

The food at Huayao was good—cheap, plentiful, and delicious. Even during Huayao’s most difficult times, the quality had never declined.

A few employees gathered, chatting as they ate.

These days, Huayao employees only had one topic of conversation.

Chips.

“Does anyone have any news? Has our chip crisis been solved yet?”

“Who knows? Maybe it’s eased up. Otherwise, why would the Mate 20 suddenly be available for open purchase?”

“No way. I doubt any wafer company would dare to do contract manufacturing for us right now!”

“I don’t think it’s that grim. We still have Huaxin International in China. I remember hearing rumors that we sent people over to discuss a partnership.”

“Huaxin International is a no-go. They can’t even take care of themselves.”

“Yeah, all of Huaxin International’s equipment is from ASML. If they produce chips for Huayao, it’ll definitely be detected.”

The employees discussed back and forth but reached no conclusion.

In the end, they could only conclude that this open sale of the Mate 20 was likely just a tentative counterattack by Huayao’s upper management.

To put it bluntly, they were bluffing to let the other side know that Huayao still had cards to play and wouldn’t surrender.

But no one was discouraged. If the company’s leadership still had this kind of fighting spirit, it meant they still had some confidence.

This was no time to be timid. They just had to push forward.

At that moment, Wang Chengdong was in his office, fiddling with a smartphone.

It was a Mate 20 Pro, Huayao’s current flagship model.

However, this particular phone was from the latest batch, having just come off the production line yesterday.

Wang Chengdong first tapped through various apps, performing all sorts of random, tricky operations.

Still not satisfied, Wang Chengdong opened a large-scale mobile game and played a few rounds.

Although Wang Chengdong was terrible at the game, the controls were incredibly smooth, proving the phone’s performance was excellent.

Feeling quite satisfied, Wang Chengdong exited the game and opened a benchmarking app.

He started running the benchmark.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

Li Long entered.

Wang Chengdong greeted him with a smile, “You’re here. Have a seat.”

Li Long glanced at the phone on Wang Chengdong’s desk and asked, “Old Wang, is that the new version of the processor?”

Wang Chengdong nodded. “Yes, I’m testing it out.”

“What do you think?”

“It’s great. I can’t tell the difference from the old version. Have you tried it?”

Li Long said, “I have. I feel like it’s a little smoother when playing games. Oh, and the benchmark score is a bit higher too.”

“The score is higher?”

Wang Chengdong was taken aback for a moment, then remembered he was also running a benchmark. He looked down and saw the result on the screen.

[Score: 780,000]

Wang Chengdong was a bit dumbfounded. “Whoa, the score really is higher. Seven hundred eighty thousand points. That’s up by about twenty or thirty thousand points, isn’t it?”

Li Long nodded. “I ran it twice, and my results were basically at the same level.”

Wang Chengdong beamed, unable to hide his grin. “Looks like the Kirin 990 that Brother Hu’s side produced is really reliable.”

Li Long also smiled without speaking. He could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Very few of Huayao’s core executives knew the source of the chips; the confidentiality level was set to the absolute highest.

Just then, an assistant came in.

“CEO Wang, a few media outlets would like to interview you. They’re asking if you have any time available.”

Wang Chengdong and Li Long exchanged a meaningful glance.

Wang Chengdong waved his hand dismissively. “Tell them I don’t have time right now.”

The assistant acknowledged and added, “Also, the people from Gaoxin will be here soon, in about an hour. Which conference room should I schedule for the meeting?”

Wang Chengdong froze. “People from Gaoxin?”

Li Long immediately said, “Old Wang, they must be here to discuss a chip order.”

Only then did Wang Chengdong remember. That was right.

They had arranged this meeting with Gaoxin last month, and today was indeed the scheduled day.

Around the time the US’s new Semiconductor Act took effect, Gaoxin was the only company that had shown any intention of selling chips to Huayao.

Gaoxin dared to do this not because they were brave, but mainly because the company was a domestic US chip giant, a directly-affiliated company of the big shots on Wall Street, and held considerable influence over the White House, as well as the US Senate and House of Representatives.

If negotiations with Huayao went well, Gaoxin could indeed obtain an order license from the US Department of Commerce.

Even though they now had the option of Hu Jiangshan, they still had to talk with Gaoxin.

If they didn’t negotiate now, it would arouse the other party’s suspicion.

Meanwhile, a Toyota Alphard was driving on an elevated highway in Guangzhou-Shenzhen City.

The two people sitting in the second row were both executives from Gaoxin’s China division.

One of them had Western, Caucasian features. His name was Mike Smith, and he was from the US.

The other had a Chinese face but was not a Chinese citizen. His name was Du Benliang.

Smith said, “Du, we should be there soon, right?”

Du Benliang looked out the car window. “We’re almost there. Half an hour at most.”

Smith smiled faintly. “I’m very curious to see just how desperate the people at Huayao are.”

Du Benliang chuckled. “They must be desperate, or they wouldn’t be in such a hurry to meet us. But recently, Huayao seems to have sold a large batch of phones and made quite a splash.”

Smith went “Oh?” “Are you saying Huayao has chips on hand?”

Du Benliang waved his hand. “That’s impossible, Mr. Smith. Our local team in China has already looked into it. We’re almost certain Huayao is just burning through its remaining chip inventory.”

Smith gave a cold smile. “What on earth is Huayao up to? They’re already short on chips, and they’re pulling stunts like this. Du, sometimes I really don’t understand the way you Chinese people think.”

Du Benliang quickly said, “I’m not Chinese, Mr. Smith.”

Smith glanced at Du Benliang and smiled without saying a word.

Du Benliang felt quite uncomfortable.

Although Du Benliang was born and raised in China, he had immigrated to the US a decade ago. It was infuriating to still be called Chinese so often.

A short while later, in a conference room at the Huayao headquarters building.

Du Benliang and Smith sat on one side of the conference table. Across from them were Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun, both core executives from Huayao.

The four of them didn’t exchange many pleasantries and quickly got down to business.

Xu Zhijun spoke first, “Mr. Smith, Mr. Du, can Gaoxin confirm that it is able to sell chips to Huayao?”

Smith replied in his not-so-fluent Chinese, “That depends on whether Huayao’s sincerity is sufficient. You should know, we have an excellent relationship with the US Department of Commerce and a very good chance of getting the order license.”

Xu Zhijun asked, “Our sincerity is, of course, more than sufficient. But from what I’m hearing, Mr. Smith, it seems you aren’t certain you can get the order license.”

Smith didn’t answer directly and instead asked, “What kind of chips does Huayao need to buy from Gaoxin?”

Wang Chengdong said, “Naturally, we want Gaoxin’s best flagship 5G chips.”

Smith gave a faint smile. “That’s impossible.”

“Hmm?”

Du Benliang cleared his throat and said, “CEO Wang, CEO Xu, we can only sell you 4G chips.”

Chapter 75: Rejection, We’re Not Buying Gaoxin’s 4G Chips

The statement left both Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun stunned.

Wang Chengdong asked aloud, “4G chips? You can’t sell us 5G chips?”

Du Benliang replied, “That’s right. This is the bottom line from the Department of Commerce. If it were 5G chips, the possibility of getting an order license is practically zero.”

Xu Zhijun held up a hand. “Wait a moment, CEO Du. The US Department of Commerce won’t allow you to sell us 5G chips.”

This was a difficult question for Du Benliang to answer. Mr. Smith, however, just gave a faint smile.

“That’s correct. It’s unlikely that your company, Huayao, will be able to manufacture 5G phones anymore. I think 4G phones are also an excellent choice.”

Xu Zhijun and Wang Chengdong looked at each other in dismay.

They knew The White House on the other side of the ocean was shameless, but they never expected them to be this shameless.

The other party didn’t want Huayao to get 5G chips and wouldn’t allow Huayao to produce 5G phones. Their objective was as clear as day: to cripple Huayao’s 5G capabilities.

What would happen if Huayao didn’t have 5G?

It would mean Huayao had completely lost its competitive edge, to the point where even continuing production would be impossible.

One had to admit, this move was truly vicious.

Wang Chengdong frowned and said, “Why would we buy 4G chips?”

Mr. Smith smiled without speaking, as if he hadn’t heard Wang Chengdong’s question.

At this point, it was naturally up to Du Benliang to explain.

Du Benliang chuckled, though it was unclear if it was an awkward laugh or a mocking one.

“CEO Wang, about that… The thing is, Huayao doesn’t have many options right now, does it?”

Wang Chengdong was getting a little angry. This was just too brazen and audacious!

Sensing he had hit a nerve, Du Benliang continued, “It’s like this: although we will be selling Huayao 4G chips, they are otherwise the latest flagship-level chips.”

Xu Zhijun said, “Oh. You mean we can buy the Snapdragon 865, but only the 4G version.”

“Yes, that’s exactly right.”

“Alright then. If we were to place an order, what price would you give us?”

“The price…”

Du Benliang glanced at Mr. Smith.

Evidently, this was something Mr. Smith had to address; Du Benliang didn’t have the authority.

Mr. Smith took a sip of his coffee and said nonchalantly, “We’ll stick to the original price.”

“…The original price?”

Xu Zhijun and Wang Chengdong were both a little dumbfounded.

What was this?

Wang Chengdong couldn’t help but say, “You’re selling a chip with its 5G functionality removed for the original price? You… this is too tyrannical!”

Mr. Smith chuckled. “CEO Wang, to use a saying from you people in China, this is what you call pricing power. It can’t be helped. In the real world, might makes right.”

Mr. Smith then pointed at Du Benliang. “And just as dear Du said, Huayao has no other choice. If you want to survive, you can only buy our 4G chips, isn’t that so?”

It seemed Mr. Smith was certain he had Huayao over a barrel.

Mr. Smith added, “Alright, gentlemen, let me briefly state Gaoxin’s requirements. We can sell chips to Huayao. Each order must be for no less than ten million chips. Flagship chips must account for forty percent, with the other sixty percent being mid-to-low-end chips. They are to be purchased at the original price, with no discounts. And one small reminder: they are all 4G chips.”

After speaking, Mr. Smith took another sip of coffee. “Have I made myself clear enough?”

It was indeed very clear—both clear and infuriating.

With Wang Chengdong’s explosive temper, if he weren’t an older man, he would have jumped up in anger and given Mr. Smith a good punch.

Mr. Smith checked the time again and said, “Well, gentlemen, my time is very limited. I’ll give you ten minutes to consider. After ten minutes, I need to know whether you will place the first order.”

Xu Zhijun smiled faintly. “That won’t be necessary.”

“…Hm?”

Xu Zhijun said, “We don’t need ten minutes, Mr. Smith. We can give you our conclusion right now.”

Mr. Smith was taken aback. Looking at Xu Zhijun’s expression, something felt wrong.

Was this the attitude of someone asking for a favor?

Shouldn’t they be more cordial, more polite?

Weren’t they worried he, Mr. Smith, would get angry?

Du Benliang quickly asked, “CEO Xu, what is your decision…?”

Xu Zhijun glanced at Wang Chengdong and said, “We do not intend to place an order with Gaoxin.”

Du Benliang was utterly shocked.

“CEO Xu, aren’t you going to discuss it? What I mean is, for a matter this big, shouldn’t Huayao at least hold a high-level meeting?”

Xu Zhijun waved his hand. “There’s no need for a meeting or anything of the sort. Our Huayao will not be buying any 4G chips.”

Wang Chengdong waved his hand dismissively. “CEO Xu is right. We don’t need neutered, garbage chips.”

Mr. Smith and Du Benliang’s eyes went wide.

Inconceivable. Unbelievable.

That Xu Zhijun and Wang Chengdong would be this tough.

Du Benliang panicked. If the deal fell through, Mr. Smith would bear little responsibility, but he, Du Benliang, wouldn’t be able to escape it.

This wasn’t the first time; Du Benliang was the perfect scapegoat.

“CEO Xu, CEO Wang, is Huayao planning to give up on its mobile phone business?”

Xu Zhijun said calmly, “No comment on that. Well, let’s leave it at that. We have another meeting, so we won’t see you out.”

Wang Chengdong gestured with his hand. “Please, see yourselves out.”

With that, Xu Zhijun and Wang Chengdong left, leaving only an assistant to escort the duo from Gaoxin out of the building.

A short while later, Mr. Smith and Du Benliang were standing downstairs from the Huayao headquarters building.

Du Benliang asked, “Mr. Smith, what do we do?”

Mr. Smith’s head was also spinning; he couldn’t make sense of the situation.

“Du, do you think Huayao really doesn’t plan to buy chips? Or is this their negotiating tactic?”

Du Benliang was momentarily speechless.

This Mr. Smith’s way of thinking was something else.

A negotiating tactic?

Were they playing hard to get?

But they had been so absolute, practically kicking them out. How did that resemble any kind of negotiating tactic? It was simply reckless!

Mr. Smith said, “My dear Du, let’s wait and see on this matter.”

“Then the report to headquarters…”

“Let’s stall for now, or just fudge it a little.”

Mr. Smith added, “Du, let’s make a bet. I think it won’t be long before Huayao comes begging us to place an order.”

Du Benliang was speechless, but it seemed like a decent option. At least he wouldn’t have to face criticism immediately.

Meanwhile, in Wang Chengdong’s office.

Xu Zhijun and Wang Chengdong each held a cup of coffee, chatting as they drank.

Wang Chengdong gave Xu Zhijun a thumbs-up. “As expected of Young CEO Xu. Striking when the iron is hot. So assertive!”

“You said it. Selling us 4G chips at the original price? Why don’t they just go rob someone? I wanted to kick them out right then and there!”

“But that foreigner was right about one thing. We really don’t have many options. We’re left with only one path forward.”

Wang Chengdong nodded, falling silent for a moment.

Xu Zhijun couldn’t help but urge him, “Old Wang, don’t just stand there. Make the call!”

Wang Chengdong paused. “Call who?”

“Who else? Hu Jiangshan, of course. Tell them to rush the order.”

Chapter 76: He Actually Knows How to Fix Cars

On this day, at nine-thirty in the morning, Hu Jiangshan drove to Causeway Bay.

Anyone who has seen movies or TV shows from Hong Kong Island knows that Causeway Bay is a famous place, and also one of its most chaotic, with a mix of good and bad people.

Causeway Bay has many old streets. They look narrow and run-down, but they’re always bustling with people.

The old Hu Jiangshan used to fool around and waste his days away, frequenting certain establishments in Causeway Bay. He was a familiar face around here.

It took Hu Jiangshan quite a while to find a street-side parking spot.

Hu Jiangshan had come here to meet with Kevin.

As mentioned before, Kevin was a professional broker who could provide all sorts of intermediary services.

Kevin had been a great help and played a significant role in Hu Jiangshan’s successful purchase of General’s Island and the repairs of its pier.

Hu Jiangshan was meeting with Kevin this time because he had something important to ask for his help with.

Just as Hu Jiangshan was about to turn into a small alley, he saw a familiar face.

It was Feng Qiuyi, Feng Hua’s younger sister.

Feng Hua and Hu Jiangshan were on good terms, and they still kept in touch now and then.

However, Feng Hua had asked Hu Jiangshan to hang out several times, but Hu Jiangshan had turned him down each time, saying he was too busy.

As for Feng Qiuyi, the old Hu Jiangshan had certainly offended her quite a bit.

Hu Jiangshan hadn’t planned on greeting Feng Qiuyi, but it looked like she was in some kind of trouble.

Feng Qiuyi was circling her car, looking it over from every angle, completely at a loss.

Hu Jiangshan walked over and asked, “Is there a problem?”

When Feng Qiuyi heard his voice, she jumped in fright. When she saw it was Hu Jiangshan, she jumped a second time, stumbling back two steps and nearly falling over.

Fortunately, Hu Jiangshan reached out and steadied her.

Feng Qiuyi’s eyes widened, her expression like she’d just seen a ghost.

Hu Jiangshan let go of Feng Qiuyi, a little speechless.

This Feng Qiuyi was far too timid.

But then again, who could blame her? The old Hu Jiangshan’s actions had been so outrageous that, in the eyes of a young woman like her, he was no different from a devil.

Hu Jiangshan cleared his throat. “Feng Qiuyi, are you in some kind of trouble? Do you need my help?”

Feng Qiuyi came to her senses and looked around.

They were on a public street. She figured that no matter how arrogant Hu Jiangshan was, he wouldn’t dare cause trouble here.

Feng Qiuyi said, “My car… my car broke down.”

Hu Jiangshan looked at Feng Qiuyi’s car. It was a red Tesla Model S.

In 2018, Tesla cars weren’t as cheap as they would be a few years later.

Especially on Hong Kong Island, where car prices were generally high, this Tesla Model S probably cost no less than six hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “What’s the problem?”

“It won’t start,” Feng Qiuyi said.

Hu Jiangshan said “Oh,” and added, “Let me take a look for you.”

“…You? You know how to fix cars?”

Hu Jiangshan didn’t answer. He opened the driver’s side door and got in.

Hu Jiangshan was actually very familiar with Teslas.

In his previous life, Hu Jiangshan had led research on power batteries and had tested many electric vehicles, including various Tesla models.

Hu Jiangshan tried to start it once, and various error messages popped up on the car’s computer.

There was definitely a problem, but it probably wasn’t anything major.

Hu Jiangshan bent down, removed the cover panel from the center console, and started rummaging for something.

Feng Qiuyi watched from the side, feeling very strange.

Hu Jiangshan had always been a jerk. It was a good day if he didn’t bully her. What was wrong with him today? Had he started enjoying helping people?

Or was he just putting on an act, with some other ulterior motive?

But if he was just pretending, did he need to make such a big show of it and be so convincing?

Feng Qiuyi even saw sweat beading on Hu Jiangshan’s forehead.

“How about… Young Master Hu… how about I just call someone from the dealership to come take a look?”

Hu Jiangshan waved his hand. “No need. It’ll be fixed in a moment.”

“Huh?”

She watched as Hu Jiangshan tinkered a few more times before finally emerging from under the console.

“It’s done.”

Hu Jiangshan got out of the driver’s seat.

“It’s done?”

“Yes. Go ahead and try it.”

Feng Qiuyi glanced at Hu Jiangshan, then climbed into the driver’s seat, half-believing, half-doubting.

After a moment, she actually managed to start the car.

“Ah! It really works!”

Feng Qiuyi looked completely incredulous, as if she couldn’t believe it.

Hu Jiangshan really knows how to fix cars? How is that possible? He has this kind of skill?

Then she heard Hu Jiangshan say, “Be careful when driving this car.”

“Huh? Careful of what?”

“If you notice any small issues, don’t ignore them. Take it to the dealership for a check-up right away, especially if the braking system isn’t working properly.”

“Braking…”

Feng Qiuyi looked confused.

Hu Jiangshan waved his hand, not bothering to explain further. “I’m off,” he said.

Before Feng Qiuyi could say a word, Hu Jiangshan had walked into the alley.

Hu Jiangshan was so strange today. How had he become like this?

Feng Qiuyi suddenly remembered her brother, Feng Hua, telling her a while ago that Hu Jiangshan really had changed. He wouldn’t even go to nightclubs anymore and had just been staying at home recently.

Speaking of which, Feng Qiuyi found herself thinking that Hu Jiangshan looked much better than he used to—he was even quite handsome.

The truth was, Hu Jiangshan had always been good-looking; it was just that his lazy, arrogant attitude and annoying behavior had always overshadowed his appearance.

Just now, when Hu Jiangshan was so focused, he had looked like a real stud.

Could it be that this guy, Hu Jiangshan, had really turned over a new leaf?

Was that even possible?

Could a person really change from bad to good in such a short amount of time?

Just then, a young woman ran over, carrying two cups of milk tea.

This was none other than Shen Lan, Qiu Xuezhen’s second daughter.

Shen Lan and Feng Qiuyi were good friends. They had planned to go shopping together today, but their car had broken down when they got to Causeway Bay, so Shen Lan had gone to buy milk tea.

Shen Lan asked, “How is it? Is the car fixed?”

Feng Qiuyi replied, “It’s fixed. We can go now.”

“Huh? It’s fixed already? Your skills are pretty amazing!”

“I wasn’t the one who fixed it.”

“Then who did? Did someone from the dealership come by?”

Feng Qiuyi waved her hand. “No, Hu Jiangshan helped me fix it.”

Pfft!

Shen Lan had just taken a sip of her milk tea, and when she heard this, she nearly spat it all out.

“…Hu… Hu Jiangshan? No way. Are you saying he helped you fix the car?”

“That’s right.”

“He knows how?”

“He seemed to know what he was doing. He just tinkered with it for a bit and it was fixed. I was shocked too.”

Shen Lan’s expression grew thoughtful. “That’s so weird. Why would Hu Jiangshan be so helpful? He helped you fix your car, and actually succeeded… How does he even know how to fix cars?”

Feng Qiuyi shook her head. “Who knows? I think it’s weird too. He didn’t seem like himself at all. You have no idea, his whole demeanor has completely changed.”

“Hmm?”

Shen Lan glanced at Feng Qiuyi.

“Why are you looking at me?”

Shen Lan asked meaningfully, “Were you just complimenting him?”

Feng Qiuyi’s eyes widened. “H-How is that possible? Why would I compliment Hu Jiangshan? Are you crazy!?”

Chapter 77: Huayao Sends People to Visit

“I thought you were crazy too. Alright, let’s get going. The parking fee here is pretty expensive.”

“Oh? Even a rich young lady like you thinks the parking is expensive?”

“I’m not as rich as you.”

The two young women chatted as they started the Tesla and drove away.

Meanwhile, Hu Jiangshan arrived at a tea restaurant.

There were countless tea restaurants in Causeway Bay, and this one had arguably the best atmosphere, being quite spacious at the very least.

Hu Jiangshan waited for a short while before Kevin arrived.

Kevin chuckled and said, “Sir Hu, long time no see. How have you been?”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “I’m fine.”

Kevin’s eyes flickered. “By the way, that island you bought, General’s Island… you haven’t run into any trouble, have you?”

Hu Jiangshan glanced at Kevin. “Not at all. Everything’s fine.”

Kevin looked surprised.

Hu Jiangshan had bought that island and hadn’t run into any headaches? That was quite unusual.

After all, the island was quite barren. The lack of fresh water alone was a huge problem.

However, Kevin was a professional who knew the rules, so he didn’t press the matter.

“Sir Hu, what can I do for you?”

Hu Jiangshan said, “Help me find another construction crew.”

“What kind of project is it?”

“I need to build roads on the island.”

Kevin understood and smiled. “Sir Hu, that’s simple enough. I’ll find a suitable crew for you.”

Hu Jiangshan said, “Not so fast. Listen to my requirements first.”

Building roads on General’s Island wasn’t an incredibly difficult task, but finding a construction crew that met Hu Jiangshan’s needs wouldn’t be easy. That’s why he needed to explain everything clearly to Kevin in person.

First, the crew’s technical skills had to be top-notch.

Building roads on an island was different from on the mainland. The terrain was more uneven, and they had to account for the corrosive effects of the marine environment on the road surface.

Additionally—and this was the point Hu Jiangshan cared about most—the construction workers had to be absolutely reliable and tight-lipped.

Hu Jiangshan would do his best to prevent the workers from seeing the true situation on the island, especially anything related to semiconductor production, but it was inevitable that some things might attract attention.

He had to ensure that whatever the workers saw on the island would not be easily leaked.

After Hu Jiangshan finished stating his two requirements, Kevin wore a thoughtful expression, clearly pondering whether any crews met the criteria.

Hu Jiangshan was satisfied with Kevin’s attitude and told him not to rush, that he could take his time to find the right people.

Kevin agreed and assured Hu Jiangshan that he would get the job done right.

A moment later, Kevin left first. Hu Jiangshan was in no hurry, planning to finish his coffee before leaving.

Just then, Hu Jiangshan’s phone rang.

[Caller ID: Wang Chengdong]

Without much thought, Hu Jiangshan answered the call.

Wang Chengdong’s hearty voice came from the other end.

“Hello, Brother Hu, is this a good time to talk?”

“It is, CEO Wang. Go ahead.”

Wang Chengdong asked, “Brother Hu, I don’t mean to rush you, but I was wondering about the status of the order.”

Hu Jiangshan gave a wry smile. Calling at this time to ask about it, yet still claiming he wasn’t trying to rush the order.

“CEO Wang, please don’t worry. The order is being processed. The two hundred thousand chips from the first order are complete, and we’ve finished about one hundred thousand from the second order.”

Hearing this, Wang Chengdong’s spirits lifted.

“Brother Hu, that’s excellent! Can you ship those three hundred thousand chips to us?”

“Of course, CEO Wang. I’ll arrange it in the next couple of days.”

Wang Chengdong suddenly added, “By the way, Brother Hu, would it be possible for us to send someone to visit the production line?”

Hu Jiangshan was taken aback for a moment, then asked, “It’s possible, but who would you be sending over? Are they reliable?”

Wang Chengdong replied immediately, “Absolutely. I’ll make sure to send my most trustworthy people.”

“Alright, CEO Wang. Let me know once you’ve made the arrangements. But I have one condition I need to state upfront.”

“Go ahead.”

“No photography or video recording.”

“…Alright!”

Although Wang Chengdong was disappointed, he understood it was a necessary precaution and readily agreed.

Early the next morning, at Futian Port.

It was a weekday morning, so there weren’t many people crossing the border.

Two men quickly passed through the checkpoint, crossing from the Guangzhou-Shenzhen City side into Hong Kong Island.

The older of the two wore a large pair of sunglasses.

The other, who wore prescription glasses, had slightly messy hair but looked energetic. He appeared to be in his thirties.

The older man was the senior executive, Li Long.

The younger one was an engineer from the HiSilicon Semiconductor Department named Zhang Dahui.

Both men looked tense, clearly on a special mission.

Their mission was to visit a semiconductor company on Hong Kong Island.

Wang Chengdong had been very eager to come himself, but to be on the safe side, he wasn’t allowed to. Instead, he sent Li Long.

Li Long was a relatively low-profile figure at Huayao, and foreign agencies rarely paid him any mind. So as long as he kept a low profile on Hong Kong Island, there shouldn’t be a problem.

As for Zhang Dahui, he was just an ordinary chip engineer, a typical homebody, so his presence was even less of a concern.

In truth, Zhang Dahui was quite skeptical.

In his mind, it was impossible for a high-tech company to exist on Hong Kong Island. There weren’t even any decent software companies, let alone a wafer manufacturing enterprise.

Zhang Dahui even suspected that the company had fallen for a scam, one run by a very clever con artist who had managed to fool all the executives.

However, Zhang Dahui’s loyalty was unquestionable, and he was quite tight-lipped. If he was told not to say something, he wouldn’t say it even under torture. That was why he’d been sent to visit this legendary wafer manufacturing enterprise.

Li Long checked the memo on his phone and said, “Next step… oh, next we go to the Pak Sha Wan Yacht Club marina.”

Zhang Dahui looked utterly bewildered. “CEO Li, I know that place. It’s a marina where the rich people of Hong Kong Island park their luxury yachts.”

Li Long was taken aback. “Oh. Well, let’s not worry about it for now. We’ll see when we get there.”

Zhang Dahui acknowledged, but inside, he felt it was even more unreliable.

Li Long also had his doubts.

What was that Hu Jiangshan up to, meeting at a yacht club? Were they going out to sea?

Could the wafer factory be built on the ocean?

What a joke! How is that even possible?

But that’s what the other party had said, so Li Long had no choice but to follow the instructions.

They would just have to play it by ear when they got there.

Li Long and Zhang Dahui didn’t alert their colleagues on Hong Kong Island. Instead, they hailed a taxi and, after a short ride, arrived at the Pak Sha Wan Yacht Club marina.

At that moment, a man was standing by the entrance.

The man was young, and in terms of both looks and presence, he could only be described as a stud.

The stud walked up to them and asked, “Excuse me, are you CEO Li Long?”

Li Long nodded. “You are… Hu Jiangshan?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

Li Long was a little shocked. He hadn’t expected the legendary Brother Hu to be so young. He looked to be thirty at most.

“Mr. Hu, how do we get to the wafer factory?”

Hu Jiangshan pointed toward the yacht club’s entrance. “By boat.”

“…Huh?!”

Chapter 78: Unbelievable! A Wafer Factory in a Cave

Li Long and Zhang Dahui were dumbfounded.

The way Hu Jiangshan spoke, it was as if he were joking.

Was this some kind of game?

They had come all this way, and not to go fishing with some second-generation rich kid!

It took Li Long a long moment to force a smile. “Mr. Hu, a wafer factory can’t possibly be built at sea, can it?”

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly. “Rest assured, I wouldn’t joke about something like this. The boat is ready. Let’s go.”

Left with no other choice, Li Long and Zhang Dahui followed Hu Jiangshan into the yacht club.

Zhang Dahui whispered to Li Long, “CEO Li, this feels sketchy, doesn’t it?”

“What’s wrong?”

“If he really takes us out to sea, we’ll be at his mercy!”

Li Long didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Oh, come on. Do you think he’s a kidnapper?”

Although Li Long had his doubts, he didn’t believe Hu Jiangshan had any ill intentions.

After all, Hu Jiangshan had already delivered several hundred thousand Kirin 990s. That was a display of genuine capability.

He just couldn’t figure out why they had to go out to sea.

Forget it, Li Long thought. I’ll find out soon enough. He was patient enough to wait.

A short while later, Hu Jiangshan led Li Long and Zhang Dahui aboard The Seahorse, a small yacht, started the engine, and left the port.

Standing in the cockpit, Li Long couldn’t help but ask, “Mr. Hu, how long until we arrive?”

Hu Jiangshan replied, “About twenty minutes.”

“Twen…”

Li Long suddenly understood and asked, “Is the wafer factory built on an island?”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “That’s right.”

Realization dawned on Li Long, but this only raised more questions.

There were indeed many outlying islands in the waters near Hong Kong Island, but most were small and undeveloped.

There were a few large islands, but they were already developed and populated.

More importantly, a wafer factory, a semiconductor production line, was extremely energy-intensive.

If a semiconductor production line were built on an island, would the island’s power supply even be sufficient?

And fresh water would be an even bigger problem.

Unless the island had abundant freshwater resources, it would be impossible to supply a semiconductor production line with just one or two small sources.

But Hu Jiangshan looked very serious, not like he was joking at all.

This wasn’t something to joke about anyway.

Although Hu Jiangshan was a second-generation rich kid with a less-than-stellar reputation on Hong Kong Island, according to Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun, he wasn’t as unreliable as the rumors suggested.

In what felt like the blink of an eye, the yacht had traveled a great distance, and Hong Kong Island was no longer in sight.

Suddenly, an island appeared ahead.

“We’re almost there,” Hu Jiangshan announced.

Li Long and Zhang Dahui craned their necks to look. The island wasn’t small, but it couldn’t be called large either.

From their vantage point, they couldn’t see any obvious buildings, only a lighthouse standing on one side of the island.

A few minutes later, The Seahorse docked at a pier.

The dock was small but looked new, as if it had just been repaired.

Stepping onto the island, it felt desolate and barren.

Forget a wafer factory, there didn’t even seem to be any decent houses.

Zhang Dahui’s expression changed, and he whispered to Li Long again, “CEO Li, if he has ill intentions, we won’t even be able to run away on this island.”

Li Long shot Zhang Dahui a look. “Have you been watching too many movies?”

“But…”

“Follow me, we’re almost there,” Hu Jiangshan said.

Li Long said nothing. Since they were here, they might as well see it through. He followed Hu Jiangshan deeper into the island.

Naturally, Zhang Dahui had to follow closely.

Though nervous, he was also curious. What could they possibly find on this island?

A short while later, the three of them arrived at the entrance of the Cave Factory.

Li Long and Zhang Dahui were completely stunned.

There was actually a door here.

Zhang Dahui swallowed hard and couldn’t help but ask, “M-Mr. Hu, the wafer factory isn’t… inside the cave, is it?”

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly. “Well, you guessed right.”

Zhang Dahui’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.

It wasn’t that he was unwilling to believe it, but was it even possible?

Anyone would know it was impossible.

Building a wafer factory inside a cave wasn’t out of the question, but think of the sheer scale of such an undertaking!

This was simply not something an ordinary company could accomplish.

Swish!

Just then, the door opened automatically.

A man walked out and saw Hu Jiangshan and the others.

“Ah, Boss.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded to him. “Dr. Zhang, I’ve brought some people to tour the production line. You can carry on with your work.”

“Ah, okay.”

Zhang Rui glanced at Li Long and Zhang Dahui, then left.

Li Long asked, “That was…”

“Ah, that’s our company’s Chief Engineer, Dr. Zhang. Alright, let’s go in.”

Before Li Long and Zhang Dahui could react, Hu Jiangshan had already stepped inside.

The two men exchanged a look and hurried in after him.

What followed was a true eye-opener for the two visitors.

The inside of the cave was completely different from the outside.

Upon entering, they found themselves in a small antechamber with only a reception desk, where a young woman was on duty.

They then passed through another door and went deeper inside.

Good heavens, the space inside the cave was far larger than Li Long and Zhang Dahui could have imagined—it was a vast space they couldn’t have even dreamed of.

More importantly, the entire space had been fully renovated. The ceiling, the floor, and even the cave walls had been made smooth and flat, covered with special panels.

While the whole space couldn’t be called spotless, it was at least remarkably clean.

And everywhere they looked, there were pieces of equipment they couldn’t comprehend. It was a high-tech cave.

Hu Jiangshan glanced at the two men, very satisfied with their spectacular expressions.

To be honest, their jaws had practically hit the floor.

Their eyes were likely so overwhelmed they couldn’t even think of what to ask.

Hu Jiangshan led them further inside, making introductions as they walked.

“CEO Li, as you can see, the space in the cave is enormous, perfectly capable of accommodating our wafer fab. The entire factory is divided into three levels. This is the first level, and the second level is inside…”

As Hu Jiangshan spoke, Li Long finally came back to his senses and listened attentively to the explanation, observing the surroundings, especially the equipment.

When they reached the second level, they finally saw the core equipment of the semiconductor production line.

Through a transparent partition wall, they could see machines of all sizes, linked together.

And these machines were currently in operation.

Zhang Dahui suddenly exclaimed, “C-CEO Li, those are wafers!”

Li Long had already seen them without Zhang Dahui pointing it out.

They saw wafers, one after another, moving along the production line in sequence, being processed by one machine before being transported to the next for further processing…

Li Long’s eyes widened as he tried to see if there were any logos on the equipment.

However, he couldn’t see a thing.

Zhang Dahui whispered, “CEO Li, these machines seem to be custom-made.”

Li Long asked, “Are they from ASML?”

Zhang Dahui shook his head. “I… I don’t think so.”

Li Long was speechless.

This semiconductor production line… where on earth did it come from?

Did it just sprout from the cave walls?

Chapter 79: Huayao Is the Only Client

The situation inside the cave was truly shocking, incredible, and unbelievable to Li Long and Zhang Dahui.

Zhang Dahui was purely a tech guy, and Li Long himself had been a key technical expert before moving into management. They were far from ignorant laymen.

The semiconductor production line before their eyes was genuinely operational, and its efficiency wasn’t low at all.

More importantly, what was being manufactured and processed were twelve-inch wafers.

Twelve-inch wafers were typically only used for chips with an advanced fabrication process.

Li Long and Zhang Dahui stared blankly, speechless. Time seemed to stand still.

Hu Jiangshan wasn’t in a hurry; he simply waited for them to digest the information.

After a moment, the two finally returned to reality and began asking one question after another.

If it hadn’t been so sudden and unprepared, Hu Jiangshan would have been swamped.

But Hu Jiangshan was indeed very professional.

Whether it was operational matters or technical issues, he answered everything he was able to. For the things he couldn’t discuss, he simply brushed them off with a few vague words.

Next, Hu Jiangshan led Li Long and Zhang Dahui to the central control room.

Good heavens, this time the amount of information was even greater. Li Long and Zhang Dahui were shocked for another long while.

Li Long had originally planned for the tour to last just an hour, but what they saw was so vast, complex, and astonishing that it stretched to two and a half hours.

By the time the three of them emerged from the Cave Factory, it was already noon.

Hu Jiangshan invited Li Long and Zhang Dahui to the office building, which drew another round of amazed gasps from them.

It wasn’t as if Huayao’s executives and employees were unsophisticated, especially when it came to office buildings.

But this was the first time they had ever seen one with an island resort style.

The vacation-like atmosphere was second to none.

The three of them arrived at Hu Jiangshan’s office.

The central air conditioning was on twenty-four hours a day, making the room very cool.

At this point, Li Long asked, “Mr. Hu, I heard from Old Wang that another three hundred thousand chips are ready.”

“That’s right.”

“Then…”

“As long as the logistics can be arranged, they can be delivered anytime in the next two days.”

“Great!”

Li Long clenched his fist in excitement.

Huayao had recently resumed sales of the Mate 20, which had indeed caused quite a stir online, and the pressure on the company’s upper management was not insignificant.

Their stock of Kirin 990 chips was originally less than three million. Now, with a surge in orders, one million units had been pre-ordered in just a few days.

If not for the three hundred thousand chips Hu Jiangshan had supplied, several key executives in Huayao’s mobile device division might have been losing sleep.

Li Long’s purpose for coming here was to conduct an inspection and evaluation of Hu Jiangshan’s operation.

If the evaluation passed, Huayao would place a large order.

Li Long asked, “Mr. Hu, I remember you said this business was started by a friend of yours, right?”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “Of course.”

“Then your friend…”

Hu Jiangshan rubbed his nose. “Well, he’s a top expert in technology. He’s away on a business trip and not here at the moment. I’m in charge.”

The answer wasn’t entirely complete, but Li Long had no choice but to accept it.

Li Long’s eyes glinted. “Mr. Hu, there’s a very important question. I wonder if you can give me an answer.”

“Go ahead, CEO Li. I’ll answer anything I can.”

“Who are the clients of this wafer fab?”

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly. “Right now, only Huayao.”

“Only us?”

“Yes.”

To be honest, Li Long was extremely surprised.

The investment in a semiconductor production line is enormous, especially for building an advanced one. Money alone isn’t enough.

With only Huayao as a client, wouldn’t they be losing money?

At this, Hu Jiangshan said calmly, “CEO Li, you don’t need to worry about that. I believe that for a long time to come, we will only be accepting clients from within China.”

Li Long looked at Hu Jiangshan and understood.

At the same time, he was also a little moved.

This Hu Jiangshan was no simple man! He was able to guess Huayao’s concerns.

By saying this, Hu Jiangshan was also telling Huayao that this company was very reliable.

In fact, his sincerity could already be seen in his price quote.

Li Long wouldn’t say these things out loud.

Smart people know when to stop. Some things lose their meaning if spoken aloud.

Then, Li Long asked again, “Can you disclose your production capacity?”

Hu Jiangshan had no intention of hiding it and replied, “Currently, our maximum monthly production capacity is fifty thousand wafers.”

Hearing this, Li Long was a bit disappointed.

A monthly output of fifty thousand wafers wasn’t high, especially for a client of Huayao’s scale. It was nowhere near enough.

But this was normal. After all, a super wafer fab like Island Foundry was the result of many years of accumulation, not something that could be achieved in a few years.

At this point, Hu Jiangshan said, “Production capacity is indeed a bit tight right now, but we are working on a solution. If things go smoothly, we can expect a significant increase in the near future.”

Li Long nodded but didn’t show much of a reaction.

Hu Jiangshan’s words sounded more like pleasantries. Even if this semiconductor production line was genuinely working on improvements, it wouldn’t yield significant results in a year or so.

Even if they invested heavily to build a new semiconductor production line, it would take at least over a year to properly calibrate it for normal production.

Presumably, the only thing they could do in the short term was to improve the yield rate of their seven-nanometer production.

Improving the yield rate wasn’t easy either; it was known that even Island Foundry’s yield rate for seven-nanometer chips was still less than ninety percent.

But for Hu Jiangshan to make such a statement was commendable, and it had to be appreciated.

Little did Li Long know that in less than a month, Hu Jiangshan’s production capacity would see a massive increase.

After they finished discussing business, Hu Jiangshan wanted to treat Li Long and Zhang Dahui to a meal, but they would have to go to Hong Kong Island. There was nothing much to eat here except frozen dumplings.

Li Long decisively refused.

“Mr. Hu, there’s no need for a meal. We need to hurry back and report. Eating can wait. Once we’ve solved the current problem, we’ll find a special time to have a good meal together.”

Hu Jiangshan understood Huayao’s work ethic and didn’t insist, driving the two to Hong Kong Island in The Seahorse.

In the evening, Hu Jiangshan grabbed a quick bite to eat outside and returned to Lishan Apartments.

He was quite tired after running around all day.

He took a shower and then sat on a chair on the balcony, enjoying the mountain breeze while looking at his phone.

Hu Jiangshan opened Weibo as usual and suddenly discovered that the trending topic about Huayao had not only not died down but had actually grown.

It seemed netizens were very concerned about Huayao’s current situation.

[Huayao Hits the Pause Button, Mate 20 Sales Halted Today, Chip Supply May Be Bottoming Out]

[High-End Kirin Chips May Be Depleted. Can Huayao Replenish Its Chip Inventory? A Huge Question Mark]

[Insider: Huayao Already Discussing Exiting the Mobile Phone Business]

Seeing this, Hu Jiangshan smiled.

The various rumors online had become quite severe by this point.

Chapter 80: This Fishery Company is Full of Suspicion

Hu Jiangshan didn’t mind. The internet was a wild place, so naturally, there were all sorts of opinions.

Some of these opinions were even deliberately churned out in massive quantities by individuals or organizations.

It was a psychological tactic, meant to make people think Huayao was finished.

If Huayao were to abandon its mobile phone business, what would be the point of the Huayao phones currently being sold?

Wouldn’t buying one make you a total sucker?

If this became a widespread belief, it could truly deal a huge blow to Huayao.

But Hu Jiangshan wasn’t concerned, nor did he feel the need to warn Huayao.

Based on his experience from his past life, these smear campaigns were ultimately useless. On the contrary, Huayao’s phone sales skyrocketed within a single year, even surpassing Samsang in one quarter to become the dominant phone brand on Blue Star.

Of course, back then Huayao was short on chips. Like water without a source or a tree without roots, the massive phone sales were just a flash in the pan.

But things were different now. With Hu Jiangshan as a variable, what might happen was hard to imagine.

Meanwhile, in Guangzhou-Shenzhen City, at the Huayao headquarters building.

It was already eight o’clock at night, yet the building was brightly lit. A great number of Huayao employees were still working overtime.

In one of the conference rooms, the big shots were gathered.

Sun Yafang, Xu Zhijun, Wang Chengdong, and even He Yunbo, the president of HiSilicon, were present.

They were all waiting for one person: Li Long.

Li Long had gone to Hong Kong Island today to inspect the semiconductor company. What he had seen and heard, the information he would bring back, was crucial. That was why these top executives had been waiting here all this time.

Sun Yafang asked, “He should be here soon, right?”

Xu Zhijun checked the time. “There are a lot of people crossing the border in the afternoon. He’ll have to queue for at least two hours, but he should be arriving soon.”

He Yunbo couldn’t help but say, “You’re all too anxious. At least let the man have a bite to eat.”

Everyone laughed.

But the atmosphere remained tense.

Sun Yafang asked, “Let’s just chat for now. Do you all think that company is really reliable?”

Wang Chengdong said, “President Sun, we’ve already received three hundred thousand chips and have installed them for testing. You’ve been using one, and it works well, doesn’t it?”

The phone in Sun Yafang’s hand was a Mate 20 Pro, from the latest batch, and it was equipped with the new version of the Kirin 990.

This so-called new version of the chip was the masterpiece from Hu Jiangshan’s side.

Sun Yafang said, “I’ve been using it for two days, and it’s indeed quite good. But there are too many suspicious things about this tech company from Hong Kong Island.”

Everyone couldn’t help but nod.

Huayao was extremely strict when selecting its suppliers; a background check on the company was a must.

It was fine before they looked into it, but once they did, everyone was quite dumbfounded.

Sun Yafang looked at the documents on the table and said, “Jiangshan Fishery, a high-tech, intelligent fishery company. This is completely unrelated to the production of semiconductor wafers and chips.”

Wang Chengdong couldn’t help retorting, “At least it’s related to high-tech.”

“Old Wang, don’t interrupt. And there’s this—the registration date is only… oh, less than a month ago. Don’t you all find this very strange?”

“This…”

He Yunbo said, “It is indeed strange. This company appeared at the perfect time, and the product they make is exactly what we urgently need. The crucial point is that the company is located on Hong Kong Island. Normally, it’s plausible for high-tech IT-related businesses to pop up on Hong Kong Island, but for it to be a wafer manufacturing company… that’s a bit outrageous.”

Wang Chengdong and Xu Zhijun had no way to explain these suspicious points.

The timing of Jiangshan Fishery’s appearance was too coincidental, coming right when Huayao was facing its chip crisis.

It smelled of a conspiracy.

For example, what if this company was a facade created by an adversary, and the chips weren’t actually produced on Hong Kong Island but over in Taiwan?

It could be a bait, waiting for Huayao to walk into a trap.

The problem, however, was that Huayao had already placed two orders and received three hundred thousand chips. So far, at least, nothing had gone wrong.

This was precisely why Huayao had sent Li Long to investigate.

Huayao had to confirm that there really was a wafer factory on Hong Kong Island and that the chips were truly being produced there.

If that wasn’t the case, then this whole affair was definitely a scam.

Everyone was anxious, but all they could do was wait for Li Long to return.

Li Long could have told them the truth via a phone call or video, but that would be extremely insecure.

Especially on Hong Kong Island, communication devices had too many vulnerabilities, and key information could easily be intercepted.

When Li Long had passed through Futian Port, he hadn’t even used his own phone number.

Sun Yafang said, “We need to prepare ourselves. If there’s really a problem with that company, we must abandon it decisively. We can’t afford to get in any deeper.”

Her words made perfect sense.

In its current situation, Huayao had to be extremely cautious, as if treading on thin ice. A single misstep could lead to a swift demise.

Just then, Wang Chengdong’s phone rang.

Wang Chengdong glanced at it and said, “It’s Li Long. He must have arrived. I’ll go get him!”

Before anyone else could react, Wang Chengdong had already rushed out of the conference room.

The atmosphere in the room grew even more tense.

They didn’t know what kind of news Li Long would bring.

Everyone hoped for good news, but they couldn’t allow themselves to be wishful thinkers. After all, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.

They didn’t want to suffer another blow.

A moment later, two people walked in, one of whom was Li Long.

Everyone couldn’t help but stand up.

“CEO Li, you’re finally back.”

“Quick, CEO Li, sit, sit!”

“Water, CEO Li, have some water. By the way, have you eaten? I’ll have someone get you a boxed meal.”

Li Long was a bit overwhelmed by the attention from the big shots. He quickly sat down, opened the bottle of mineral water Xu Zhijun handed him, and took a sip.

It truly hadn’t been easy for Li Long and Zhang Dahui to get back. Futian Port was packed with people; they had queued for nearly three hours.

Luckily, they had brought some bread and snacks in their bags, otherwise they might have starved on the way.

Li Long caught his breath, wiped the sweat from his brow with a tissue, and said, “Were you all waiting for me?”

Sun Yafang said, “Yes, we were all waiting for your news. Don’t rush, catch your breath first.”

Li Long looked at the eager eyes fixed on him, waved his hand, and said, “No need to wait. I’ll talk now. I went to the company’s factory.”

Xu Zhijun’s eyes widened. “There’s really a factory!?”

“Yes, there really is. And it’s on a small island.”

Upon hearing this, the other big shots were all stunned.

“…On an island?”

“CEO Li, you aren’t telling us a story, are you?”

“If it’s really on an island, how big would that island have to be!”

Li Long knew they wouldn’t believe it so easily. At first blush, it sounded like a joke. He wouldn’t have believed it himself either.

So, Li Long recounted everything he had seen to them in detail.

Sure enough, the big shots listened, completely dumbfounded and speechless.

Sun Yafang spoke up, “CEO Li, so what’s the conclusion? Do you think this company is reliable?”

Chapter 81: Sudden News! Photoresist Price Hike

Li Long nodded firmly. “It’s reliable. I think it’s very reliable!”

The big shots looked at each other in dismay.

Li Long was a very cautious man, so for him to be so resolute in his judgment was unexpected. It seemed what he had witnessed today was truly extraordinary.

Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Xu Zhijun said, “That’s good. That’s really great. It seems there’s always a way out!”

Li Long added some more information, which helped answer their questions and clear up their doubts.

Although there were still some lingering questions, like whether the island had enough power or fresh water, Li Long’s trip had at least confirmed that Hu Jiangshan’s operation was the real deal.

He Yunbo broke into a smile. He was probably the most excited person in the room.

He Yunbo was the head of HiSilicon. Without a wafer factory to do contract manufacturing for Huayao, their work in chip design would be completely meaningless, and it would only be a matter of time before they were split off.

Now, things were looking up. This meant HiSilicon still had value.

Just then, Wang Chengdong suddenly said, “I have an idea.”

Xu Zhijun said, “Old Wang, it’s not another one of your bad ideas, is it?”

Wang Chengdong waved his hand. “I’ll bet you this is an absolutely brilliant idea!”

Sun Yafang said, “Don’t keep us in suspense. Spit it out.”

Wang Chengdong lightly slapped the table and said slowly, “We’re going to release the P30 phone ahead of schedule!”

The next day, Hu Jiangshan had just gotten out of bed and was about to wash up.

Suddenly, his phone rang.

[Caller ID: Wang Chengdong]

Hu Jiangshan found it strange. Li Long had just left yesterday, so why was Wang Chengdong calling him today?

Was something wrong?

Hu Jiangshan answered the phone.

“Hello, Brother Hu, what are you busy with right now?”

“CEO Wang, I was just about to brush my teeth and wash my face.”

“…Huh? You just woke up?”

Hu Jiangshan gave a wry smile. “CEO Wang, what time is it? Just past eight, right?”

Wang Chengdong chuckled, clearly in a good mood.

“Brother Hu, let’s get down to business. We want to place an additional chip order.”

Hu Jiangshan was stunned. “Another order? CEO Wang, we haven’t even finished the current one.”

Wang Chengdong replied, “This new order is different. The IC design needs a few small modifications.”

“An improved version of the Kirin 990?”

“That’s right.”

Hu Jiangshan suddenly understood and said with a smile, “CEO Wang, is Huayao planning a big move?”

“Brother Hu, we’ll need your cooperation on this.”

“Alright, CEO Wang. I’ll do my best.”

“Good. I’ll have someone send you the IC design in a bit. You guys take a look first, and call me anytime if there are issues. Oh, and by the way, we’ll need an initial run of five million of these chips.”

Hu Jiangshan was taken aback. “That many?”

Wang Chengdong laughed. “Brother Hu, it’s fine. Don’t worry, take your time. Let’s do a prototype fabrication first to see how it performs.”

Wang Chengdong must have learned about Hu Jiangshan’s production capacity from Li Long, so he wasn’t pushing for a faster timeline.

Still, five million chips was a lot of pressure.

Hu Jiangshan chatted with Wang Chengdong for a few more moments before hanging up.

Although Hu Jiangshan didn’t ask directly, he figured Huayao must be preparing to release a new phone. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be ordering a new model of chip.

A short while later, Hu Jiangshan received a new email.

The attachment was huge—the complete IC chip design.

Wang Chengdong had arranged this email account for him. It was specially encrypted and ran on Huayao’s internal network; otherwise, they wouldn’t dare send such important data.

At a time like this, one had to be cautious about everything. It might not always be necessary, but it certainly couldn’t hurt.

Hu Jiangshan tried to open the file on his laptop, but it was too large, and his computer was too slow.

Forget it. I’ll just go to General’s Island to look at it.

He really needed to get a laptop with better specs.

That morning, Hu Jiangshan was thinking of taking it easy and skipping the trip to General’s Island.

After all, everything was in routine production, so nothing special was likely to happen.

Hu Jiangshan pulled two cans of beer from the fridge, planning to enjoy them on the balcony.

To be honest, in his past life, Hu Jiangshan never had the leisure for such things. His mind was constantly occupied with research and tackling difficult problems.

He rarely drank, not just liquor or beer, but even sparkling water.

Now, Hu Jiangshan found that his temperament had changed quite a bit. He knew how to enjoy life and wasn’t pushing himself as hard as before.

He was even sleeping twice as long as in his previous life and waking up much later.

On second thought, it was normal. After all, Hu Jiangshan had merged with his original body, so it was natural for his personality to be affected.

Hu Jiangshan opened a can of beer and was just about to take a sip when his phone rang.

[Caller ID: Zhang Rui]

It was Dr. Zhang.

Zhang Rui rarely called. A call from him meant there was a real problem he couldn’t solve.

“Hello, Dr. Zhang. What’s going on?”

Zhang Rui said, “Boss, I just called Mr. Tian to order more supplies. We’re running low on photoresist and I wanted to buy some more, but he said…”

“What did he say?”

“He said that photoresist is hard to buy now. It’s not easy to get a sufficient quantity, so he wants to raise the price.”

Hu Jiangshan was stunned. “A price hike? How much?”

“Mr. Tian said the price will at least double, and even then, he can’t guarantee he can get us enough.”

Hu Jiangshan’s head started to ache.

Doubling the price would drive up costs significantly.

But they had to buy photoresist; it was an essential consumable for wafer manufacturing and etching.

This Mr. Tian, whose full name was Tian Hansong, was an international wheeler-dealer introduced to him by Kevin.

Tian Hansong was said to be from Taiwan, but his accent didn’t sound like it.

They had been working together just fine. He never expected Tian Hansong to demand a price increase at a time like this.

Just then, Zhang Rui asked, “Boss, what should we do?”

Hu Jiangshan said, “It’s alright. I’ll negotiate with him.”

Zhang Rui acknowledged.

Hu Jiangshan also mentioned Huayao’s new order to Zhang Rui, saying they would discuss the specifics in a day or two.

After finishing his call with Zhang Rui, Hu Jiangshan dialed Tian Hansong’s number.

Hu Jiangshan wanted to talk to Tian Hansong in person to find out what was really going on.

In the afternoon, at an outdoor cafe on Garden Road in Central.

Hu Jiangshan had been sitting there for half an hour. It was already past the time he had agreed to meet Tian Hansong, but the man still hadn’t shown up.

He had almost finished his coffee.

Just then, a person appeared. It was Tian Hansong.

“Oh, my apologies, Mr. Hu. I ran into some traffic and then spent ages looking for a parking spot. That’s why I’m late.”

Hu Jiangshan waved his hand. “It’s fine. Have a seat.”

Tian Hansong took the initiative to order two more coffees and sat down across from Hu Jiangshan.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “Mr. Tian, let’s get straight to the point. Why the price increase?”

Tian Hansong spread his hands. “Mr. Hu, there’s nothing I can do about it. The manufacturer suddenly tightened its export controls. It’s very difficult to get the stuff out now. We have to take a big detour.”

“A detour?”

Tian Hansong said in a low voice, “It means we have to pull some strings.”

Chapter 82: A New Facility Appears, the Chemical Synthesis Facility

Hu Jiangshan was a seasoned old hand who had been around for years; of course, he knew what Tian Hansong meant.

However, Hu Jiangshan wasn’t concerned about that. He asked, “Why would the manufacturer suddenly tighten exports? Are they refusing to make money when they can?”

Tian Hansong sighed. “Mr. Hu, you’re in this business too. You should know what the current climate is like.”

Hu Jiangshan quickly said, “Mr. Tian, I don’t know. I’m not in this business. I’m asking for a friend.”

Tian Hansong waved his hand dismissively and said, “That’s not important, Mr. Hu. The Eagle is putting on the pressure, and the manufacturer has already received instructions from above. They can’t sell it casually anymore. I heard every single order needs to be approved now.”

Hu Jiangshan was taken aback. “What? Can the Eagle control manufacturers over here?”

Tian Hansong glanced to both sides, then whispered mysteriously, “Mr. Hu, the Eagle has a long reach. And when it comes to Japanese manufacturers, don’t you think the Eagle has them wrapped around its finger?”

What Tian Hansong said was no exaggeration.

It was common knowledge that Japan was essentially a country controlled by America, which wielded considerable power over its corporations. After all, the primary market for Japan’s pillar industries was in America.

Moreover, according to Hu Jiangshan’s memories from his past life, America had indeed influenced Japanese chemical companies to stop exporting advanced products to China, such as high-end photoresist.

The problem was that was supposed to happen in two or three years. Things were only just beginning now.

Could it be that this had been moved up as well?

Or perhaps America had already made a move on photoresist, but it just hadn’t been publicly announced.

But then again, the photoresist Hu Jiangshan was using wasn’t the most high-end type; it was a mid-range model.

The issue was that very few companies produced photoresist. At this point in time, only Japanese chemical companies could make it.

Tian Hansong added, “Mr. Hu, there’s really nothing I can do. This stuff is a rare and valuable commodity now, so the price naturally can’t be what it used to be.”

“Alright, then,” Hu Jiangshan asked. “What’s the lowest you can go? Give me a price.”

Tian Hansong took a sip of his coffee and said, “I’ll be straight with you. The price will have to at least double.”

Hu Jiangshan shook his head. “That’s too high. We’ll be using a large volume in the future. You have to give us a better price.”

Tian Hansong smiled faintly. “Mr. Hu, it’s not that I’m being unreasonable. The key is that this has little to do with volume. This photoresist is genuinely hard to get. The larger the quantity, the greater the difficulty. My price is already a discount.”

Hu Jiangshan was speechless for a moment. Judging by Tian Hansong’s expression, he was refusing to budge.

“Alright, let’s do that then. Mr. Tian, I hope you can do your best to secure the quantity we need.”

Tian Hansong confidently patted his chest. “Mr. Hu, rest assured! I’ll get you however much you need! I’ll give it my all!”

Hu Jiangshan nodded without saying much else, shook hands with Tian Hansong, and left.

Doubling the price of photoresist would certainly increase costs significantly, but it was still acceptable. After all, Hu Jiangshan’s semiconductor production line was already extremely cost-effective, with water, electricity, and even quartz sand being practically free.

What worried Hu Jiangshan wasn’t the price, but whether the supply would be sufficient.

If it was truly as Tian Hansong said, that Japanese companies were complying with the policies of the Eagle’s country, then he might encounter a lot of trouble later on, such as having his supply source cut off.

If that happened, wafer production could grind to a halt.

At this moment, Hu Jiangshan understood firsthand just how difficult the situation was for Huayao. It was a completely precarious position.

Right now, Hu Jiangshan’s advantage was that his consumption of photoresist and other high-purity chemicals was relatively low.

So be it if it’s more expensive. He just hoped he wouldn’t face a situation where the supply was completely cut off.

The next day, on General’s Island.

Hu Jiangshan held a small meeting with Zhang Rui, Du Jiahui, and the others, mainly to briefly go over the IC design for Huayao’s new version of the Kirin 990.

There were some modifications, but they weren’t major, and the overall structure remained unchanged, so mass production wouldn’t be too difficult.

However, it was still a new chip model, so it had to go through the prototype fabrication process.

Du Jiahui couldn’t help but ask, “Boss, how big is this order?”

“Five million units,” Hu Jiangshan replied.

Du Jiahui, Zhang Rui, and the others were all astonished, then their faces lit up with joy.

Five million chips—this was a huge order!

But then, the team members also felt immense pressure.

Zhang Rui hesitated for a moment before saying, “Boss, about the photoresist…”

Hu Jiangshan explained to them what he had discussed with Tian Hansong the day before.

“Let the price rise then. It doesn’t matter if the costs go up. The key is to have enough supply. Dr. Zhang, contact Mr. Tian for a shipment later. Order as much as you possibly can.”

Zhang Rui nodded. “I’ll do my best, but we can’t order too much. The storage conditions for photoresist are too strict, and it expires if you keep it for too long.”

“Alright, you handle it. Let me know if anything comes up.”

After a few more miscellaneous remarks, Hu Jiangshan let them get back to work.

As he walked out of the office building, Hu Jiangshan was hit by a wave of heat.

To be honest, the environment on the island couldn’t be considered very good.

This was mainly because tall vegetation was too sparse on the island, offering no shade from the scorching sun.

If it weren’t for this office building and its powerful central air conditioning, it would be impossible for ordinary people to work here.

Right, there was also the matter of building the roads. There was still no news from Kevin about finding a construction team.

No rush. He would give Kevin a few more days. If Kevin really couldn’t find a suitable team, then Hu Jiangshan would have no choice but to ask his dear old dad for help.

Real estate was indeed the Hu family’s main business, and they had many construction teams they worked with. However, the relationships were complicated, and Hu Jiangshan didn’t want to use the Hu family’s connections for his projects, as it would be easy for information to leak.

On a whim, Hu Jiangshan climbed the lighthouse.

From the top of the lighthouse, he could see a panoramic view of the entire General’s Island.

Hu Jiangshan pondered how to best develop the infrastructure.

First, fix the roads. Then, focus on greening. He needed to turn General’s Island into a green island. It couldn’t remain so barren; the environment was too harsh.

Hu Jiangshan took out his phone, intending to take a picture, when he suddenly noticed a new message he’d received at some point.

It was a message from the Technology Engine.

Hu Jiangshan’s heart leaped with joy, and he quickly opened the Technology Engine app to check the content.

Delighted, Hu Jiangshan saw that the Technology Engine app truly never disappointed. It had presented him with the facility he needed most right now.

Chemicals, of course, included things like photoresist, copper chloride, and silicon nitride, all necessary for wafer manufacturing.

Five million Hong Kong dollars wasn’t expensive, but the construction period was a bit long.

However, Hu Jiangshan then saw a line of red text below.

[Notice: Available area is too small to meet the facility’s construction requirements]

Seeing this gave Hu Jiangshan a headache.

General’s Island was only so big. If there wasn’t enough space, there was nothing he could do.

Did he have to reclaim land from the sea?

Chapter 83: Huayao Phones Go on Sale Again

Hu Jiangshan had considered land reclamation before, but it was just too unrealistic.

But without land reclamation, the chemical synthesis facility couldn’t be built.

Hu Jiangshan racked his brain but couldn’t think of a solution.

Unless…

A flash of inspiration struck Hu Jiangshan. That’s right, who said all the facilities had to be on a single island!

He could easily build some facilities elsewhere, as long as the land belonged to him.

The only downside was that it would increase logistics costs.

But those were minor details. As long as the problem of photoresist and other consumables could be solved, it would be perfect.

Still, this had to be taken one step at a time; he couldn’t rush it.

After all, a large plot of land wasn’t easy to find, and even if he found one, he might not be able to afford the price.

For now, Hu Jiangshan didn’t have to worry about loans, but he didn’t have much cash on hand either.

Huayao had given him one hundred million in total, which was a small goal of a hundred million Hong Kong dollars.

But after paying off the loan, upgrading the new production line, covering production costs, and settling employee wages, he was left with less than thirty million Hong Kong dollars.

He couldn’t use all of that money either, as he needed to reserve a portion for regular production expenses.

So, Hu Jiangshan was actually quite tight on funds.

The sea breeze was strong at the top of the lighthouse. Hu Jiangshan took a moment to check the signal booster he had made before climbing down.

Just then, his phone vibrated.

Hu Jiangshan looked and saw it was a call from Wang Chengdong.

Hu Jiangshan answered, and Wang Chengdong’s accented Mandarin immediately came through the line.

“Hey, Brother Hu, where are you?”

“CEO Wang, I’m… over at the factory.”

“Brother Hu, the Logistics Department is all set. Can you arrange for pickup at the port tomorrow?”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “Alright, I’ll arrange it.”

Wang Chengdong grunted in acknowledgment and then asked, “Brother Hu, how many units can you deliver this time? Is it still three hundred thousand?”

Hu Jiangshan said, “I’ll try to deliver more. Let me check the specifics. I might be able to scrape together four hundred thousand chips.”

“Great, we’re counting on you, Brother Hu.”

Hu Jiangshan gave a wry smile. Wang Chengdong really said whatever was on his mind, truly living up to the name Big Mouth Wang.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “CEO Wang, didn’t the Mate 20 series halt its open sale? The demand shouldn’t be that high, right?”

Wang Chengdong chuckled. “Starting tomorrow, we’re relaunching the open sale, and this time, it’s through all channels!”

Hu Jiangshan was stunned.

Wang Chengdong’s tone sounded unusually bold and extraordinary.

He never expected Huayao to be making another big move.

Once this news got out, social media would surely blow up.

The next day, in Shanghai’s Dongpu District, at the headquarters of Apple China.

Inside the president’s office, Ge Jing was sitting in her office chair, staring at her computer screen and checking her emails.

Ge Jing was the President of Apple’s Greater China Region, a powerful female executive.

The past month was destined to be hectic. Even Ge Jing, who never advocated for overtime, had personally worked late for two days, staying at the office until 8:30 PM before driving home.

Honestly, Ge Jing felt too worn out to care, but she couldn’t afford to relax.

The instigator was Huayao.

As everyone knew, Apple was a legendary company. For many consecutive years, it had dominated the high-end smartphone market, capturing nearly eighty percent of the profits on Blue Star.

Although Samsang sold a lot of phones, more than half were mid-to-low-end models, posing no real threat to Apple.

Unexpectedly, Huayao had suddenly burst onto the scene.

Starting last year, Huayao had seized a significant share of the high-end smartphone market at a breathtaking pace and was rapidly expanding.

This year, Huayao had become a serious threat to Apple’s position.

Fortunately, The Eagle had made a timely move. If all went according to plan, Huayao’s phone sales would soon plummet, and they might even disappear from the market.

Ge Jing could finally breathe a sigh of relief, wiping away a cold sweat.

In the first half of the year in the China region, Huayao’s high-end phones had almost caught up to Apple’s market share.

If they were truly surpassed, her position as the regional president would become precarious.

But in the last few days, Huayao had launched a surprise counterattack. Their flagship phone, the Mate 20 series, had suddenly become available for open purchase.

Rumor had it that in just one week, Huayao had sold ten million phones.

This was an astonishing number. Unless it was the launch week of a new model, Apple’s phones never sold this aggressively.

Under these circumstances, Ge Jing had no choice but to launch various marketing campaigns and price promotions, hoping to offset the rise in Huayao’s sales. Otherwise, the sales figures for the second half of the year would surely look bleak.

Ge Jing noticed her coffee cup was empty, so she called her assistant, Linda, to get her another cup.

A moment later, Linda brought in the coffee and said, “Boss, Mr. Cui is here.”

Ge Jing nodded. “Let him in.”

“Okay.”

Soon, Cui Bingdong entered the office.

Cui Bingdong was a South Korean who worked as an analyst, or you could say a consultant, for the China region.

What did Cui Bingdong analyze?

To put it simply, Cui Bingdong analyzed the competition and how to defeat them.

In China, Apple had only one rival: Huayao.

So, whenever Huayao made a move, Ge Jing would usually consult Cui Bingdong to discuss countermeasures and understand the situation.

Ge Jing said, “Mr. Cui, I was hoping to discuss this with you yesterday, but you weren’t here.”

Cui Bingdong chuckled. “My apologies, CEO Ge. I had a little date yesterday, so I left early.”

Ge Jing shot Cui Bingdong a glance.

To be honest, she was a little annoyed.

Everyone was working overtime, yet this Analyst Cui was strolling around as if nothing was wrong.

Needless to say, Cui Bingdong must have been on a date with a girl.

She suspected he hadn’t even come to the office at all yesterday.

But Ge Jing didn’t lose her temper. She got straight to the point, asking, “Mr. Cui, what’s your take on Huayao’s recent moves?”

Cui Bingdong said, “Oh, Huayao? Didn’t they already stop the open sale yesterday?”

This surprised Ge Jing a little.

Cui Bingdong did indeed love to have fun, but you couldn’t say he was neglectful when it came to his work.

Even though Cui Bingdong hadn’t been at work yesterday, he was still up to date on Huayao’s activities.

Ge Jing asked, “Even though they’ve stopped the open sale, it’s said that they’ve received over ten million orders this week, most of which are for their flagship phones. This will put a lot of pressure on us.”

Cui Bingdong waved his hand dismissively. “CEO Ge, you don’t need to worry about that.”

“Why not?”

“Because those are just orders. Huayao can’t possibly deliver the goods.”

Ge Jing was taken aback. “Mr. Cui, are you so sure?”

Cui Bingdong smiled faintly. “Of course. Huayao doesn’t have many flagship chips left. If they fulfilled all ten million of these orders, what would they do next year? Would they just not make their next model?”

“Well…”

She had to admit, Cui Bingdong had a point.

Just then, Ge Jing’s computer chimed with a “ding” as a new email arrived.

It was an intelligence email.

When Ge Jing saw the content of the email, she froze.

【Huayao will reopen phone sales today at 14:00.】

Chapter 84: Massive Stock Release, Shipping Within Seven Days

Ge Jing’s expression was grave.

Cui Bingdong found Ge Jing’s expression very strange and casually asked, “CEO Ge, did you see something interesting?”

Ge Jing didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she carefully reread the email to make sure she understood it correctly.

“Huayao is opening up sales for their phones again today.”

Cui Bingdong was stunned. “What do you mean?”

“It means exactly what I said.”

Ge Jing was now both shocked and angry, so her attitude naturally took a sharp turn for the worse.

Cui Bingdong couldn’t bother with anything else. With a bewildered look, he said, “Impossible, that’s impossible! CEO Ge, this information must be wrong!”

Ge Jing said, “This is an intelligence email. They wouldn’t send it unless the information was confirmed.”

Cui Bingdong also knew the chances of an intelligence email being wrong were slim. Basically, only hard-confirmed news was sent to the CEO’s office.

But this news was too bizarre; it defied all common sense.

“CEO Ge, Huayao just officially stopped open sales for their phones yesterday. How could they possibly restart today? Something must be wrong. Could there be a misunderstanding?”

“…How so?”

Cui Bingdong thought for a moment before answering, “Could it be that this open sale from Huayao isn’t for their flagship phones?”

“Hmm?”

“CEO Ge, Huayao is most likely opening sales for their mid-to-low-end phones this time. Huayao has some sub-brands, like—Hon, Hon… what was it again?”

Ge Jing said helplessly, “Honor Star. You think Huayao would open sales for that kind of phone?”

“Yes. Although Honor Star phones also use Kirin chips, they’re all mid-to-low-end chips. Huayao should have plenty of those in stock, so it would be normal for them to open up sales now.”

Ge Jing furrowed her brows. “Were Huayao’s mid-to-low-end phones also restricted before?”

“Some of them were, like the best-selling models from the Honor Star sub-brand.”

Ge Jing nodded, thinking that what Cui Bingdong said made sense.

As expected of an Analyst.

“Mr. Cui’s line of thought is very clear. I think that must be it.”

Cui Bingdong smiled faintly and took a sip of his coffee.

Cui Bingdong also felt his analysis was flawless—logical, well-founded, and simply couldn’t be wrong.

More importantly, Cui Bingdong was certain that Huayao was running low on high-end Kirin chips. To open up sales again would be suicidal.

Just then, Cui Bingdong glanced at Ge Jing a few more times. He thought the female CEO still had a certain charm.

Unfortunately, she was the head of Fruit’s China division. It really wouldn’t be easy to make a move on her.

Ge Jing’s mood improved considerably, and she became much calmer.

After some thought, Ge Jing asked again, “Mr. Cui, do you think Huayao has any hope for the future?”

“What kind of hope?”

“Can they still pose such a huge threat to our Fruit phones?”

“Absolutely impossible.”

After saying this, Cui Bingdong laughed and added, “CEO Ge, I’m willing to bet that Huayao will be finished by next year at the earliest, or the year after at the latest. Huayao phones might even disappear next year.”

Hearing this, Ge Jing felt greatly relieved.

“I hope so. In that case, if Huayao is gone, who do you think will be our next competitor? Coarse Grain? O-Bo? Or Veevo?”

Cui Bingdong shook his head. “None of them. I believe it will be Samsang.”

“Samsang? But Samsang phones don’t have much of a market share in China anymore, do they?”

Cui Bingdong said, “Without Huayao phones, a huge market share will be up for grabs. Samsang will make a comeback then. CEO Ge, I believe Samsang is more than capable of it.”

Ge Jing was noncommittal.

In her mind, even though Samsang was the top-selling phone brand on Blue Star, it wasn’t anything special. It relied almost entirely on mid-to-low-end phones to boost sales volume and was no match for Fruit phones abroad.

If Samsang were to refocus on the Chinese market, it wouldn’t be able to make much of a splash.

Oh, right. Ge Jing then realized that Cui Bingdong was a South Korean.

Samsang was the pride of South Koreans, so it was understandable he would take the opportunity to praise it.

Ge Jing said, “Right, I’ll go to Huayao’s official mall and check exactly which models are available for purchase.”

Cui Bingdong smiled. “Yes, it’s better to get a clear picture. We can basically conclude it’s the Honor Star sub-brand. Huayao can’t have many chips left in stock. This is just a last-ditch struggle.”

Ge Jing said casually, “Huayao deserves it. That company is arrogant from top to bottom. Honor Star phones are mid-range at best; they’re no threat to our Fruit phones whatsoever.”

Ge Jing quickly opened the Huayao Mall website.

One look, and she froze.

Several large characters were clearly written on the ad banner.

[Mate 20 Sales Reopened!]

Ge Jing felt like her head was about to explode. She turned the screen toward Cui Bingdong.

When Cui Bingdong saw it, he was dumbfounded too.

“What!? They’re still opening sales for the Mate 20? Has Huayao gone insane?”

Ge Jing said in a low voice, “This is the situation now. Doubt is useless.”

Cui Bingdong immediately added, “This is a trick! It looks like you can buy it, but Huayao can just delay the shipping time for a few months. In reality, they won’t be able to ship it even after several months!”

Ge Jing was stunned. “You mean…”

“Exactly! They’re selling futures! Futures that can never be delivered!”

Ge Jing stood up and paced around the office a few times. “Mr. Cui, that can’t be right. What would be Huayao’s goal in doing this? Aren’t they just asking to be cursed out?”

Cui Bingdong had already prepared his excuse. “Huayao’s goal is simple: to fleece the last wave of suckers!”

“Fleece the suckers?”

“That’s right. They take the money and don’t ship for months. The Huayao fans in China support the company, so most of them won’t have the heart to ask for a refund. A few months from now, it’s debatable whether Huayao will even exist. At that point, whether they refund the money or not will be completely up to them.”

Ge Jing understood what Cui Bingdong meant.

Although she felt Huayao probably wouldn’t do something like that, the logic behind his explanation was at least sound.

Ge Jing made an immediate decision. She would arrange for people to buy Huayao’s Mate 20 phones shortly.

Ge Jing said, “I’ll have people buy several units. I’d like to see just how long Huayao can delay the shipping.”

Cui Bingdong said with a smile, “I’ll buy one to see, too.”

Cui Bingdong returned to his office, chatted for a bit with his pretty assistant, had a snack, and soon it was two in the afternoon.

Cui Bingdong unhurriedly took out his phone and went to the Huayao Mall.

Sure enough, the Mate 20 series phones were available for direct purchase.

Cui Bingdong casually selected a model and color and successfully bought it.

The order’s estimated delivery time appeared.

Cui Bingdong froze when he saw it.

[Estimated to ship within 7 days]

That’s not right!

It’ll ship within a week?

How is that possible!?

Huayao must be lying!

His pretty assistant pushed the door open and came in.

“Mr. Cui, CEO Ge wants to see you.”

The assistant hesitated for a moment before saying, “CEO Ge seems quite angry, but I’m not sure why.”

Cui Bingdong rolled his eyes and got up resignedly to see Ge Jing.

Clearly, Ge Jing was getting anxious again.

Chapter 85: The Mystery of Huayao’s Chips

The next day. Hong Kong Island, Lishan Apartments.

Hu Jiangshan was having lunch when he received a call from the apartment’s property management. They said a package had arrived for him.

Hu Jiangshan found it odd. Who would send him something?

Hu Jiangshan went to the property management office and indeed found a small box.

It was sent from Guangzhou-Shenzhen City on the mainland.

Hu Jiangshan understood. It was from Huayao.

He opened the package and, to his surprise, found several Huayao phones.

They were all from the Mate 20 series, one of each model—a complete and tidy family set.

Oh, and there was also a Huayao tablet, the top-of-the-line model.

Hu Jiangshan smiled. They must be samples arranged by Wang Chengdong. Very nice, and quite a generous gift.

But if they had even sent a tablet, why not a laptop too?

Right, this was 2018, and Huayao’s laptops weren’t selling all that well yet.

The Kirin chips installed in these Huayao phones were undoubtedly the masterpieces from Hu Jiangshan’s side.

Hu Jiangshan tried one out. It wasn’t bad, very responsive—much smoother than the Samsang phone he was currently using.

He decisively switched phones, becoming a Huayao user.

Hu Jiangshan then began to use the tablet.

The system optimization on Huayao devices was truly impressive. At this time, apart from Fruit tablets, most tablets weren’t very user-friendly. Huayao was an exception.

Hu Jiangshan found it very convenient, especially for browsing social media, which was a hundred times better than on a phone.

This time, Hu Jiangshan browsed The headlines.

At a glance, he could see that several of the top trending news stories contained the words “Huayao” and “Mate 20”.

[Breaking! Huayao Mate 20 series available for purchase again]

[Only one day later, Huayao’s latest flagship phone is once again available for purchase]

[This is insane! Huayao is releasing a huge amount of stock!]

[Reports say Huayao already sold ten million units last week, yet continues to release more stock]

[Could Huayao’s chip inventory be larger than imagined?]

Huayao was a hot topic, a real attention-grabber now.

Especially during this critical period, every move Huayao made was under intense scrutiny.

Huayao making its flagship phones available for purchase again was truly unexpected.

Just then, a particular topic caught Hu Jiangshan’s attention.

[Huayao is releasing large quantities of stock again. Have they found a new contract manufacturer for their chips?]

The title of the topic was excellent, very eye-catching, and had a high number of reads, shares, and comments.

The original poster was a well-known figure in tech circles.

Hu Jiangshan clicked on it and read the content.

The poster wrote about the possibility of Huayao having found a new chip contract manufacturer.

He was clearly quite knowledgeable about the semiconductor industry, having analyzed every single semiconductor company on Blue Star.

His conclusion was that the only semiconductor company that could possibly partner with Huayao was Huaxin International; there were no other options.

After all, Huaxin International was a domestic semiconductor company in China.

Technologically, while Huaxin International’s main products were currently mature 28-nanometer fabrication process chips, they could just about manage to produce 14-nanometer chips, but the yield rate wasn’t very good.

The poster made a bold guess: Huaxin International couldn’t achieve large-scale mass production of 7-nanometer chips yet, but small-scale mass production should be possible.

Huayao was now releasing a large amount of stock, perhaps because they had received a batch of Kirin chips from Huaxin International, which gave them a bit of confidence.

After reading this, Hu Jiangshan was stunned.

This poster was pretty sharp. While not entirely on the mark, he was close.

The comment section below was even more spectacular.

There were those who supported the poster and those who dismissed his views. The two factions of netizens were arguing fiercely, just short of coming to blows.

“That’s total bullshit! Huaxin International has some tech, but not much. There’s no way they could do contract manufacturing for Huayao’s chips.”

“At most, Huaxin could do contract manufacturing for Huayao’s low-end chips.”

“Would Huaxin dare? They’d be taken down in a minute!”

“Exactly, ASML can lock their equipment remotely. There’s no escaping it.”

“Lock the equipment? Can’t it be cracked?”

“If they’re helping Huayao, they can always find a way.”

“Yeah, with so much talent in China, are we going to let something so trivial stop us?”

“Stop kidding around. You guys have no common sense. Huaxin International wouldn’t dare. They don’t have the guts.”

At this point, someone finally hit on the key question.

A netizen commented: “You say this won’t work and that won’t work, so why can Huayao release so much stock? Would they dare do this if they didn’t have the chips?”

Someone immediately retorted: “Can’t you see it? Huayao is just bluffing. You can place an order, but the shipping date will be in the distant future.”

Quite a few netizens shared this view, and many chimed in to agree.

Netizens following Huayao were generally aware that the company had already sold ten million flagship phones last week.

These people believed that no matter how many phone orders Huayao received, they wouldn’t be able to ship most of them.

Even if they could ship, it would take several months.

However, many other netizens immediately started posting screenshots of their orders. These were real users who had just bought a Huayao Mate 20 phone.

“Look, ships in seven days!”

“Mine’s even faster, it ships in three days.”

“Mine ships within seven days too.”

“Unfair, why does mine need two weeks?”

Hu Jiangshan found this very interesting.

He hadn’t expected so many people online to be placing orders. It was a testament to the Huayao phone’s popularity.

Without Hu Jiangshan’s intervention, it would have taken Huayao years to solve its chip problem, and most of these users would have been lost to Fruit.

Now, Huayao had clearly increased its production capacity; otherwise, it would be impossible to ship these phone orders in just a few days.

The next thing to watch was how fast Huayao could ship.

The faster Huayao shipped the phones, the greater the shockwave it would create.

A few days later, on the other side of the ocean, in Washington D.C.

The White House, one of the symbols of America, is located in the cleanest, tidiest, and safest district of Washington D.C.

It was early morning. President Trump emerged from his room into the courtyard, shaking his blonde hair and basking in the sunlight as if he himself were glowing.

Behind Trump stood a tall, formidable man in a Western-style suit.

His name was Mark, the head of the White House’s special security detail, responsible for President Trump’s daily safety.

Trump stretched out his arms and took three deep breaths, as if absorbing the essence of the sun and moon.

Then, Trump looked back at Mark. “Mark, do you feel it?”

Mark was taken aback. “Mr. President, feel what?”

“The oppressive aura of the Emperor of Blue Star.”

“…I… I feel it.”

“Do you believe in the light?”

“Well… I suppose I do.”

Trump smiled slightly. “Good, Mark. You’re a simple man. I wasn’t wrong about you. Let’s go, follow the light inside.”

A moment later, Trump arrived at the Oval Office, the symbol of the White House’s supreme power and the President’s personal office.

Just as he sat down, the White House Chief Steward, Lucy, came in.

“Mr. President, Ms. Raimondo has arrived.”

As mentioned before, Gina Raimondo was America’s Secretary of Commerce.

Raimondo had come to the White House to report her work achievements to President Trump.

Recently, Raimondo’s greatest achievement was drafting the new Semiconductor Act, which had successfully cornered a certain tech company on the other side of the ocean.

Chapter 86: Two Million Orders, That’s Insane!

A moment later, Gina Raimondo, the American Secretary of Commerce, walked into the Oval Office.

Trump looked at Raimondo with a spirited expression, his golden hair dazzling.

“Gina, my dear Gina, it’s been too long.”

Raimondo said, “Mr. President, we actually just saw each other last week. Don’t you remember?”

“Yes, yes, we saw each other last week, on Capitol Hill. But I’ve missed you. You’re very charming, Gina.”

“Thank you for the compliment, Mr. President.”

Trump then called over his administrative officer, Lucy. “Lucy, let’s get a couple of cups of coffee in here.”

Lucy acknowledged and went out.

A moment later, two cups of coffee were brought in.

The aroma of coffee filled the Oval Office, a very pleasant scent.

Trump said, “Gina, how has work been lately? Everything going smoothly?”

“Very smoothly, Mr. President. The new trade bills we introduced recently have been implemented well, and the results are significant.”

“Oh? For instance?”

“For instance, the Semiconductor Act, which you’re very concerned about, Mr. President.”

“Right, that act. I’m very interested to know how effective it’s been.”

“Mr. President, it’s been very effective. That Chinese tech company is now facing significant operational difficulties.”

“Oh, are they still selling phones? Honestly, that surprises me.”

“Yes, for now, their mobile phone business is still running, but they can only sell in limited quantities.”

“Oh, that sounds good.”

Trump pinched his fingers together in a signature gesture, which left Raimondo dumbfounded.

To be honest, as a high-ranking federal official, Raimondo had seen Trump make this gesture on more than one occasion.

But she still hadn’t gotten used to it; every time she saw it, she was stunned for a good while.

Trump was truly a peculiar character, the most unique president since the nation’s founding.

Trump began to muse, “That Chinese tech company, right, it’s called Huayao, isn’t it? A huge threat, right?”

“Yes, this company is a huge threat, a very huge threat. Mr. President, I know what you’re thinking, but this company cannot be used as a bargaining chip.”

Trump tapped on the desk. “Why not?”

“Huayao is different from other tech companies. It’s very disruptive and has already surpassed some of our federal tech giants in certain aspects.”

“Oh, I see. Huayao must be crushed, given no way out, correct?”

“Yes, Mr. President. We can’t give them a way out.”

Trump took a sip of his coffee, seemingly pondering something else.

Frankly, as the Secretary of Commerce, dealing with this president was quite a headache.

Because Trump was an unconventional federal president, a businessman by trade, he was always looking to make a deal.

This approach could easily backfire.

Fortunately, the Senate and House of Representatives had reached a consensus on their stance toward Huayao—it had to be finished off completely.

At this point, President Trump’s personal opinions weren’t as important.

Besides, it seemed Trump could quickly come around and understand that Huayao was not an easy adversary to deal with and that any thought of letting it off the hook was out of the question.

Just then, Trump suddenly said, “Alright, Gina, I want to know what the next step is.”

Raimondo smiled faintly. “Mr. President, we just need to wait. When Huayao can no longer hold on, we can begin acquiring its quality assets.”

Trump nodded and grinned. “That’s a good idea, I like it. How long do you think it will take?”

Raimondo thought for a moment. “Huayao can hold out for two years at most. They might even have to shut down important departments, like their 5G R&D and semiconductor divisions, in less than two years.”

“Oh, those are some good assets. Gina, you’ve made my day. I need to see the full plan.”

Raimondo nodded. “Rest assured, Mr. President. We’ll have it ready soon. We can probably draw up a proposal for you to review in just two months.”

“Good. I look forward to the results from your Department of Commerce. You’re a decisive woman, Gina.”

“Thank you, Mr. President.”

“However, Gina, I have one more question. Does Huayao have a stockpile of chips? If they hoarded a large number of chips beforehand, they should be able to sell phones for a long time, right?”

Raimondo shook her head. “No. Huayao did have Island Foundry produce a lot of chips for them in the past, but most of them were mid-to-low-end chips. They only have about three million advanced chips. Given Huayao’s sales volume, if they were to sell without restriction, they’d last a little over a month at most.”

Trump said lightly, “Gina, but I heard Huayao bought some chips from somewhere? Have those Chinese people found a new contract manufacturer?”

Raimondo shook her head. “That’s impossible. We’ve already investigated. It’s false information.”

“Fake news?”

“That’s right, fake news. The fact is, besides Island Foundry and Samsang, and of course our own Intel, no fourth chip company in the world has the capability to manufacture those damn chips for Huayao. And even if they did, they wouldn’t dare.”

“Exactly, Gina. You’re absolutely right. I like your confidence.”

Trump was very satisfied with Raimondo’s explanation.

Although Gina Raimondo was a lawyer by training, she was very professional as Secretary of Commerce, always thoroughly prepared.

Just then, a “buzz buzz” sound echoed through the Oval Office.

It was a phone on vibrate.

Mark, the head of the Secret Service detail standing behind Trump, spoke up, “Mr. President, an internal call is coming in.”

“Alright, give me the phone.”

Mark took a BlackBerry phone from his inner pocket and handed it to Trump.

The President of America has a dedicated phone, known as the internal phone, which is encrypted.

Any important information, such as intelligence the President is concerned about, comes through this phone.

Raimondo hesitated, about to stand up and leave.

But Trump waved his hand, motioning for her to stay seated.

This was a presidential order from the leader of Blue Star; it could not be disobeyed.

Trump pressed the answer key right in front of Raimondo.

“Hello. Oh, Charlie, my dear Charlie. What kind of news do you have for me today? Good news or bad news? You know which one I want to hear.”

“What? Oh, it’s about Huayao. Excellent. You’ve called at the perfect time, Charlie. Secretary Raimondo is sitting right across from me. I might even be able to share your news with her. Go ahead.”

Hearing that the news was about Huayao, Raimondo felt a little uneasy.

As the President of America, he had many channels to obtain the information he wanted. For instance, a dedicated person would report to him on Huayao’s activities.

After all, it was a a key company.

And this “Charlie” was a high-level official at the Intelligence Agency, responsible for relaying information to the President.

Just then, Trump heard something that made his face change, turning beet red.

“What are you saying? Charlie, Huayao sold over two million phones in the last few days?”

Chapter 87: Find Out for Me! Who’s Making Chips for Huayao?

At this point, Trump glanced at Raimondo.

Raimondo opened her mouth, but hesitated and said nothing.

Trump simply switched on the speakerphone and placed the phone on his large desk.

“Gina, Charlie says Huayao has sold over two million phones in the last few days. Didn’t you say they had no chips? Why are they still doing so well?”

Raimondo nodded. “That’s right, Mr. President. I’m aware of this.”

“You know? Isn’t this a terrible situation?”

Raimondo appeared very calm, as if she had a well-thought-out plan.

“It’s like this, Mr. President. Huayao’s phones have indeed been available for open purchase for the past week or two, and they’ve sold a lot—about two million units. But I’d bet they can’t deliver on those orders at all.”

“Can’t deliver? Why? Taking orders and not delivering? That’s no way to do business.”

“Yes, according to information our Department of Commerce has received, most of the phone orders Huayao has recently taken will require several months to ship.”

“Oh, so it’s selling futures?”

“Exactly. Selling futures they can’t fulfill. You understand, Mr. President. In a few months, Huayao’s phone division might not even exist anymore.”

Hearing this, Trump burst out laughing.

“Interesting, very interesting. Huayao pulled a clever trick. It’s despicable, but effective.”

However, Charlie’s voice came from the BlackBerry: “Mr. President, I’ve just received word that many customers who ordered Huayao phones have already received their new devices.”

“…What!”

Trump’s expression changed.

Raimondo was even more bewildered when she heard this.

Trump pressed, “Many people have already received their Huayao phones? Just how many?”

“According to samples from our intelligence officers’ investigations, about one-fifth of customers received their phones within three days. A total of one-third received them within five days. And a large portion of the remaining orders are currently in the shipping process. Customers should be receiving them in about a week.”

Upon hearing this, Raimondo’s face turned pale.

Trump quickly asked, “Charlie, are you saying that the vast majority of these two million-plus phones will be delivered within seven days?”

“Yes, Mr. President. Our intelligence analysis confirms this.”

Trump looked at Raimondo.

Raimondo was no longer calm.

“Impossible! How can that be? Huayao only has so many chips. Wait, are the phones being shipped their mid to low-end models?”

Charlie immediately refuted her. “No, Ms. Raimondo. They are high-end phones, Huayao’s flagship models.”

Raimondo’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Raimondo wanted to deny Charlie’s claim, to believe his information was wrong, but he was a highly professional intelligence officer, and his team was even more so. Charlie would never report something to the President without accurate information.

But how could Huayao ship its high-end phones so quickly? They only have three million advanced chips in total!

Has Huayao gone mad? At this rate, how could they possibly last two years? If they act this recklessly, they’ll be finished in six months.

Just then, Trump suddenly asked, “Charlie, have they found a new contract manufacturer for their chips?”

Charlie replied, “Mr. President, we also suspect they do have a channel to obtain chips. We have acquired some Objectives and are currently investigating.”

“Oh? What kind of Objectives?”

“Huayao did recently receive a shipment of chips, which were transferred to mainland China via Hong Kong Island.”

Trump nodded. “Excellent, Charlie. Immediately dispatch your 007s, your Bonds, or whatever, and investigate this thoroughly!”

Charlie couldn’t help but say, “Mr. President, we don’t have 007s. Those are British intelligence agents.”

“Oh, I see. Well, whoever you dispatch, I want you to find out!”

Charlie acknowledged and hung up.

By now, Raimondo was on pins and needles, her earlier composure completely gone.

Trump was also getting angry. “Gina, it seems your information is outdated.”

“Mr. President, I still feel something is wrong here. I will investigate it thoroughly.”

Trump said, “If Huayao really has found a new contract manufacturer, which one would it be?”

This time, Raimondo thought carefully before answering, “The only one with some possibility would be Huaxin International. It’s a Chinese semiconductor company with some technical capability, but not much.”

“Alright, Huaxin International. Then we’ll find a way to take care of them!”

Raimondo was taken aback for a moment, then nodded. “Mr. President, we will begin researching a plan immediately.”

“I’ll be waiting for your news then.”

Trump took an exquisite comb from his drawer and neatened his flowing blond hair.

It was a strange sight, but it was also one of Trump’s signature mannerisms.

Raimondo quickly bid Trump farewell and left.

A few more days passed. Hong Kong Island, Regent Café.

This was a coffee shop located halfway up Mount Li on Hong Kong Island.

It was divided into indoor and outdoor sections.

The outdoor seating had a beautiful view, though there was an occasional mountain breeze.

But the weather was fine today; the wind wasn’t strong, and the sun wasn’t scorching.

Hu Jiangshan sat at an outdoor table, sipping coffee in the mountain breeze while browsing social media on his tablet.

The internet had been even more lively recently.

Huayao’s current situation was still the hottest topic.

This had been going on intermittently for several months, yet Huayao remained so eye-catching.

It couldn’t be helped. After all, Huayao was a crucial tech giant.

However, the subject of netizens’ debates had now changed.

A few days ago, Huayao’s orders had surged. Since the Huayao Mate 20 series phones became available for open purchase, they had already sold over two million units.

This was an astonishing surge in orders.

You have to understand, the Mate 20 wasn’t cheap, costing six to seven thousand.

At the time, numerous netizens had voiced their doubts, believing that Huayao would be completely unable to ship these phone orders.

Without chips, the phones couldn’t be made.

There were even rumors that Huayao’s executives were planning to abscond with the money.

Of course, there were also the Huayao fans who defended the company and expressed their faith, but their voices were few.

Only a few days had passed, and the tide of opinion on social media had done a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn.

Voices supporting and praising Huayao now formed the vast majority.

The reason was simple: Huayao was shipping its phone orders in large quantities, and many netizens had already received their new devices.

Showing off new Huayao phones online had once again become a trend.

Hu Jiangshan felt a great sense of relief. He had contributed significantly to Huayao’s ability to pull this off, having sent two batches of Kirin chips to Huayao’s southern factory to support production.

Just then, Hu Jiangshan saw a Weibo post.

[Industry Insider: Japan may restrict exports of Photoresist and other key wafer materials to China]

Chapter 88: Visiting Hu Yingxiang Again

Hu Jiangshan was stunned for a moment, feeling quite surprised.

The last time Hu Jiangshan spoke with Tian Hansong, he learned that Japan had already begun restricting the overseas sale of semiconductor consumables.

Has it been made public?

Doing this sort of thing privately was one thing; there were always loopholes to exploit. But if it were made public, it could lead to specific legislation, and finding a way around that would be much harder.

The thought made Hu Jiangshan genuinely nervous.

Hu Jiangshan immediately called Zhang Rui and told him to order more photoresist and other consumables from Tian Hansong. They were in a period of mass production, and they couldn’t afford to run out of this stuff.

At that moment, Hu Jiangshan also remembered the road construction on General’s Island.

It had been almost ten days, and there was still no word from Kevin. He probably hadn’t found a suitable construction crew; it was looking unlikely.

After some thought, Hu Jiangshan dialed Kevin’s mobile number.

Someone answered quickly on the other end.

When Hu Jiangshan mentioned the construction crew, Kevin was indeed in a difficult position.

“Sir Hu, I’ve been looking for a construction crew for you, but it’s the peak construction season right now. I’ve asked several crews, and they’re all fully booked for the time being. If you’re not in a hurry, I can find one in another month.”

Hu Jiangshan sighed, “I’m in quite a hurry. Never mind, I’ll try to find another way myself.”

After hanging up, Hu Jiangshan wondered if he should leverage the Hu family’s influence to find a reliable construction crew.

In truth, that would also be difficult. Although the Hu family worked with many expert construction teams, they were mostly large construction companies. They might not be willing to take on a small job like building a road on General’s Island.

Besides, Hu Jiangshan couldn’t afford their high fees.

Moreover, the larger the construction company, the more complex their personnel, and the harder it would be to maintain secrecy.

Just then, Hu Jiangshan’s phone rang.

[Caller ID: Mommy]

It was his mother, Yuan Caihua.

Hu Jiangshan answered the call.

“Ah Shan, remember to come to your grandfather’s for dinner tonight.”

Hu Jiangshan agreed, “Okay, I know. I’ll be there on time.”

Yuan Caihua was delighted. Her precious son was so much more sensible and well-behaved now. In the past, Hu Jiangshan would have found all sorts of excuses to avoid going to his grandfather Hu Yingxiang’s place.

It wasn’t that he was particularly unfilial, it boiled down to one thing—he loved to fool around.

The time it took to have one meal meant one less night of clubbing, which the original owner of his body found unacceptable.

But now, Hu Jiangshan had gone four or five times in a row.

Every time Hu Yingxiang saw his well-behaved grandson arrive, he was overjoyed and ecstatic, feeling like he could eat two extra bowls of rice.

That evening, on Hong Kong Island, at the Hu family’s old residence on Perkins Road.

As mentioned before, this was where the Old Master of the Hu family, Hu Yingxiang, lived.

Today was the day Hu Wenxin’s family came over for a gathering.

This kind of get-together happened periodically and had become a habit.

This time, it was even more lively. Besides Hu Wenxin’s family, another family was visiting.

And this family was quite prominent—it was Li Junjie’s family.

Li Junjie was the eldest son of Li Wanke, and by now, he was already a notable figure in the business world.

Unlike Superman Li, Li Wanke had always been on good terms with Hu Yingxiang.

Back when Hu Yingxiang proposed the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, Li Wanke had strongly supported him, later contributing both money and effort with great dedication.

Li Junjie also visited Hu Yingxiang from time to time, and it was a coincidence he came today, joining in for a lively dinner.

Accompanying Li Junjie were his wife, Zhang Guangqi, and their daughter, Li Yuening.

By this time, Hu Wenxin and Yuan Caihua had also arrived, and everyone was gathered together, making small talk.

Hu Wenxin and Li Junjie naturally ended up talking business, while the women mostly chatted about domestic matters and gossip.

Zhang Guangqi asked Yuan Caihua, “Is your son coming today?”

Yuan Caihua nodded. “Yes, he said he’s definitely coming.”

Seeing the disbelief on Zhang Guangqi’s face, Yuan Caihua added, “Ah Shan has come to every one of our recent gatherings.”

Zhang Guangqi was slightly surprised. “Your son is quite well-behaved then.”

Yuan Caihua smiled. “Yes, I’m very pleased. You have no idea, Ah Shan rarely goes out to party anymore. Most of the time, he’s busy with his own affairs.”

Hearing this, Li Yuening was rather dismissive.

Everyone in their social circle knew what kind of person Hu Jiangshan was.

Li Yuening was a bit younger than Hu Jiangshan, just over twenty, and still in university.

Although Li Yuening hadn’t interacted with Hu Jiangshan much, only running into him occasionally, she often heard about his “glorious deeds.”

Many of the things Hu Jiangshan did were shocking to even hear about and could be described as preposterously absurd.

And now Yuan Caihua was actually saying that Hu Jiangshan had changed for the better, that he had become well-behaved. How could anyone believe that?

Li Yuening simply felt that Yuan Caihua was being overly protective of her son, to an exaggerated degree.

A person like Hu Jiangshan, how could he suddenly have a change of character!

At that moment, Zhang Guangqi asked again, “By the way, where does your son work? Is it at the Hu family’s company?”

Yuan Caihua shook her head. “No, he’s working on his own thing.”

“His own thing? What is he doing?”

“Oh, him. He said he’s planning to start a fish farm.”

“Huh?”

“A fish farm? A place for raising fish?”

“Yes, you have no idea how busy he is now.”

Zhang Guangqi’s expression shifted to one of sudden understanding. “No wonder I heard people say your Jiangshan even went to get a loan.”

Yuan Caihua waved her hand. “Yes, he was too embarrassed to ask the family for money, so he took out a loan of twenty or thirty million himself.”

“He’s quite ambitious then. Your Jiangshan is really not bad.”

Li Yuening muttered under her breath, “Well, he has to be able to pay it back. Otherwise, he’ll still have to ask the family for money.”

Zhang Guangqi shot Li Yuening a glare. “Ah Ning, don’t talk nonsense. That’s so rude!”

Li Yuening stuck out her tongue, a little embarrassed.

Yuan Caihua wasn’t angry either. She smiled and said, “What Ah Ning said is also true. It’s a big problem if you can’t pay back a loan. I even told Ah Shan that if he couldn’t repay it, he should just tell the family. Guess what he said then?”

“What did he say?”

“He said he could definitely pay it back and told us not to worry about him.”

Zhang Guangqi’s eyes widened. “Wow, that’s really impressive!”

Just then, the sound of an engine stopping came from the courtyard. Yuan Caihua looked out the window and said happily, “See? Ah Shan is here.”

Sure enough, Hu Jiangshan got out of the car and walked inside.

The moment he appeared, he naturally became the center of attention.

Hu Jiangshan exchanged another round of pleasantries and then sat down next to Yuan Caihua.

Zhang Guangqi sized up Hu Jiangshan and was slightly surprised.

He was calm and composed, with a poised air, and his bearing was understated and proper.

This version of Hu Jiangshan is truly a rare sight.

Li Yuening was also quite shocked.

It wasn’t that she’d never seen Hu Jiangshan before, but while this guy had Hu Jiangshan’s face, he completely lacked the awful attitude she remembered.

Just then, a Filipino maid pushed in a small trolley with a teapot and a coffee pot on it.

Hu Jiangshan stood up, walked over, and actually took the teapot from the maid’s hands.

Is he going to pour tea for everyone!?

Chapter 89: Two Empty Factory Buildings

Hu Jiangshan actually started pouring tea and coffee for everyone.

His perceptiveness and polite manners truly deserved high praise.

He didn’t look anything like an ignorant and incompetent playboy.

Among these Hong Kong Island tycoon families, although there was no shortage of servants, it was considered exceptionally thoughtful for a junior member to serve everyone personally.

At that moment, Hu Jiangshan walked over to Li Yuening and asked, “Coffee or tea?”

“Ah, coffee, please.”

Hu Jiangshan poured Li Yuening a cup of coffee, thoughtfully adding milk and sugar before handing it to her.

His movements were as smooth as flowing water, without a hint of awkwardness, as if he did this all the time.

Li Yuening was stunned. It was her mother, Zhang Guangqi, who had to remind her to say thank you.

“…Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

After serving everyone, Hu Jiangshan sat back down next to Yuan Caihua.

Yuan Caihua was beaming like a flower in bloom.

Sigh, her precious son was really making her proud.

Yuan Caihua knew, of course, that her son had a terrible reputation outside, and that many people gossiped about him behind his back.

Now, at least, he could change their impression of him, even if just a little.

Sure enough, Zhang Guangqi whispered to her daughter, “See? He’s quite thoughtful. Not as bad as you all made him out to be.”

Li Yuening was at a loss for words.

To be honest, in the ten-odd minutes since Hu Jiangshan had appeared, his behavior had completely overturned Li Yuening’s worldview.

Li Yuening felt like she didn’t know Hu Jiangshan at all anymore; he wasn’t the person she had heard about.

What on earth had happened? She couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

Wait a minute, could this guy have been taken over by aliens?

At this thought, Li Yuening sized Hu Jiangshan up and found him to be quite handsome.

Little did Li Yuening know, she was actually halfway right.

At that moment, Zhang Guangqi asked Hu Jiangshan, “Jiangshan, I heard from your Mommy that you’re busy with a business venture.”

Hu Jiangshan hesitated for a moment. “Ah, yes. I’m preparing to start a fish farm. It’s been quite busy lately.”

“Where are you setting up this fish farm?”

“Out on the sea.”

“That’s amazing. I hear the investment for that is quite large, isn’t it?”

“It’s alright.”

Hu Jiangshan gave a few casual replies, managing to gloss over the topic.

Right now, Hu Jiangshan really didn’t want to talk about his fish farm plan.

Originally, Hu Jiangshan had planned to research fish farming technology and then get started.

But he had been so busy recently that he hadn’t had any time for research.

He had to get the chip sorted out first; the fish farm would have to wait until he could find the time.

Just then, Li Junjie said to Hu Jiangshan with a smile, “If you run into any problems with your fish farm, you can come to me. I can introduce you to a few experts.”

Hu Jiangshan immediately replied, “Sure, I’ll ask Uncle Li about it later.”

Li Junjie then said to Hu Wenxin, “Jiangshan is really something. He looks promising, like someone who gets things done.”

Hu Wenxin waved his hand. “Heh! This is already good enough for me. As long as he’s not idle all day and has something to do, I’m not asking him to achieve anything great.”

What Hu Wenxin said was truly from the heart.

Hu Jiangshan’s current state was so much better than before that Hu Wenxin felt like going to a temple to burn some high-quality incense in thanks.

At this point, Li Junjie suddenly thought of something. “By the way, Wenxin, I have a few factory buildings in the mainland that I’m looking to transfer. Are you interested?”

Hu Wenxin was taken aback. “Factory buildings? Where?”

Li Junjie said, “I invested in an electronics factory in Guangwan City. You should know about it, right?”

“Yes, I know of it. Business should be good, right?”

“Business is decent, but we’ve recently reorganized our production lines, which freed up two factory buildings. They’re quite spacious. If you’re interested, I can let you have them for a good price.”

Hu Wenxin immediately waved his hand. “No, no, I don’t have any plans for them. Better not to let them go to waste with me.”

Li Junjie didn’t mind; he was just asking casually.

“Alright, then I’ll look for other buyers.”

Just then, Hu Jiangshan spoke up.

“Uncle Li, are the two factory buildings you mentioned very large?”

Li Junjie was stunned for a moment. “Yes, they are. Why? Jiangshan, are you interested?”

Hu Wenxin quickly interjected, “What interest could he have? He’s just asking.”

Hu Jiangshan quickly waved his hand. “No, I’m actually quite interested.”

“Huh?”

“What?”

Everyone looked astonished.

Hu Wenxin said, “Ah Shan, stop fooling around. What would you do with factory buildings?”

Hu Jiangshan replied, “Dad, I really have a use for them. I happen to need some rather large factory buildings.”

“A use? What kind of use?”

“I need to set up a production line.”

Hu Wenxin looked completely baffled, and the others looked at each other in dismay.

Hu Wenxin couldn’t help but press, “Ah Shan, what kind of production line? Aren’t you starting a fish farm?”

Yuan Caihua also chimed in, “That’s right, Ah Shan. You can’t be half-hearted about your work.”

Hu Jiangshan gave a wry smile. “You’ve misunderstood. I’m not being half-hearted. This is all in preparation for the fish farm. Think about it, a fish farm requires a lot of supporting facilities, like various kinds of nutritional feed.”

Yuan Caihua’s eyes lit up. “Right, feed! Raising fish requires feed, and a lot of it. Ah Shan, are you going to make your own feed?”

Hu Jiangshan smiled faintly. “Yes, making it myself will save on costs.”

Li Junjie laughed heartily. “Wenxin, your son is impressive. He’s very thorough. It shows he has planned this out carefully.”

Hu Wenxin was now completely bewildered, unsure if what Hu Jiangshan was saying was really reliable.

If you’re raising fish, just raise fish. Couldn’t he just buy ready-made feed? Was it necessary to go to such great lengths and set up a whole feed production line?

This was just too much.

Hu Jiangshan breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed his words had successfully convinced them.

Hu Jiangshan had almost been caught in an awkward spot. Fortunately, his mind worked quickly, and he had come up with this excuse on the fly.

The reason was a bit of a stretch, but it was at least logical.

Just then, Hu Yingxiang walked in.

Hu Yingxiang had overheard their conversation.

Hu Yingxiang said with a smile, “It’s just two factory buildings. If Ah Shan has a use for them, then buy them.”

Li Junjie said to Hu Jiangshan, “Jiangshan, how about this: if you’re really interested, you can go over to Guangwan to take a look later.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “Alright. When would be a good time?”

“Anytime is fine. Just let me know when you want to go, and I’ll have someone receive you.”

Hu Jiangshan agreed.

He was genuinely tempted.

Coincidentally, Hu Jiangshan was currently in need of a large piece of land to build his Chemical Synthesis Facility.

Guangwan City was indeed a good location.

There were many factories there, so building the facility wouldn’t attract much attention.

More importantly, Guangwan was very close to Hong Kong Island and had a well-developed transportation network.

Once the photoresist and other chemicals were produced, they could be easily transported to General’s Island to be put into production.

The only question was whether the two factory buildings were large enough to meet the Technology Engine’s requirements.

He really had to go see them in person.

Chapter 90: Inspecting the Factory, Suitable for Construction

After dinner, everyone sat in the living room and chatted for a while longer before dispersing.

In the moving Mercedes, Li Junjie’s family couldn’t stop talking about the gathering.

Li Junjie said, “Wenxin’s son seems like a pretty good kid. Why is his reputation so bad?”

Zhang Guangqi glanced at Li Yuening. “You should ask your daughter. On the way here, she was just saying what a bad person Hu Jiangshan is.”

“I…”

Li Yuening was at a loss for words.

To be honest, Li Yuening was still in a daze.

Her entire worldview had been shattered at this gathering!

Hu Jiangshan, who was known in their circle as a super spendthrift and a total degenerate, didn’t seem like a degenerate at all up close.

His behavior and demeanor had absolutely nothing to do with the word “degenerate.”

Could Hu Jiangshan be acting? Was all his politeness just a facade?

But what was he after? There was no point in doing that!

She had always heard that Hu Jiangshan did as he pleased, but she’d never heard that he could put on an act.

Just then, Zhang Guangqi said, “It looks like Hu Jiangshan is serious about the factory buildings in Guangwan City.”

Li Junjie smiled and shook his head. “Not necessarily. He might have just been saying it casually.”

Zhang Guangqi added, “If he really does contact you, don’t slight him.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll take it seriously. He’s Old Master Hu’s grandson, after all.”

The next day, at the Guangwan City high-speed rail station.

A man and a woman stood at the exit, clearly waiting to pick someone up.

Both were young. The young man’s name was Xie Fubin, and the young woman’s was Ye Man.

Ye Man asked curiously, “I heard the person we’re picking up is a second-generation rich kid from Hong Kong Island?”

Xie Fubin glanced at her. “He’s a second-generation rich kid, alright, but don’t get any ideas.”

Ye Man paused. “What do you mean?”

“That rich kid is no angel!”

“Huh?”

“Especially when he sees a pretty girl like you. He might get some crooked ideas. You’d better be careful.”

But Ye Man was unconvinced.

“Is this Mr. Hu really that scary?”

Xie Fubin chuckled. “You don’t know the legends about Young Master Hu, so of course you’re not scared.”

“You know the legends about him?”

“Of course.”

Xie Fubin did indeed know quite a bit, and he told Ye Man a few of “Mr. Hu’s” glorious deeds.

After hearing them, Ye Man was genuinely a little scared.

Mr. Hu wasn’t just any second-generation rich kid; he was the scum of the earth among them.

That’s right, this legendary “Mr. Hu” was none other than Hu Jiangshan, the Hu family’s precious treasure.

Ye Man couldn’t help but ask, “Then what should we do? Maybe I should go back. You can handle the reception yourself.”

Xie Fubin quickly waved his hands. “What are you worried about? This isn’t Hong Kong Island. As long as you don’t throw yourself at him, he won’t dare to do anything.”

Meanwhile, a high-speed train had already pulled into Guangwan City.

Hu Jiangshan, with a bag on his back, walked toward the exit. Seeing the surrounding scenery, it felt like a lifetime ago.

In his past life, Hu Jiangshan had come to Guangwan City many times.

Guangwan City was located in Guangdong Province, right next to Guangzhou-Shenzhen City.

It was home to numerous light industries and electronics factories, and its economy was highly developed.

This was Hu Jiangshan’s first time here since his rebirth, and he felt quite sentimental.

Hu Jiangshan had rushed to Guangwan City precisely to inspect the two factory buildings Li Junjie had mentioned.

Hu Jiangshan had called Li Junjie that morning.

Li Junjie was rather surprised. He hadn’t expected Hu Jiangshan to be in such a hurry, calling him first thing in the morning the very next day to ask about it.

Of course, Hu Jiangshan was in a hurry. He needed to get the Chemical Synthesis Facility built as soon as possible. The wafer consumables had to be self-produced without delay.

Li Junjie immediately arranged for someone in Guangwan City to host Hu Jiangshan.

In the blink of an eye, Hu Jiangshan had walked out of the exit.

Hu Jiangshan looked left and right, searching for the people who were supposed to pick him up.

There were too many people waiting at the entrance; it was hard to find them right away.

Just then, Hu Jiangshan’s phone rang.

Hu Jiangshan glanced at the screen—it was a local Guangwan City number.

He answered the call. As expected, it was the people who were picking him up.

“Yes, I’m already out. I’m standing to the left of the exit, wearing a gray t-shirt.”

A man and a woman quickly walked over.

It was Xie Fubin and Ye Man.

Hu Jiangshan exchanged a few pleasantries with them, and they all headed to the parking lot.

Ye Man sized up Hu Jiangshan from time to time, feeling it was very strange.

Her first impression of this Young Master Hu was completely different from what Xie Fubin had described.

He didn’t look like a bad person. On closer inspection, he was actually a stud.

Xie Fubin was quite experienced. He said to Hu Jiangshan, “Mr. Hu, let me take you to lunch first. There’s a restaurant with a good chef where you can try some of Guangwan’s local specialties.”

Hu Jiangshan waved his hand. “No need. Let’s go straight to the factory buildings.”

Xie Fubin was taken aback. “You… you’re really not eating?”

“No, I had a boxed meal on the train.”

Xie Fubin looked astonished, unable to believe his ears.

A boxed meal?

The legendary hedonistic young master would eat a boxed meal on a high-speed train?

Was this Hu Jiangshan the real Hu Jiangshan!?

Judging by his expression, Hu Jiangshan didn’t seem to be making polite excuses.

Besides, did Hu Jiangshan even need to make polite excuses?

A moment later, the three of them arrived at the car.

It was a Buick GL8.

After getting in the car, Xie Fubin asked again, “Mr. Hu, shall we head to the factory complex then?”

Hu Jiangshan said calmly, “Yes, let’s go.”

Xie Fubin and Ye Man, in the front passenger seat, exchanged a look. He started the car and left the station’s parking lot.

The factory complex wasn’t close to the high-speed rail station; the drive would take forty minutes.

Xie Fubin parked the car in the factory’s lot and said, “Mr. Hu, we’re here.”

Hu Jiangshan got out of the car and looked around.

The place was called Wanjing Science and Manufacturing, an electronics factory.

The complex was quite large, with about a dozen factory buildings of various sizes. It was also very clean and had landscaping, resembling a park. The standards were quite high.

Furthermore, a highway ran right beside it, making transportation very convenient.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “Where are the two factory buildings?”

Ye Man quickly pointed in a direction and said, “Mr. Hu, they’re over there, the two on the very edge.”

“Take me to see them.”

“Okay.”

A moment later, the three of them arrived at the two factory buildings.

These two buildings were relatively old. They had their own separate yard, with a gate separating them from the new factory area, offering decent privacy.

As for the size of the buildings, they also looked very large.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “What’s the current situation with these two buildings?”

Xie Fubin began to explain, “Mr. Hu, these are the first two factory buildings our company had. There’s no problem with their structural quality, they’re just a bit old and look a bit worn…”

Hu Jiangshan listened as he walked into one of the buildings to inspect it, looking quite serious.

“Mr. Hu, you see, the facilities inside are fine too. Water and electricity are fully connected, all the equipment has been cleared out, and it’s regularly maintained and very clean.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “Not bad.”

As he spoke, Hu Jiangshan took out his phone, opened the Technology Engine app, and checked the facility information.

【Objective】: Chemical Synthesis Facility

【Level】: Basic

【Construction Period】: 30 days

【Capital Investment】: 5 million Hong Kong dollars

【Notification: Factory conditions are suitable. Construction sequence can be initiated.】

Chapter 91: Twelve Million, Two Factory Buildings Secured

Hu Jiangshan saw the Notification and smiled.

My luck is good. This place really meets the requirements.

Leaving the factory building, Xie Fubin said, “Let’s go take a look at the other one.”

Hu Jiangshan said, “There’s no need.”

“Huh?”

Seeing Hu Jiangshan’s reaction, Xie Fubin thought he wasn’t interested and said, “Mr. Hu, it’s fine if you’re not considering it. We can…”

Hu Jiangshan waved his hand, cutting Xie Fubin off. “What’s the asking price for this factory?”

Xie Fubin hesitated for a moment and replied, “The transfer fee for full ownership is fifteen million, but the cost is much lower if you choose to lease.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded and said, “I’m going to make a call.”

As he spoke, Hu Jiangshan took out his phone and dialed a number.

Meanwhile, Xie Fubin and Ye Man were discussing it in low voices off to the side.

Ye Man asked curiously, “Is Mr. Hu actually interested in this place or not?”

Xie Fubin shook his head. “Who knows.”

“I think he is.”

“Why?”

Ye Man glanced at Hu Jiangshan. “Who do you think he’s calling?”

“How would I know? Do you?”

“I’m just guessing, but I think he’s calling the Big Boss.”

“Big Boss?”

The Big Boss, of course, was Li Junjie.

Hu Jiangshan’s call connected. He said, “Hello, Uncle Li. I’ve just looked at the factory buildings. I think they’re very suitable. I’d like to buy them. Please give me a price.”

Ye Man glanced at Xie Fubin, her eyes seeming to say, “See? I was right!”

Xie Fubin was astounded. They had barely looked around. How could this young master from the Hu family decide to take it already?

Wasn’t this decision a bit too rash?

But when he thought about the other man’s status, he understood.

A young master from the Hu family, a second-generation rich from Hong Kong Island—of course, he wasn’t short on cash.

It was just two factory buildings. He could pay for and secure them in a heartbeat.

Hu Jiangshan smiled at something he heard.

“Thank you, Uncle Li. No need, I don’t have to tell my family about this. I can make the decision myself.”

“Oh, we can sign the contract right away? Will we be signing it here in Guangwan?”

“That’s great. Alright, I’ll stay for another day. I’ll have to trouble you to arrange it, Uncle Li.”

After a few more pleasantries, Hu Jiangshan hung up.

From his expression, it was clear the deal was settled.

Hu Jiangshan had just discussed the price with Li Junjie.

Li Junjie was very generous and looked out for Hu Jiangshan. For the small industrial park with a buyout price of fifteen million, he knocked off three million, asking for only twelve million. Moreover, the payment could be made in installments.

Of course, this price was in Chinese yuan, which was worth more than Hong Kong dollars in 2018.

Buying this small industrial park certainly put a lot of financial pressure on Hu Jiangshan. Fortunately, he could pay in installments, so the pressure was manageable.

Hu Jiangshan’s swift and decisive action shocked both Xie Fubin and Ye Man.

Truly a second-generation rich. He spent so much money in the blink of an eye without batting an eyelid.

Xie Fubin put on a fawning smile. “Mr. Hu, you’re staying for another day, right? I’ll arrange a hotel for you and take you to a nearby club to have some fun tonight. By the way, what type do you like?”

Hearing this, Ye Man pursed her lips.

The so-called “club” was actually a nightclub, where besides drinking, one could engage in some less-than-proper activities.

Xie Fubin had taken clients there many times. It was said to be a wild place, and he figured this young master Hu would be very interested.

However, Hu Jiangshan just waved his hand. “No need to arrange anything. I can find a hotel myself. Just drop me off in the city center.”

Ye Man and Xie Fubin were stunned.

This Young Master Hu was actually not interested. How very strange.

But since Hu Jiangshan had requested it, they naturally had to comply.

So, Xie Fubin did as Hu Jiangshan asked and drove him to the city center of Guangwan City.

Hu Jiangshan was very familiar with Guangwan City and found a decent hotel to stay in.

Afterward, Hu Jiangshan received a message from Li Junjie: they could sign the industrial park transfer contract tomorrow.

Hu Jiangshan was truly tired. He took a shower and fell right to sleep on the bed.

He was half asleep when he heard his phone ring.

Hu Jiangshan saw it was a call from his mother, Yuan Caihua.

“Hello, Mom. What’s up?”

“Ah Jiang, where are you?”

“I’m in… I’m in Guangwan.”

“Are you planning to buy those two factory buildings from your Uncle Li?”

Hu Jiangshan replied, “Yes, I’m going to buy them. I’m signing the contract tomorrow.”

“Ah Shan, this isn’t a small amount of money. Do you have enough? I have some money here that your father doesn’t know about. Why don’t you take it and use it?”

Yuan Caihua’s tone was laced with worry.

Hu Jiangshan was touched. A mother always dotes on her son.

He definitely couldn’t, and wouldn’t have the heart to, touch Yuan Caihua’s private savings.

Don’t be fooled by how glamorous the wives of tycoon families seem. In reality, with so many people watching them, they don’t have much cash they can use freely.

“Don’t worry, Mom. I have enough money. You don’t need to give me any.”

“Alright then. If anything comes up, tell me anytime. I’ll help you figure something out.”

Hu Jiangshan agreed.

After hanging up, Hu Jiangshan looked out the window. The sky was already dark.

Feeling hungry, Hu Jiangshan got dressed and went to the hotel restaurant.

He ordered a few things casually and began to eat with relish.

Hu Jiangshan had stayed at this hotel in his previous life. The food was excellent, which was why he chose to stay here again.

Seated at the next table were three men in their thirties or forties, likely in Guangwan on a business trip.

The topic of their conversation, however, caught Hu Jiangshan’s attention.

“By the way, have you guys heard? The Japanese government is tightening sales of semiconductor materials.”

“How are they tightening them? Are they not allowed to sell to us anymore?”

“It’s not a complete ban, but every single order will need to be reviewed.”

“Right, according to a reliable source, Huaxin International can’t buy the most advanced semiconductor manufacturing materials anymore.”

“Could it be that America has them in its sights?”

“That’s for sure. I heard Huayao got a batch of chips. They must have found a new contract manufacturer.”

“Whoa, are you saying Huaxin International is doing contract manufacturing for Huayao’s chips?”

“It’s the only explanation. Who else could Huayao find? They can’t possibly make their own chips.”

“But Huaxin International doesn’t have the technology, right? The Kirin 990 is a seven-nanometer chip.”

“You never know. What if they do have that capability?”

“Based on what you’re saying, Huaxin International’s current predicament isn’t surprising. Without semiconductor materials, they won’t be able to manufacture chips for Huayao.”

“True. Huayao is toast this time.”

Hu Jiangshan glanced at the three men, his feelings complicated.

If Huaxin International really couldn’t buy advanced semiconductor materials, they would become the scapegoat.

Who would have thought that someone else was the one manufacturing chips for Huaxin.

If what the three of them were discussing was true, then buying semiconductor materials would become even more difficult in the future.

Fortunately, Hu Jiangshan had already bought a suitable factory building. The construction of the Chemical Synthesis Facility had to be accelerated.

Chapter 92: Construction Begins! Chemical Synthesis Facility

The next morning, while Hu Jiangshan was having breakfast in the hotel restaurant, he received a phone call.

The caller was an administrator from Wanjing Science and Manufacturing, responsible for signing the contract with Hu Jiangshan.

Hu Jiangshan had already agreed with Li Junjie yesterday to pay a thirty percent deposit first, with the remaining balance to be cleared within six months.

After he finished his meal, the people from Wanjing Science and Manufacturing arrived, bringing their legal staff with them.

Hu Jiangshan paid the initial installment and smoothly signed the contract.

Just like that, Hu Jiangshan acquired the small industrial park, which included two factory buildings and a large courtyard.

Instead of returning to Hong Kong Island immediately, Hu Jiangshan went to the factory complex again.

For convenience, he had specifically rented a car.

Hu Jiangshan opened the Technology Engine app on his phone and selected a buildable facility.

【Objective】: Chemical Synthesis Facility

【Level】: Basic

【Construction Period】: 30 days

【Capital Investment】: 5 million Hong Kong dollars

【Notification: Factory complex conditions met. Construction program can be initiated.】

Without hesitation, Hu Jiangshan pressed the confirm button.

【Deducting Funds: 5 million Hong Kong dollars】

【Chemical Synthesis Facility construction program successfully initiated.】

The interface switched to the familiar progress bar.

This was a major project, requiring a thirty-day construction period—a full month.

Although the wait was a bit long, the mere fact that construction had started was reassuring.

The supply problem for semiconductor materials would be solved in a month.

By then, not only would there be no more material shortages, but the cost of wafer production would also decrease.

And by a rough calculation, it would decrease by quite a lot.

Hu Jiangshan looked up at the two factory buildings. He couldn’t see any changes yet, and they weren’t covered by construction fences.

But he had figured out the pattern: the fences would only appear when no one else was around.

These fences were incredibly secure, enclosing the entire construction site and even sealing it from above.

Moreover, Hu Jiangshan had no idea what material the fences were made of. He had once tried to scrape off some powder for research.

But after working at it with a small file for a long time, he couldn’t get a single speck of powder, and he didn’t even leave a scratch on the surface.

Hu Jiangshan realized then and there that the material of these fences was beyond his level of knowledge.

He took another look around the industrial park.

Apart from the two factory buildings, the rest was all empty land. However, thanks to basic routine maintenance, there were no weeds.

He wondered if the park’s courtyard would change after the construction was complete.

Hu Jiangshan drove away from the park, planning to find a place for lunch in downtown Guangwan City.

As mentioned before, Hu Jiangshan had frequently visited Guangwan City in his past life and was very familiar with it, including where to find good food.

Not wanting to overthink it, he went straight to Wansheng Plaza.

The entire fourth floor of Wansheng Plaza was filled with restaurants. Just as Hu Jiangshan was about to step onto the escalator, he heard someone call his name.

“Mr. Hu, Mr. Hu!”

Hu Jiangshan turned his head. Well, well, it was Du Jiapeng.

As previously mentioned, Du Jiapeng was a young-generation executive at Hopewell Group and also Dr. Zhang Rui’s childhood friend.

Hopewell Group was the Hu family’s most core business, with various business lines, primarily focused on real estate and finance.

Du Jiapeng used to look down on Hu Jiangshan, but after the incident with Zhang Rui, his image of Hu Jiangshan had grown immensely.

At the very least, Du Jiapeng no longer dared to show any disrespect toward the young master.

Seeing Hu Jiangshan now, Du Jiapeng took the initiative to greet him.

Hu Jiangshan was also quite surprised. He asked, “CEO Du, what are you doing in Guangwan?”

Du Jiapeng replied, “I’m here to negotiate a deal.”

Negotiating a deal meant discussing cooperation or orders.

Hu Jiangshan nodded. He had little interest in Hopewell Group’s business.

“Did you come alone?” Hu Jiangshan asked.

“Not exactly. Jiaojiao came too.”

Jiaojiao’s full name was Li Jiaojiao.

Hu Jiangshan paused for a moment; hearing this name felt a bit strange.

It was no wonder. Hu Jiangshan’s original body had quite a bit of history with this girl.

Li Jiaojiao was beautiful with a great figure and worked at Hopewell Group. Upon seeing her, the old Hu Jiangshan had certainly harbored many improper thoughts.

Back then, Hu Jiangshan was quite adept at pursuing such matters. He used a few tricks, and after a few rounds, he actually succeeded with Li Jiaojiao.

But it only happened once. Afterward, Li Jiaojiao was never willing again.

It couldn’t be helped; Hu Jiangshan’s reputation was just too terrible.

Just then, a young woman carrying a handbag walked over.

Upon seeing Hu Jiangshan, her eyes widened in shock. She then averted her gaze, clearly not wanting to see him.

This was Li Jiaojiao.

It had to be said, after not seeing her for so long, Li Jiaojiao was still as beautiful as ever, with an amazing figure.

Hu Jiangshan composed himself and noticed Du Jiapeng’s gaze shift from him to Li Jiaojiao, his expression peculiar.

Apparently, Du Jiapeng had heard a thing or two about their past.

Bad news really does travel fast.

Hu Jiangshan didn’t plan to dwell on it. He was about to say a quick goodbye to Du Jiapeng and leave.

Just then, Du Jiapeng suddenly said, “Heh, the competition’s here.”

Two men were walking over.

The leader was named Zeng Jibo, a business representative for Changhe Industries.

Changhe Industries was, of course, Superman Li’s enterprise, with its main business in residential and commercial real estate.

Evidently, Hopewell Group was competing with Changhe Industries for a client this time.

In fact, this kind of competition between the two parties had occurred many times in the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau region, and everyone was used to it.

However, based on past records, Hopewell Group had lost far more than it had won, suffering repeated crushing defeats at the hands of Changhe Industries.

It wasn’t that Hopewell Group was incompetent. It was mainly because Changhe Industries had deep pockets and was willing to spend, playing both fair and foul.

Hopewell Group, in contrast, was much more restricted, always taking the high road—a rule set by Hu Yingxiang.

Seeing Du Jiapeng, Zeng Jibo walked over with a smile. “Hi, CEO Du, what a coincidence!”

Du Jiapeng said flatly, “Is it a coincidence? I don’t think so.”

Zeng Jibo chuckled and patted Du Jiapeng’s shoulder. “You’re still too young, too impatient. You need more experience.”

“Don’t trouble yourself with my affairs.”

At that moment, Zeng Jibo glanced at Hu Jiangshan. “Well, if it isn’t Young Master Hu. You’re here too?”

Hu Jiangshan frowned but said nothing. He had no desire to get involved in this.

Hu Jiangshan had an impression of this Zeng Jibo—a British-Chinese national who held a high position in the Changhe Group.

The fact that Changhe Group had sent Zeng Jibo meant that the client they were negotiating with was very important.

Zeng Jibo added with a smile, “It doesn’t matter who you bring. Changhe Group is determined to win this time.”

Just then, Du Jiapeng suddenly cleared his throat. “CEO Xu is here.”

Hu Jiangshan turned his head. Good heavens, it was none other than Xu Zhijun, Young CEO Xu, walking in through the entrance.

Why was Huayao’s rotating Chairman here?

Could it be…

The client Hopewell Group was here to see was Huayao?

Chapter 93: Accidentally Secured a Huge Order for the Hu Family

Judging by Du Jiapeng and Li Jiaojiao’s reactions, Hu Jiangshan’s guess was spot on.

The two of them went up to greet Xu Zhijun and exchange pleasantries.

Naturally, Zeng Jibo was not to be outdone and also went forward.

My god, this scene was quite intimidating.

It was also Hu Jiangshan’s first time feeling the aura of Huayao’s Young CEO Xu up close.

Xu Zhijun appearing in Guangwan City was not unusual.

As far as Hu Jiangshan knew, Huayao did have a few factories in Guangwan City. Moreover, Huayao’s most famous Songshan Lake R&D base was in DZ City.

At this moment, both Du Jiapeng’s and Zeng Jibo’s parties were very shrewd, scrambling to get close to Xu Zhijun.

Hu Jiangshan had to admire their professionalism. How was this any different from vying for favor in public?

Things had almost reached the point of dropping all pretenses. If it weren’t a public place, tempers might have flared, and they might have even come to blows.

But that’s how business negotiations were. Who could blame them when the other party was such a massive client?

Xu Zhijun handled both sides with ease, displaying a commanding presence.

No wonder he could become Huayao’s rotating chairman. That poised and unruffled, calm and composed, and steady attitude was not a quality the average person possessed.

Just then, Xu Zhijun looked up and saw Hu Jiangshan. He looked surprised at first, then broke into a smile.

“Brother Hu, what are you doing here!”

Du Jiapeng, Li Jiaojiao, Zeng Jibo, and the others were all stunned.

It had all happened so suddenly, without any warning, that they couldn’t react for a moment.

Who was Xu Zhijun greeting?

Brother Hu?

Who was Brother Hu?

It couldn’t be…

Everyone’s eyes focused on Hu Jiangshan.

Now that Xu Zhijun had spotted him, Hu Jiangshan obviously couldn’t just sneak away.

Hu Jiangshan waved at Xu Zhijun. “CEO Xu, I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Xu Zhijun left the others aside, walked over to Hu Jiangshan, and clapped him on the shoulder, looking like they were on very good terms.

“Well, what do you know! What a lucky day. Brother Hu, what brings you to the mainland?”

“Ah, it’s a long story. I’m here to take care of some things.”

Hu Jiangshan couldn’t tell anyone about the Chemical Synthesis Facility.

Although Xu Zhijun was absolutely trustworthy, he would still find it hard to believe that Hu Jiangshan could build such an incredible chemical plant.

Fortunately, Du Jiapeng and Li Jiaojiao had already walked over.

“CEO Xu, it’s perfectly normal for Mr. Hu to be here.”

“Oh? What do you mean?”

“CEO Xu, you might not know this, but Mr. Hu is our Big Boss’s son.”

Xu Zhijun’s face lit up in realization. “Oh, right, right, I’d completely forgotten about that! Brother Hu, you’re the young master of Hopewell Group.”

Hu Jiangshan waved his hand dismissively. “CEO Xu, what young master? Don’t joke with me.”

Du Jiapeng beamed, his eyes shining.

Du Jiapeng didn’t know how Xu Zhijun knew Hu Jiangshan, or why they seemed so close, but this connection was a huge advantage for their business deal!

An absolute pleasant surprise!

Du Jiapeng was indeed capable, very good at seizing opportunities and climbing the ladder.

Du Jiapeng began to chat naturally with Xu Zhijun.

Zeng Jibo stood there awkwardly, opening his mouth several times but failing to get a word in.

Xu Zhijun looked at Hu Jiangshan and asked curiously, “Brother Hu, do you also hold a position at Hopewell Group?”

Hu Jiangshan shook his head. “Not at all.”

Du Jiapeng quickly chimed in, “CEO Xu, here’s the situation. Our Big Boss places great importance on this project, and Mr. Hu happened to be in Guangwan City on business, so he came by to supervise and make sure we’re working hard.”

“Oh, Brother Hu, you’re really a busy man.”

Hu Jiangshan was speechless for a moment. Du Jiapeng had said everything for him.

What else could he say?

Besides, as a scion of the Hu family, he should help with the family business whenever he could.

Xu Zhijun nodded. “Perfect. In that case, Brother Hu, let’s sit down and have a proper chat.”

Hu Jiangshan was taken aback and said, “CEO Xu, I won’t join you. I don’t work at Hopewell Group, nor do I have any position there. You all can talk. I’ll just look around.”

Xu Zhijun didn’t insist, saying with a smile, “Alright, how about this? Let’s find a place to get together tonight. Dinner is on me.”

Hu Jiangshan didn’t think much of it and agreed.

He had originally planned to return to Hong Kong Island after dinner, but since he’d run into Xu Zhijun, it was a rare opportunity he shouldn’t miss.

Of course, it wouldn’t be just a casual chat. Hu Jiangshan was currently handling contract manufacturing for Huayao’s chips, and there were many things that would be better to discuss in person to avoid a lot of trouble.

Xu Zhijun most likely had the same idea.

After exchanging a few more words with Hu Jiangshan, Xu Zhijun went up the escalator with Du Jiapeng.

Li Jiaojiao followed behind. As she passed Hu Jiangshan, she glanced at him, her eyes filled with bewilderment.

A famous prodigal son from Hong Kong Island being connected to the rotating chairman of Huayao was truly outrageous.

What struck Li Jiaojiao as even stranger was that, seeing Hu Jiangshan this time, she could clearly feel that he was different.

His behavior was completely out of character, not to mention his entire demeanor was like that of a different person.

Hu Jiangshan turned his head and saw Zeng Jibo still standing there, completely dumbfounded, looking like a dazed goose.

Ever since Xu Zhijun started talking to Hu Jiangshan, Zeng Jibo had been completely sidelined and ignored.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “Aren’t you going to follow them?”

Zeng Jibo snapped back to his senses and forced a smile. “There’s no rush. We have another appointment scheduled. By the way, are you very familiar with CEO Xu?”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “Yes, very.”

“How did you and President Hu meet?”

“It’s a long story. Anyway, I have something to do, so I’ll be leaving.”

With that, Hu Jiangshan left without a backward glance.

Zeng Jibo still looked completely dumbfounded, finding the Hu family’s young master more and more incomprehensible.

Hu Jiangshan found it amusing. Other than Hu Jiangshan himself, no one knew the full story of what had happened.

He had no time to worry about anything else. He was starving, so he went straight upstairs to find something to eat.

At six in the evening, Lujiang Restaurant.

Hu Jiangshan drove his rental car to the restaurant’s entrance, parked it in an outdoor spot, and walked in.

This restaurant was very famous in Guangwan City. The food was authentic, and the service was top-notch.

Of course, the prices were also quite fine.

A beautiful waitress came forward to greet him. “Sir, do you have a reservation?”

“Yes.”

Hu Jiangshan gave Xu Zhijun’s name.

The waitress recognized it immediately and led Hu Jiangshan to a private room on the second floor.

These rooms offered a great deal of privacy and were soundproofed, making them ideal for confidential discussions.

Xu Zhijun was already waiting in the room.

The two sat opposite each other, casually ordered two or three dishes, and started chatting.

Xu Zhijun said with a smile, “Brother Hu, I’ve taken good care of your Hu family’s business. You at least owe me one, right?”

Hu Jiangshan quickly poured tea for Xu Zhijun. “Of course, I definitely owe you one!”

It turned out that Huayao was building a new office building, a massive project, and both Hopewell Group and Changhe Group were vying for it.

The two companies were originally set for a fierce battle, but with Hu Jiangshan’s involvement, the outcome was no longer in doubt.

Hu Jiangshan had accidentally secured a huge deal for Hopewell Group.

Chapter 94: They’ve Traced It to Hong Kong Island

Having been reborn for over half a year, Hu Jiangshan had finally made a small contribution to the Hu family.

For Xu Zhijun, making such a decision was a trivial matter, a piece of cake.

After a few minutes of small talk, they soon got down to business.

Xu Zhijun asked, “How is the progress on semiconductor production? You haven’t run into any problems, have you?”

“Not really,” Hu Jiangshan replied, taking a sip of his tea. “But lately, it’s been difficult to procure semiconductor materials. They’re not only expensive, but the supply is also unstable, which has slightly affected our progress.”

Xu Zhijun was taken aback for a moment, a worried look on his face. “Brother Hu, can it be resolved?”

Xu Zhijun knew Hu Jiangshan was telling the truth.

Lately, Huayao had also been receiving news from America.

Moreover, the restrictions on semiconductor material exports were already public knowledge.

Xu Zhijun and Wang Chengdong had discussed this privately, worried that Hu Jiangshan’s production would be affected by the material supply.

However, none of them had expected the effects to spread so quickly, with Hu Jiangshan already running into trouble.

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “CEO Xu, it should be solvable.”

Xu Zhijun was still worried. “If you really can’t manage, we’ll try to figure something out on our end.”

Xu Zhijun said this without much confidence. Huayao was currently being targeted, with their every move under scrutiny, making it even more difficult for them to acquire semiconductor materials.

Hu Jiangshan smiled and said, “CEO Xu, you can rest easy. I’m confident I can handle it.”

Hu Jiangshan didn’t explicitly say how he would solve it, but he looked very confident.

Just then, the dishes began to arrive.

Hu Jiangshan tried the food. It was indeed delicious—a true hidden gem of a restaurant.

The two ate while chatting.

“Brother Hu, you need to be careful these days,” Xu Zhijun said suddenly.

Hu Jiangshan was stunned. “Why?”

Although the soundproofing in the private room was quite good and no sound could be heard from the adjacent rooms, Xu Zhijun still kept his voice very low.

In truth, the main reason Xu Zhijun had invited Hu Jiangshan over was to deliver the following message.

“Brother Hu, we’ve received information that people are investigating on Hong Kong Island.”

Hu Jiangshan’s eyes widened. Clearly, this news shocked him.

Hu Jiangshan was an exceptionally sharp man; that single sentence was enough for him to grasp the situation.

It didn’t matter who “they” were.

They were undoubtedly connected to the major power on the other side of the ocean.

And their investigation on Hong Kong Island had to be about the chips.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “What do they know?”

Xu Zhijun shook his head. “That’s unclear, but they probably don’t know much. They only know that our latest batch of chips came from Hong Kong Island.”

“Understood. Thank you, Young CEO Xu,” Hu Jiangshan said.

Xu Zhijun smiled. “Why are you thanking me? You’re the one helping us in this matter.”

“It’s not about helping; it’s a partnership.”

Hu Jiangshan’s tone was calm.

Xu Zhijun looked at Hu Jiangshan, a trace of emotion in his eyes.

No wonder. Few people or companies were still willing to stand up and help Huayao at this point.

Private enterprises with overseas operations, in particular, were now keeping their distance from Huayao, afraid of getting implicated.

And Hu Jiangshan was on Hong Kong Island, which was theoretically even more dangerous.

If anyone found out that Hu Jiangshan was organizing people to do contract manufacturing of chips for Huayao, it was impossible to imagine what they might do.

In fact, the thought of it was enough to make one’s blood run cold.

Xu Zhijun suddenly felt a sense of strangeness. Hu Jiangshan was a bizarre man. Wasn’t he supposed to be the king of all prodigal sons on Hong Kong Island?

Yet his actions didn’t match that reputation at all.

Just then, Hu Jiangshan murmured, “Looks like I need to speed up the preparations.”

“What?”

“Ah, nothing. CEO Xu, let’s eat. This sweet and sour pork is delicious, but it won’t be good once it gets cold.”

After finishing the meal, Hu Jiangshan said goodbye to Xu Zhijun and returned to his hotel room.

Now it was Hu Jiangshan’s turn to worry.

Buying a small industrial park cost twelve million. Although he could pay in installments, the down payment was still four million Chinese yuan.

Then, building the Chemical Synthesis Facility cost five million Hong Kong dollars.

These two expenses came to ten million, cutting his available funds in half.

Spending money feels great in the moment, but paying it back is a bitter pill to swallow.

He was right back where he started, worrying about money. It gave Hu Jiangshan quite a headache.

The next day, Hu Jiangshan got out of bed, planning to eat breakfast in the restaurant, then check out and leave for Hong Kong Island.

Just then, his phone received a text message.

[Hong Kong Island Bank: Dear customer, your personal account has received a remittance of 50,000,000 Hong Kong dollars. Please check your account. If you have any questions, please call your private customer service representative. Thank you for your trust in our bank.]

The moment Hu Jiangshan saw it, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

His account suddenly had an extra fifty million Hong Kong dollars.

No need to check; it was definitely the payment from Huayao.

Everyone said Huayao was quick with its payments, but at a time like this, their funds were probably stretched thin as well.

But the feeling of having money was great. Now, Hu Jiangshan’s available funds were back to over sixty million Hong Kong dollars.

Hu Jiangshan was in urgent need of money, and now the problem was solved.

Just then, Hu Jiangshan’s phone rang.

Surprisingly, it was Du Jiapeng.

“Hello, Mr. Hu, are you still in Guangwan City?”

“I am, but I’m checking out and leaving in a bit.”

Du Jiapeng said, “Where are you staying? I’ll come find you for a chat. I need to thank you properly.”

From the sound of Du Jiapeng’s voice, it was clear he was in a very cheerful mood.

The deal with Huayao had been successfully negotiated, causing Du Jiapeng’s performance to soar.

Hu Jiangshan naturally wanted to refuse, but Du Jiapeng insisted. Since he was so insistent, Hu Jiangshan told him the name of his hotel.

A short while later, Du Jiapeng arrived.

Surprisingly, Li Jiaojiao had come with him.

The three of them sat facing each other in the hotel restaurant.

Hu Jiangshan didn’t stand on ceremony with them, eating while listening to Du Jiapeng talk.

Li Jiaojiao sipped her coffee, glancing at Hu Jiangshan from time to time, her eyes looking at him as if she had never known him before.

By now, Du Jiapeng was completely won over by Hu Jiangshan and kept showering him with compliments.

Hu Jiangshan was the Big Boss’s son, so it wasn’t embarrassing or awkward for Du Jiapeng to do so; it felt quite natural.

Just then, Hu Jiangshan suddenly thought of something and asked, “By the way, CEO Du, can you find a reliable construction team?”

Du Jiapeng was taken aback for a moment. “A construction team? There are plenty. What are you looking to build?”

“Roads. I want to build roads on the island.”

Hu Jiangshan explained his requirements to Du Jiapeng.

Specifically, the team had to be reliable and tight-lipped, unwilling to reveal too much information to outsiders.

Du Jiapeng immediately said, “Yes, absolutely no problem, Mr. Hu. As it happens, I know a construction team I’ve worked with before. They’re not a large operation, all of them are from the mainland, and they’re very hardworking. Their character is impeccable—absolutely reliable.”

Hu Jiangshan nodded. “Good. Help me get in touch with them. I want to start construction as soon as possible.”

Chapter 95: Honghai Group Comes Poaching

The next day, Du Jiapeng introduced the construction team’s foreman to Hu Jiangshan.

The foreman’s name was Liu A’bao. He was from the northwestern part of the mainland, in his forties or fifties, with dark skin. He didn’t talk much and seemed very honest.

Liu A’bao had over twenty men under him, and he could find more if the job was too big.

Hu Jiangshan asked, “Uncle Liu, when can you start construction on the island?”

Liu A’bao grinned. “Mr. Hu, we can start anytime.”

Hu Jiangshan immediately signed a construction contract with him.

It was a turnkey contract, covering both labor and materials. Everything was handled in one go, the main selling point being complete peace of mind.

Of course, Hu Jiangshan needed to provide the road plans.

He had already prepared them in advance.

Early the next morning, after breakfast, Hu Jiangshan piloted The Seahorse to the pier on General’s Island.

There was an extra vessel at the pier.

It was a medium-sized transport ship. Liu A’bao and his men had arrived, bringing a significant amount of building materials with them.

When Hu Jiangshan stepped onto the pier, he saw several men making preparations for construction.

Liu A’bao was under the shade of a tree, likely planning the work.

Hu Jiangshan greeted Liu A’bao and then headed to the office building.

There was hardly anyone in the building.

Zhang Rui and the others were also quite busy these days, spending most of their time in the Cave Factory debugging the production line.

Hu Jiangshan sat at his desk, looking up various information on his laptop.

All of it was related to the construction of a fish farm.

There were materials in Chinese, as well as in English.

After several days of research, Hu Jiangshan had a basic understanding of it all. Building a fish farm wasn’t too difficult.

Especially at sea, one could leverage the natural conditions, either by placing a large number of aquaculture net cages or by simply enclosing a section of the sea for marine aquaculture.

Hu Jiangshan had already decided what he was going to do.

A few days later, in Guangwan City, at Huayao’s southern factory.

As mentioned before, the southern factory exclusively produced high-end phones for Huayao.

Lately, the factory’s operations had been running well; some production lines had even started running two shifts.

The reason was simple: Huayao had been releasing large quantities of its Mate 20 series phones into the market, and they were selling like hotcakes both online and offline.

In this month alone, domestic orders for their high-end phones had already reached nearly four million units.

But recently, the factory’s production pace seemed to have slowed down, and there was less overtime.

At that moment, two men were sitting in a small restaurant across from the factory gate. One was fat, the other thin, and both looked to be in their thirties.

The thin one was named Duan Xilai, and the heavier one was Liu Dingjun.

The two had specifically chosen a seat by the window. They ordered some food and periodically observed the factory gate through the glass, exchanging a few words now and then.

Duan Xilai ate a peanut and said, “Three trucks in the past hour, and they’re only medium-sized. The shipping volume is average.”

Liu Dingjun nodded. “That’s normal. They haven’t been working overtime lately, which means their operating rate is down.”

Duan Xilai frowned. “Could it be that they don’t have enough orders?”

Liu Dingjun waved his hand dismissively. “That’s unlikely. According to the order volume estimated by professional firms, Huayao should still have nearly two million phones that haven’t been shipped, the vast majority being the high-end Mate 20.”

“That’s true. My cousin’s son said he ordered one, and he’s been waiting for almost two weeks. It still hasn’t shipped.”

Liu Dingjun smiled faintly. “So, you see, they must be short on parts.”

Duan Xilai agreed.

It was obvious that both of them were industry insiders.

They worked at Honghai and were already mid-level managers.

Honghai Group was a global giant in electronics assembly.

Almost all of Fruit’s phones were assembled at Honghai factories and shipped worldwide.

For Liu Dingjun and Duan Xilai to be here, staring at the gate of the southern factory, was clearly unusual.

Duan Xilai checked the time. “They should be coming out soon, right?”

Liu Dingjun said, “Soon, very soon… Here they come, here they come!”

Two more men emerged from the main gate of the southern factory.

They were the ones Duan Xilai and Liu Dingjun were waiting for.

One was named Li Zhenye, the other Xie Tao.

Both were senior production line supervisors at the southern factory.

A moment later, after exchanging a few pleasantries, the four men sat facing each other.

Duan Xilai had been the one to invite the two supervisors from the southern factory. The three of them had known each other for a while, occasionally chatting and venting their frustrations.

Duan Xilai asked in a low voice, “No one knows you came out, right?”

Xie Tao and Li Zhenye glanced at each other and shook their heads in unison.

Xie Tao asked, “Brother Duan, why did you ask us out?”

Duan Xilai grinned. “For something good.”

“What good thing?”

Duan Xilai looked at Liu Dingjun.

Liu Dingjun said, “Gentlemen, let’s not beat around the bush. Has the operating rate at the southern factory dropped?”

Li Zhenye hesitated for a moment. “Yes, it’s been less busy these past few days. But it was incredibly busy just a while ago.”

“It was busy before, so why isn’t it busy now? Did the orders run out?”

“Well…”

Xie Tao spoke up. “That’s definitely not it. I heard there are still plenty of orders. It’s just…”

“Just what?”

“…It’s just that we’re short on parts.”

Li Zhenye coughed lightly, as if to remind Xie Tao not to speak carelessly.

A shortage of parts was causing the operating rate to drop.

While this wasn’t exactly a secret, it was best not to spread it around, or there could be serious trouble.

Xie Tao, however, seemed unconcerned. When pressed, he told them everything.

“Even if I don’t say it, you all should know by now. Huayao is running out of chips.”

Duan Xilai raised an eyebrow. “That’s not right. I heard Huayao found a contract manufacturing partner and replenished a batch of chips.”

Xie Tao chuckled. “Let me tell you, it was more than one batch. They were shipped over several times, all very hush-hush. But the quantity was small. All the batches combined didn’t even reach one million chips. That’s barely a drop in the bucket.”

Li Zhenye frowned, feeling that Xie Tao was saying too much.

Duan Xilai and Liu Dingjun were from Honghai.

Honghai assembled phones and tablets for Apple; they were practically Apple’s exclusive assembly factory.

For these two to be here inquiring about such matters was clearly not right.

Li Zhenye said, “Excuse me, I have something to do and can’t be away for too long. I have to go.”

Liu Dingjun quickly held Li Zhenye back. “Brother Li, don’t go. We haven’t gotten to the main point yet.”

Li Zhenye had no choice but to sit back down. “What’s the main point?”

Liu Dingjun said, “We are formally inviting you both to come work for us at Honghai.”

Li Zhenye and Xie Tao were stunned for a moment, but their expressions were entirely different.

Xie Tao’s face lit up with joy, while Li Zhenye’s brow furrowed once more.

Duan Xilai said, “According to our expert team’s analysis, the southern factory absolutely won’t last past next year.”

Li Zhenye asked, “What’s that based on?”

Duan Xilai pointed at the two of them. “You’re the basis. Huayao’s chips are about to run out. What use will they have for you then?”

Chapter 96: Shocked, A Large Shipment of Chips Arrives

Li Zhenye was stunned. “What do you mean? Who said we’re almost out of chips?”

Duan Xilai said, “Isn’t it obvious? Why has the operating rate of your production lines dropped? It’s because of the chip shortage, isn’t it?”

Li Zhenye shook his head. “That can’t be right. We’re using them up quickly, but we’re still getting restocked.”

Liu Dingjun waved his hand dismissively. “If Huayao had really solved its supply problem, you wouldn’t be short on chips.”

“Well…”

Li Zhenye was at a loss for words.

He didn’t know the full situation, only that a new shipment of chips had indeed arrived recently, and high-end Kirin 990 chips at that.

However, what Duan Xilai and Liu Dingjun said was also true.

Several production lines at the Southern Factory were indeed suffering from insufficient operating rates.

One production line had even been operating at less than thirty percent capacity in recent days.

Anyone who handled the components could see that the chip inventory was running low. To keep the lines running at all, they had to be frugal with assembly.

Seeing the atmosphere grow tense, Xie Tao quickly chimed in, “Brother Duan, Brother Liu, you’re right. We are running low on chips.”

Liu Dingjun glanced at Li Zhenye. “Think about it. There’s no way Island Foundry is doing contract manufacturing for Huayao now. Huayao’s chip inventory can’t possibly be replenished. The situation is only going to get worse.”

Xie Tao nodded in agreement.

Li Zhenye remained silent.

Liu Dingjun continued, “We know you’re both talented, so we’re inviting you to Honghai. We guarantee you won’t be treated unfairly!”

Upon hearing this, Xie Tao’s face lit up with a grin. “And what kind of compensation are we talking about?”

Duan Xilai took over the conversation. “The specifics aren’t set yet, but your positions certainly won’t be any lower than what you have now, and the pay will definitely be much higher.”

Xie Tao’s eyes gleamed. “That’s something worth considering.”

Duan Xilai chuckled and poured Xie Tao some tea. “I don’t think you need to consider it. Just make a decision now. As soon as you two give the nod, our HR department will start the paperwork immediately.”

Liu Dingjun patted Xie Tao on the shoulder. “He’s right. This is a rare opportunity. It won’t last forever. Honghai needs people right now. Next year, our industrial parks in South Yue Country and Bharata Country will be nearly complete, and we’ll definitely need to send people over.”

Xie Tao raised an eyebrow. “An overseas assignment? We’d have a chance?”

“Of course.”

“Great! That’s a a good deal!”

Anyone in the electronics assembly industry knew that working abroad meant more money and better benefits.

Especially in South Yue Country, with its vibrant nightlife, one could live a life of wine and women. Who wouldn’t want to go?

Duan Xilai said, “So? Can you make a decision now?”

Smack! Xie Tao slapped the table. “I have no problem with it!”

Duan Xilai then looked at Li Zhenye. “What about you, Brother Li? Yes or no, give us a straight answer.”

Li Zhenye waved his hand. “Forget it. You guys talk. I’m not getting involved in this.”

With that, Li Zhenye started to leave.

Liu Dingjun quickly shot Xie Tao a look.

Xie Tao was a sharp man and immediately pulled Li Zhenye aside.

“Old Li, the factory’s situation is really bad right now. Who knows how long it can last? We need to think about our future. Think about it, you still have a big mortgage and a wife and kids to support. What will you do if you lose your job?”

Li Zhenye waved his hand. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. In any case, I’m not going to Honghai.”

“Why not Honghai? It’s an industry giant, the pay is great, and there’s a chance for an overseas assignment.”

“I’m not interested. You go if you want to.”

“Don’t be like that, Old Li. You’re being completely baffled!”

Li Zhenye said, “Who’s being baffled? Haven’t you stopped to think why they’re after the two of us?”

Xie Tao was taken aback. “Why do you think? They see that we’re skilled.”

Li Zhenye waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t be so naive. We both manage production lines. Poaching us is the same as poaching a lot of people!”

Xie Tao’s brow lifted. “That works too, what’s wrong with that? We can all live the good life together!”

Li Zhenye frowned. “You think this is a good thing? Aren’t you just screwing over the Southern Factory?”

“How is this screwing them over? The Southern Factory is about to go under. We’re just finding our next employer ahead of time.”

“I’m telling you, the Southern Factory won’t go under!”

“Old Li, without chips, it’s bound to fail sooner or later.”

Xie Tao’s self-righteous tone made Li Zhenye fume.

“Then you can go! I’m not leaving, anyway!”

After saying his piece, Li Zhenye flung his arm and left. Xie Tao called after him, but he didn’t stop.

Xie Tao returned to the table and shook his head at Duan Xilai and Liu Dingjun.

“You don’t know him. Old Li has a stubborn temper. He won’t listen to reason.”

Duan and Liu exchanged a look. There was nothing they could do, so they had to give up.

Meanwhile, Li Zhenye stormed out of the small restaurant and headed towards the entrance of the Southern Factory.

Just then, he heard the roar of a truck engine behind him.

He turned to see a truck approaching—a heavy-duty, single-bucket one at that.

Li Zhenye quickly moved to the side to let it pass.

Then came another, and another, and another…

The trucks entered the Southern Factory’s industrial park one after another.

Li Zhenye was a little surprised. These were clearly trucks for transporting components.

To mobilize so many trucks at once meant the shipment had to be enormous.

What could it be?

Just as Li Zhenye returned to his office, someone notified him of a meeting.

Li Zhenye asked, “What’s the meeting about?”

“A production mobilization meeting.”

“…Huh?”

A short while later, Li Zhenye emerged from the conference room and happened to see Xie Tao.

Xie Tao hurried over, flaunting a document in his hand.

“What’s that?”

“The receipt for my resignation application.”

Li Zhenye was a bit surprised. He hadn’t expected Xie Tao to be so fast, submitting his resignation as soon as he got back.

Xie Tao said in a low voice, “Old Li, don’t say I didn’t warn you. This opportunity won’t last forever.”

Li Zhenye shook his head, not bothering to reply.

Xie Tao asked curiously, “By the way, what did you guys talk about in the meeting?”

“We’re going to expand the scale of production.”

“What? Expand production?”

Xie Tao’s eyes widened, his face a picture of disbelief.

Seeing that Li Zhenye had gone silent, Xie Tao pressed him, “Old Li, why the sudden expansion? Can the components supply keep up?”

Li Zhenye waved his hand. “They brought in another batch of chips.”

“Wh-what!? How many chips?”

Li Zhenye glanced at the paper in Xie Tao’s hand. “You’re resigning, so there’s no point in you asking about this. I’ve got things to do, I’m leaving.”

Watching Li Zhenye’s retreating back, Xie Tao felt a sense of collapse.

This was insane. How could another shipment of chips suddenly arrive?

And it seemed to be a large one, otherwise, they wouldn’t be suddenly expanding production.

Just how many chips had they restocked? Could it be a million units?

“Oh my god, it can’t be…”

Xie Tao looked at the resignation application receipt in his hand, a wave of regret washing over him.

If he had known, he would have waited a little longer before making his decision.

Chapter 97: A Surge in Chip Production Capacity

The Southern Factory had indeed received a shipment of chips, and it was a large one—over one million units.

Furthermore, they were all Huayao’s flagship chips, the Kirin 990.

The slowed production pace at the Southern Factory was instantly revitalized, and its operating rate surged.

A few days later, on General’s Island, Hong Kong Island.

Hu Jiangshan was in the production line control center, carefully studying the production data on the large screen.

Just a few days ago, the semiconductor production line upgrade had finally been completed.

As expected, the production capacity had increased dramatically, and the improvement was much greater than he had imagined.

The number of wafers produced in two days was nearly equivalent to a full week’s output before the upgrade.

Coincidentally, Wang Chengdong had called yesterday to hurry the shipment, so Hu Jiangshan had delivered all the packaged chips he had on hand.

When Wang Chengdong heard the number of chips available for delivery, he had completely lost his composure.

Wang Chengdong’s strange laughter had left a deep impression on Hu Jiangshan, a man who had lived two lives.

Hu Jiangshan studied the production data for a while longer, noticed a few minor issues, and mentioned them to Zhang Rui.

Zhang Rui nodded and hurried off to find someone to make the adjustments.

Zhang Rui truly was a workaholic; his drive was something ordinary people couldn’t match.

Previously, Hu Jiangshan had worried that Zhang Rui wouldn’t be able to stand the solitude.

After all, working on a deserted island could get quite monotonous over long periods.

Hu Jiangshan had even made a point to talk to him about it, only to find that Zhang Rui was extremely satisfied with his current work and life—immeasurably so.

It turned out Zhang Rui loved this kind of environment. It was simpler, with none of the usual nonsense.

This set Hu Jiangshan’s mind at ease.

Zhang Rui was now a key pillar of the operation; he couldn’t afford to lose him.

If Zhang Rui were to leave, where would Hu Jiangshan ever find another top expert like him?

Hu Jiangshan walked out of the factory building.

The sun was bright in a cloudless sky, and the heat was intense.

After walking a short distance, he saw the construction site.

Many workers were busy paving roads, working with great enthusiasm.

Liu A’bao was on a nearby slope, watching the workers, occasionally pointing at one and shouting a few words.

Liu A’bao had brought his entire team of over twenty people.

Despite their small number, they were highly efficient. The road network on General’s Island was already taking shape, with the ground almost completely leveled.

They were now laying gravel; the next step would be to pour concrete to set it.

Hu Jiangshan greeted Liu A’bao and stood by to watch for a while. He didn’t know anything about construction quality, but their attitude seemed very reliable.

The sun was getting too intense, and Hu Jiangshan’s face began to sting, so he quickly boarded the nearby General.

Although the General was small, it was still a luxury yacht. Relaxing in the panoramic lounge with the air conditioning on and sipping a cold fruit juice was quite comfortable.

The view of the sea was especially beautiful, growing more so the brighter the sun shone.

Hu Jiangshan picked up his tablet and began browsing social media.

He had been too busy the last two days to check, but today he finally had a moment to relax.

Just as Hu Jiangshan had suspected, Huayao was a hot topic again.

The front page of Weibo featured several posts about Huayao.

【Insider: Huayao’s High-End Phone Production Capacity is Recovering】

【Ordered a Mate 20 Pro and Finally Received It】

【The Mystery: Why Are More and More Kirin 990s Appearing? Did Huayao Really Find a New Contract Manufacturer?】

【Kirin Chip Supply Restored? Don’t Be Naive, Huayao’s Chip Inventory Was Just Larger Than Expected】

Hu Jiangshan scrolled through a few pages. As expected, many bloggers were amazed that Huayao was still shipping the Mate 20 in large quantities.

After all, it had been nearly two months since America’s Department of Commerce had officially launched the new semiconductor act.

Normally, Huayao’s phone manufacturing should have run into significant problems. At the very least, they should have stopped open sales of their high-end Mate 20 and switched to a limited release model.

However, Huayao had recently begun large-scale, unlimited supplies. Customers could freely pre-order Huayao’s high-end phones both online and offline.

This caused a surge in orders for Huayao phones, with several million units sold in a short period.

Everyone in the tech and gadget circles believed that Huayao wouldn’t be able to fulfill these orders anytime soon, or even at all, because their chip inventory was limited.

They thought Huayao’s open sales were merely a strategy to boost performance figures or simply a case of bluffing.

But reality had dealt these people a heavy blow. Huayao had delivered most of the several million phones in just over a month.

For example, on Weibo, many users were posting pictures of their orders and their new Huayao phones, most of which were high-end models from the Mate 20 series.

This left people in the industry stunned.

Hu Jiangshan read through these related Weibo posts, which contained a lot of speculation about Huayao’s chips.

It basically boiled down to two possibilities.

First, Huayao wasn’t afraid of running out of chips at all and was even planning to abandon its phone business once the inventory was depleted.

The second possibility was that Huayao had genuinely found a new source of chips, meaning a new contract manufacturer.

Just then, Hu Jiangshan finally came across a Weibo post with a different perspective.

【Informed Source: Huayao is Secretly Buying Back Phones to Remove and Refurbish the Chips】

Hu Jiangshan read the content and found it rather outrageous.

But he had to admit, it was theoretically possible.

Selling phones while simultaneously buying them back at second-hand prices would mean an endless supply of chips.

The person who came up with this idea was some kind of genius.

Just then, Hu Jiangshan saw a Weibo post that was on the trending topics list.

【Huaxin International May No Longer Be Able to Buy High-End Photoresist, Impossible for Them to Do Contract Manufacturing for Huayao】

The title of this post alone was packed with information.

Hu Jiangshan clicked on it to read the content and found it was written by someone in the mobile phone industry who seemed to have a lot of inside information.

The author had previously speculated that the only company that could possibly be doing contract manufacturing for Huayao was Huaxin International.

But now, the author believed it was impossible, because Huaxin International’s access to semiconductor materials, especially advanced photoresist, had been restricted.

It seemed the author was trying to debunk rumors and tell people not to get their hopes up, that it was impossible for Huayao to find a new contract manufacturer.

The author concluded that Huayao’s phone business was now a spent force and would soon run out of chips.

The comments below were predictable. Some supported the author’s view, saying Huayao phones were about to disappear.

Others said the author was too pessimistic and underestimated Huayao’s capabilities.

And quite a few users posted pictures of their newly received Huayao phones to mock the author.

Suddenly, one comment caught Hu Jiangshan’s attention.

“My uncle works at a Huayao phone factory, and he said Huayao has received several batches of Kirin chips, supposedly from Hong Kong Island.”

Seeing this comment, Hu Jiangshan had a bad feeling.

What was more unsettling was that the comment had received hundreds of likes, and many other users were replying to ask for more details.

Hu Jiangshan recalled Xu Zhijun’s warning that people were already investigating on Hong Kong Island.

He just didn’t know how much they had found out.

Chapter 98: Disassembly, Inspecting the Chip’s Origin

Meanwhile, on the other side of the ocean, it was early morning.

The American National Laboratory and Research Center, located in the suburbs of Washington D.C., was a five-story white building with a classic, ornate exterior.

It was eight-thirty in the morning, so naturally, not many people had arrived for work yet, and the place was quiet.

In the first-floor staff area, two men were already seated, each sipping coffee and chatting.

The two had Asian faces and were, in fact, Chinese.

Qiu Yongbo and Ma Yong both came from Taiwan and were chip engineers for Island Foundry.

The two happened to be stationed in America for the time being, which was why they had been summoned.

Ma Yong asked, “Why did they call us over this time?”

Qiu Yongbo said in a low voice, “I think they want us to identify a chip.”

Ma Yong was stunned. “Identify a chip? What kind of chip?”

Qiu Yongbo took a sip of his coffee. “I heard they bought a bunch of phones from mainland China and want us to check if the processor chips inside were made by us at Island Foundry.”

“Phones? What brand? No matter what chip it is, didn’t we make it?”

“Not necessarily.”

“…Not necessarily? Why? No matter whose chip it is, isn’t it made by Island Foundry?”

Ma Yong was genuinely confused.

The mobile processors on the market were either Gaoxin’s Snapdragon chips or Liantek’s chips, and both were indeed manufactured by Island Foundry under contract.

Huayao’s Kirin chip was also a masterpiece from Island Foundry.

Ma Yong suddenly remembered something and said, “Could it be a Samsang phone? Their Orion chip might not be made by us.”

Qiu Yongbo shook his head. “It’s a Huayao phone.”

“…A Huayao phone? You mean the Kirin? Isn’t that still made by us?”

Qiu Yongbo waved a dismissive hand. “What they mean is, some of Huayao’s Kirin chips might not be made by Island Foundry, and they want us to identify them.”

Ma Yong had a flash of understanding. “Come to think of it, there is a rumor online that Huayao has found a new contract manufacturer for their chips.”

Qiu Yongbo smiled. “So you’ve seen it too.”

Ma Yong nodded. “Of course, people have been saying that online a lot recently.”

“So, do you think it’s possible?”

“Damn, I just treated it as a joke.”

Qiu Yongbo laughed as well.

Both of them were senior, professional chip engineers—insiders among insiders.

They knew perfectly well how difficult it was to manufacture high-end chips, especially those under ten nanometers.

For Island Foundry to successfully mass-produce a seven-nanometer mobile processor chip, it had taken them over a decade of accumulation and cooperation with equipment manufacturers like ASML.

The engineers at Island Foundry were all very confident; on the entire Blue Star, only Island Foundry could perfectly handle the seven-nanometer fabrication process.

Even Samsang’s semiconductor fabrication technology was not up to par, with a much worse yield rate.

Ma Yong said, “Do the people here really think Huayao has found a new chip manufacturer? How naive!”

Qiu Yongbo sighed. “We don’t need to worry about that. We’ll just do whatever they ask us to do.”

And so they waited for over an hour.

Jenny Jonathan walked in.

Jenny was the supervisor of the national laboratory; she called the shots here.

Qiu Yongbo and Ma Yong quickly stood up to greet her.

With the brisk, decisive air of a powerful woman, Jenny waved a hand at the two. “Hello, Asian boys.”

Qiu Yongbo said, “Ms. Jonathan, may we ask what we will be doing next?”

“Waiting.”

“Waiting?”

“Yes,” Jenny said. “Two more handsome guys are coming. We can’t start working until they get here. Alright, I’m going to get some breakfast. I got up way too early today, damn it!”

With that, Jenny went to her office, leaving Qiu Yongbo and Ma Yong to stare at each other, speechless.

Half an hour later, the other two men finally arrived.

One was a white man named Max.

The other was an Indian man named Amir.

Both were from a university research institute and were also resident researchers at the national laboratory.

The four of them followed Jenny to an engineering lab.

The lab was fully equipped with all sorts of tools and equipment, suitable for small-scale engineering modifications, as well as hardware disassembly and testing.

Jenny had her assistant bring in a box.

She opened the lid, and sure enough, it was filled with mobile phones.

There were twenty of them in total, all of the same brand and model.

The Huayao Mate20 Pro.

All twenty phones had been recently purchased by their contacts in China.

Amir let out a whistle. “Wow, Huayao phones are quite expensive. This many phones must have cost a fortune.”

Max said, “Huayao phones are nothing special. They’re not nearly as good as Fruit phones.”

Jenny said, “Alright, gentlemen, time to work your magic!”

She then turned to Qiu Yongbo and Ma Yong. “Asian boys, your job is to assist these two researchers in finding out the origin of these damn chips, understand?”

Qiu Yongbo and Ma Yong were taken aback for a moment, then nodded in unison.

What could they say? Since they were already here, they might as well do as they were told.

After giving her instructions, Jenny left the engineering lab, leaving the four men to begin their preparations.

Qiu Yongbo and Ma Yong looked at the phones, feeling a bit dazed.

Ma Yong picked up one of the phones and checked the production date.

“Damn, this was produced just five days ago. It can’t have been easy to buy so many, right?”

Qiu Yongbo said, “Haven’t you heard? Huayao is releasing stock in large quantities in China. They’re not hard to buy now.”

Ma Yong was stunned. “Releasing stock in large quantities? Do they have that many chips? I remember their Kirin 990 inventory was at most three to four million units. If they keep selling like this, it won’t last long.”

Ma Yong thought for a moment, then added, “Yongbo, you don’t actually believe they’ve found a new chip contract manufacturer, do you?”

Qiu Yongbo gave a cold smile. “How is that possible? Only a fool would believe that. I’m willing to bet that every single chip in these phones was made by our Island Foundry.”

Max, who seemed to be the leader, gave the orders, telling the other three to unbox all twenty phones.

Twenty Huayao Mate20 Pros were laid out neatly on the workbench, in an array of different colors.

They had a strong presence, looking quite exquisite.

A few moments later, the back cover of the first phone was removed, the battery taken out, and the motherboard lifted to extract the main processor chip.

Then came the second phone, the third, the fourth…

Disassembling twenty phones was a considerable amount of work. The four men were sweating profusely, and it took them two hours to finish.

All twenty chips were extracted and cleaned.

Max said to Qiu Yongbo and Ma Yong, “Alright, it’s your turn. See if these chips were made by your Island Foundry.”

Qiu Yongbo picked up a chip with a pair of tweezers, a smile spreading across his face.

No doubt about it. This chip was a product of Island Foundry.

He assumed the other nineteen chips would be no different.

Chapter 99: Shock! A Few Different Chips

Qiu Yongbo handed the chip to Ma Yong.

Ma Yong took a look and nodded, indicating the result was clear.

Amir asked, “What’s the situation?”

Ma Yong grinned. “Take a look. Who do you think made this chip?”

Amir didn’t take it, but craned his neck to get a few glances. “How would I know who made it? Isn’t this your job?”

Ma Yong was taken aback for a moment before saying, “It’s a chip made by our Island Foundry.”

Qiu Yongbo added, “A seven-nanometer chip.”

Max said, “Oh. Looks like Huayao is still using its inventory chips.”

Amir shook his head. “No, no, no. Maybe the other chips are different.”

Max chuckled. “What could be different? No matter how different, they’d still have to be chips made by Island Foundry.”

Max looked at Qiu Yongbo and Ma Yong. “Am I right? My dear Asians?”

Qiu Yongbo and Ma Yong exchanged a glance.

Although Max’s form of address was unpleasant and they were annoyed, they both nodded in agreement.

Qiu Yongbo said, “I believe the other chips are also our Island Foundry’s products. There won’t be any exceptions.”

Even though everyone thought so, they still had to go through the proper procedure.

Of course, Qiu Yongbo and Ma Yong were doing the work now, while Max and Amir had each gotten a donut and were watching from the side as they ate.

Qiu Yongbo picked up the second chip, still smiling slightly, and handed it to Ma Yong.

After looking at it, Ma Yong also wore a relaxed expression. “It’s still one of our seven-nanometer chips.”

Slap! Max and Amir high-fived, looking very pleased.

If they could prove Huayao was only using inventory chips, they could get off work early.

They had a mixer dance to attend today, with lots of campus girls of all different skin colors.

Qiu Yongbo picked up the third chip with tweezers—no problem. Then the fourth, the fifth…

Qiu Yongbo and Ma Yong gradually relaxed.

It looked like there wouldn’t be any surprises.

But usually, when you don’t expect any surprises, a surprise is bound to happen.

When Qiu Yongbo picked up the eighth chip, his expression suddenly froze, and his movements stiffened.

Ma Yong asked, “What’s wrong?”

Qiu Yongbo’s eyes widened. He could definitely feel something was off.

This chip was a little thinner than normal, perhaps less than a millimeter thinner, but Qiu Yongbo was experienced enough to feel the difference.

Then there was the size of the chip. To the naked eye, there was nothing wrong, but he still felt there was a tiny, minuscule difference.

A sense of foreboding instantly filled Qiu Yongbo’s heart. He quickly brought it closer with the tweezers to examine it carefully.

First, he looked at the silk-screening on the front, and his face paled in shock.

The reason was simple. Although it was marked as a HiSilicon Kirin 990, which was fine, the format of the factory code was different.

That’s right, it was different from Island Foundry’s factory coding format!

Qiu Yongbo suddenly realized something and observed the packaging style on the side.

Holy cow! The process standard was also different from Island Foundry’s own packaging facility!

Qiu Yongbo turned the chip over again to check its pins.

“…This… how is this possible?”

Ma Yong quickly took the chip from Qiu Yongbo’s hand.

Soon, Ma Yong’s reaction was exactly the same as Qiu Yongbo’s—shock, shock, and even more shock.

Max and Amir also noticed their strange reactions, stuffed the rest of their donuts into their mouths, and came over.

Amir asked, “What’s going on? Is something wrong with this chip?”

Ma Yong came back to his senses and said, “It seems… this really wasn’t made by our Island Foundry.”

“…Huh?! Really?!”

Max was even more stunned than Amir.

“You… you two better make sure. Don’t make a mistake.”

Qiu Yongbo and Ma Yong also felt it was too soon to jump to conclusions, so they huddled together to confirm again.

“At the very least, this packaging is wrong.”

“Didn’t you notice? Although the pin layout is basically the same, the gap size is different.”

“My God, you’re right, Yongbo. Why do I feel like the pin gaps are even smaller than the ones we make?”

“This… could be a difference caused by the different packaging.”

“Are you saying the packaging quality is higher than our facility’s?”

“It just looks decent.”

Max and Amir were getting impatient.

“Can you two make a judgment or not?”

Qiu Yongbo thought for a moment and said, “I suspect this chip has been repackaged.”

Ma Yong was stunned. “You mean, they took an old chip, polished it, and then repackaged it?”

Qiu Yongbo nodded. “Yes, it’s possible. China’s packaging technology is indeed very good, first-rate, I’d say. They could do it.”

Ma Yong looked confused. “What’s their purpose in doing this? It’s time-consuming, laborious, and very troublesome.”

Qiu Yongbo thought about it. “To make people think they’ve really found a contract manufacturer for their chips!”

It had to be said, this was a possibility.

Qiu Yongbo and Ma Yong pulled themselves together and checked the remaining dozen or so chips. To their surprise, they found three more in the same condition.

A total of four chips were abnormal. That was one-fifth of the total, a proportion that wasn’t exactly low.

One had to remember that these twenty phones were randomly purchased by their informant in China.

Now that they had found different chips, a visual inspection alone was definitely not enough to determine if they were manufactured using Island Foundry’s fabrication process.

That would require further deconstruction of the chip to inspect the layout of the transistors inside.

This task didn’t just seem complicated; it was also very troublesome.

Again, it was Qiu Yongbo and Ma Yong doing the work, while the other two could only watch helplessly.

They were very worried that it wouldn’t be finished today, causing them to miss their wonderful dance.

Qiu Yongbo and Ma Yong were quite efficient. It took them over half an hour to dismantle one chip.

Next, they connected it to an electron microscope and projected the image onto a large screen so they could scan the transistors.

Everything was ready, and the image was being imported.

Qiu Yongbo and Ma Yong both looked nervous.

They really hoped Qiu Yongbo’s guess was correct—that these strange chips were just oddities created by polishing old chips and then repackaging them.

Ma Yong swallowed hard. “Yongbo, do you think these chips really weren’t made by us?”

Qiu Yongbo shot Ma Yong a glance. “How is that possible? If we didn’t make them, who could have? Samsang? They wouldn’t dare to do contract manufacturing for Huayao’s chips.”

“What about Huaxin International?”

“That’s even more impossible. They don’t have the technology. Huaxin International can’t even buy high-end photoresist now.”

“That’s true.”

Just then, the full transistor image appeared.

When the two of them saw it clearly, they were instantly stunned.

Chapter 100: It’s Really Not an Island Foundry Chip

At that moment, the image on the screen showed a dense array of tiny dots.

These were transistors, each one smaller than the last.

It was common knowledge that the more numerous and denser the transistors, the more advanced the chip’s fabrication process.

This was an image magnified several thousand times; the naked eye couldn’t possibly discern how many transistors there were.

Calculating them required specialized equipment.

Even then, it was only a rough estimate, never completely precise.

However, a highly skilled chip engineer could basically determine the workmanship of a chip just by observing the layout, density, and spacing of the transistors.

They could even estimate the fabrication process.

Qiu Yongbo and Ma Yong were already dumbfounded.

At the current magnification, the density of these transistors was remarkably high, the quality exceptional. It seemed in no way inferior to Island Foundry’s work.

In fact, upon closer inspection, the gaps between each transistor were almost perfectly equal, achieving a flawless consistency.

It was astonishing.

Any veteran chip engineer knew how difficult this was. Island Foundry was formidable, but achieving such perfection would come at a great cost.

So, from this aspect alone, there was a good chance this chip wasn’t actually made by Island Foundry.

Its process technology was noticeably different from Island Foundry’s, and in terms of craftsmanship, it was even a notch above.

How could this not shock Qiu Yongbo and Ma Yong?

Ma Yong couldn’t help but say, “Yongbo, it looks like this really isn’t a chip made by our Island Foundry.”

Qiu Yongbo shook his head. “No, no, no, we can’t be sure yet. We need to run more tests.”

Ma Yong nodded. “Let’s first estimate the number of transistors. If I remember correctly, the Kirin 990 should have just over ten billion transistors.”

“I know,” Qiu Yongbo said. “It should be 10.3 billion.”

“Alright, let’s see how many transistors this chip has. It looks like it should be around ten billion.”

Qiu Yongbo remained silent. He also felt it was in the ballpark of ten billion, which would be normal.

If that were the case, it would most likely mean that it was indeed made by their own Island Foundry.

So why did the fabrication process still appear different from Island Foundry’s?

There was a simple explanation: perhaps it was a rare anomaly, one that might only appear once in tens of millions of chips on the production line.

If that was the case, they could breathe a sigh of relief.

After all, as long as the chip was made by Island Foundry, there were no potential risks.

Huayao would still be the same Huayao—a highly capable company, yes, but without the ability to buy chips, it would be utterly powerless to resist.

In that scenario, taking down Huayao would be a sure thing.

But if the opposite were true, if these chips really weren’t made by Island Foundry and could still achieve this level of quality, then they were in big trouble.

It would mean Huayao had truly found a way to get its own designs manufactured, a way to replenish its chip inventory.

That would pose a tremendous threat to Island Foundry’s dominance in the chip industry.

However, Qiu Yongbo felt they were overthinking it.

A mobile processor chip with a transistor density of ten billion was in the seven-nanometer range.

As everyone in the industry knew, mastering the seven-nanometer fabrication process was Island Foundry’s specialty.

Even the semiconductor division of the Samsang Group had only barely met the requirements, and their yield rate was still poor.

As for Intel, their current fabrication process was still hovering above ten-nanometer.

Just then, the transistor estimation program finally stopped.

“Damn!”

Ma Yong let out a cry of alarm.

Qiu Yongbo turned his head, and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

Max and Amir crowded around to look.

Amir whistled. “What! 1.1 million transistors? That’s impressive!”

Max shot Amir a glare. “Idiot! It’s eleven billion!”

“Oh, oh, oh, that’s a really good number.”

Max, who clearly knew a thing or two about chips, scratched his head.

“This must be a sub-ten-nanometer process, am I right?”

Qiu Yongbo and Ma Yong were in no mood for such leisurely conversation. It was as if they hadn’t even heard Max’s question.

The two of them stared wide-eyed, not even blinking, as they re-checked the numbers several times.

It was indeed eleven billion transistors.

What did this mean?

A terrifying conclusion came to both their minds.

The Kirin 990 currently produced by Island Foundry couldn’t reach eleven billion transistors.

Ma Yong couldn’t help but say, “Then this chip really wasn’t made by Island Foundry.”

Still unwilling to give up, Qiu Yongbo meticulously examined the chip’s transistor layout, trying to find any of Island Foundry’s typical process markers.

All chips from Island Foundry would bear certain traces, making them easy to identify.

There were none. Absolutely none. All of Island Foundry’s typical markers were nowhere to be found.

Qiu Yongbo was dumbfounded, completely speechless.

“How is that possible? Is there another foundry that can make this kind of chip? Impossible! Absolutely impossible!”

“This… maybe…”

Ma Yong was at a loss for words.

In that instant, the faith of the two men crumbled.

It was as if humans had created something only a god could make.

A heavy silence fell over the engineering lab. Even the usually talkative Amir dared not speak.

Meanwhile, on a highway in California, America.

The highway was straight, wide, and smooth—undoubtedly one of the best in America today.

A Tesla Model X was speeding along it.

Behind the wheel was Tiram Hawke, the global CEO of Apple.

This Tesla Model X had been a personal gift to Hawke from Elon Musk.

Musk himself was a savvy operator, a man who knew how to handle people from all walks of life. It was said that he gave away over a hundred high-end Tesla electric cars every year.

Soon, a uniquely shaped building appeared up ahead.

The structure looked like a giant flying saucer that had landed on the ground.

This was Apple’s super global headquarters, completed a few years ago—a symbol of the dominance of the world’s number one tech company.

Tiram Hawke parked the car in the spacious company lot.

Getting out of the car, Hawke glanced at the bright sun in the sky and frowned.

Damn it! It’s too hot!

An employee quickly ran over, greeted him, and then helped Hawke plug the charging gun into the Model X’s charging port.

Hawke strode confidently into the giant saucer-shaped building and made his way to his five-hundred-square-meter office.

That’s right, five hundred square meters, and possibly even a bit more.

The office was incredibly spacious and exquisitely designed.

It featured enormous wraparound floor-to-ceiling windows made of special glass that could block ninety-nine percent of UV rays and ninety percent of heat.

Combined with the headquarters’ super central air conditioning, the office was refreshingly cool.

The office’s decor was even more impressive. Half of it consisted of holographic glass screens that could display random or designated images.

Take today, for example. Hawke really wanted to relax by the sea but couldn’t go.

So, what was the solution?

He could have the holographic glass screens display a beach scene.

UNTITLED

Chapter 1: Reborn into the Hu Family of Hong Kong

Chapter 2: Building a Semiconductor Production Line on the Island

Chapter 3: The Amazing “Technology Engine” App

Chapter 4: The Legacy of the Tycoon Hu Family

Chapter 5: Chips Are Made by Man, Not by God

Chapter 6: Take Your Pick of the Hu Family’s Yachts

Chapter 7: Taking the Double-Decker Yacht Out to Sea

Chapter 8: Island Facilities Under Construction

Chapter 9: Is This Really Hu Jiangshan?

Chapter 10: Seawater Desalination Plant Design

Chapter 11: The Signal Booster is Ready

Chapter 12: The Pier Renovation Begins

Chapter 13: The Hu Family Scion, A Changed Man

Chapter 14: Seawater Desalination Can Begin

Chapter 15: The Semiconductor Production Line is Complete

Chapter 16: The Technology Level Exceeds Imagination

Chapter 17: An Invitation from His Father

Chapter 18: A Top Semiconductor Talent Suddenly Appears

Chapter 19: I Have a Friend

Chapter 20: Could This Second-Generation Rich Kid Have Been Scammed?

Chapter 21: He’s Actually This Professional

Chapter 22: A Hidden World, the High-Tech Factory

Chapter 23: This is a Super Semiconductor Production Line

Chapter 24: Semiconductor Production Line, Launch!

Chapter 25: Island Resort-Style Office Building

Chapter 26: Where Does Huayao’s Future Lie?

Chapter 27: That Brat from the Hu Family Needs to Be Taught a Lesson

Chapter 28: An Undercurrent is Already Stirring Online

Chapter 29: A Great Success in Wafer Production

Chapter 30: Someone Can Make Chips for Us

Chapter 31: The Chip Samples Have Been Sent Over

Chapter 32: A Chip That Looks Like It’s Seven-Nanometer

Chapter 33: As Expected, Huayao Came Knocking

Chapter 34: The Office Building Looks Like a Holiday Resort

Chapter 35: The Bank Comes Calling

Chapter 36: The Chip Test Results Are Almost In

Chapter 37: This Chip is Bizarre

Chapter 38: Huayao Has Finally Run Out of Options

Chapter 39: Miles Ahead, and a Call from Wang Chengdong

Chapter 40: Even a Hero Can Be Defeated by a Single Penny

Chapter 41: Selling Chips at Seven Times the Price

Chapter 42: A Humiliating Negotiation

Chapter 43: A Critical Moment, A Call from Hong Kong Island

Chapter 44: Have These Two Gone Crazy?

Chapter 45: Isn’t This Our Kirin 990?

Chapter 46: Let’s Talk Orders Today!

Chapter 47: Arriving in Guangzhou-Shenzhen City, A Chance Encounter with Miss Hong Kong

Chapter 48: The Real Skill-Based Player
Chapter 49: Signing a Contract with Huayao
Chapter 50: The Quartz Sand Refinery
Chapter 51: It’s Time to Register a Company

Chapter 52: A Chance Encounter with the Star Qiu Xuezhen

Chapter 53: Whoops, I’m a Real Fish Farm Owner Now

Chapter 54: The Predicament of HiSilicon

Chapter 55: If the Chip Passes, Huayao Lives

Chapter 56: Huayao’s Supply Chain Is Under Immense Pressure

Chapter 57: The Fabrication Process Also Met the Standard

Chapter 58: The Bigger the Waves, the More Expensive the Fish

Chapter 59: The Quartz Sand Refinery is Complete

Chapter 60: Huayao Is Running Out of Time

Chapter 61: The Prophecy of Iron Man Elon Musk

Chapter 62: No Phones to Sell, Distributors Are Dissatisfied

Chapter 63: Chips, Can You Deliver a Portion First?

Chapter 64: We’re Really Not Short on Chips Now?

Chapter 65: An Additional Order of One Million Chips

Chapter 66: Upgrade, Semiconductor Production Line

Chapter 67: Huayao’s Counterattack

Chapter 68: The CEO of Apple Pays a Visit to Express Gratitude

Chapter 69: Who Exactly Is Manufacturing Chips for Huayao?

Chapter 70: The Price of a Production Line Upgrade

Chapter 71: The Thirty Million Loan, I’ll Pay It Myself

Chapter 72: One Million Mate 20s Sold in a Week

Chapter 73: Those Chips Came from Hong Kong Island?

Chapter 74: We Can Only Sell 4G Chips to Huayao

Chapter 75: Rejection, We’re Not Buying Gaoxin’s 4G Chips

Chapter 76: He Actually Knows How to Fix Cars

Chapter 77: Huayao Sends People to Visit

Chapter 78: Unbelievable! A Wafer Factory in a Cave

Chapter 79: Huayao Is the Only Client

Chapter 80: This Fishery Company is Full of Suspicion

Chapter 81: Sudden News! Photoresist Price Hike

Chapter 82: A New Facility Appears, the Chemical Synthesis Facility

Chapter 83: Huayao Phones Go on Sale Again

Chapter 84: Massive Stock Release, Shipping Within Seven Days

Chapter 85: The Mystery of Huayao’s Chips

Chapter 86: Two Million Orders, That’s Insane!

Chapter 87: Find Out for Me! Who’s Making Chips for Huayao?

Chapter 88: Visiting Hu Yingxiang Again

Chapter 89: Two Empty Factory Buildings

Chapter 90: Inspecting the Factory, Suitable for Construction

Chapter 91: Twelve Million, Two Factory Buildings Secured

Chapter 92: Construction Begins! Chemical Synthesis Facility

Chapter 93: Accidentally Secured a Huge Order for the Hu Family

Chapter 94: They’ve Traced It to Hong Kong Island

Chapter 95: Honghai Group Comes Poaching

Chapter 96: Shocked, A Large Shipment of Chips Arrives

Chapter 97: A Surge in Chip Production Capacity

Chapter 98: Disassembly, Inspecting the Chip’s Origin

Chapter 99: Shock! A Few Different Chips

Chapter 100: It’s Really Not an Island Foundry Chip