Sail across the sea

Chapter 529 Do they still have any conscience?
Zheng Linong did not answer Gao Fan's question, but said, "Placing the research institute in Ruizhang will not have a big impact. Many engineers from the Chemical Engineering Design Institute are probably unwilling to work in Ruizhang, so the number of people you can recruit is relatively limited."

Gao Fan quickly replied, "That's for sure. My place is just a small temple, enough for three or five deities to sit in. How could it possibly take down the entire Chemical Engineering Design Institute?"

Zheng Linong said, "Not only can you not take down the Chemical Engineering Design Institute, you also have to help them keep the pot lid on tightly, so that the meat doesn't end up in someone else's pot."

"Why do you mean to cover the pot lid tightly?" Gao Fan asked, puzzled.

Zheng Linong said, "A few days ago, I talked with some colleagues from the Science and Technology Commission. They told me that many units within the Science and Technology Commission system are experiencing serious staff turnover. However, there is one unit that not only has almost no staff leaving, but it has also attracted a lot of staff from other units to work there."

Gao Fan laughed and said, "You're not talking about the Maple Forest Research Institute, are you?"

Zheng Linong said, "Isn't that Fenglin Institute? In recent years, the country has been cutting military spending, and military industrial units have generally had a hard time. Only Fenglin Institute has higher bonuses than salaries. Employees' income is one or two times higher than other units, and even comparable to local foreign-funded enterprises. It is considered one of the best units in Nanquan."

“That’s normal. Shuangye Fine Chemical Company, affiliated with Fenglin Institute, is already quite well-known in the field of electronic chemicals, earning 30 to 40 million US dollars in foreign exchange exports a year, which is nearly 300 million RMB. How many people does the entire Fenglin Institute have? I estimate that if it weren’t for government policies, every family in the institute could easily afford a car,” Gao Fan said.

Shuangye Company was established by Fenglin at Gao Fan's urging, and its initial product was photoresist.

At the Atlanta trade show, Gao Fan persuaded South Korean electronics companies to use Chinese photoresist by arguing for the security of the supply chain, enabling Shuangye Company to earn its first pot of gold.

After that, Shuangye Company's photoresist gradually gained some reputation, and some integrated circuit companies in Japan, the United States, Europe, and Taiwan began to purchase it on a small scale.

Having tasted the benefits of technology transfer, Fenglin has allocated a significant portion of its revenue from photoresist sales to subsequent research and development. This has not only kept its photoresist technology at a level one generation ahead of foreign counterparts, but has also led to the development of other electronic chemicals such as high-purity reagents and packaging materials, all of which have gained market recognition.

During this period, Japan was in the midst of the financial bubble created by the Plaza Accord, and domestic interest in the real economy was waning, with a large amount of capital flowing into the virtual economy. Japanese electronic chemical manufacturers adopted a dismissive attitude towards a Chinese company entering the electronic chemicals market.

After all, as a latecomer, Shimoba's market share is negligible, and it's not worth the effort for other Japanese manufacturers to make a big fuss about it.

As for European and American manufacturers, they've long adopted a laissez-faire attitude in the field of electronic chemicals. They've remained unmoved even when the Japanese are taking market share. Why would they bother paying special attention to a small Chinese company just starting out in the market?

To date, Shimoba Corporation is still a minor player in the global electronic chemicals market, with annual sales revenue of only 30 to 40 million US dollars, a mere fraction of the sales revenue of large Japanese companies. However, such a small fraction is remarkable for a Chinese company. While military units are generally struggling to make ends meet, Shimoba Corporation generates over 100 million US dollars in sales profit annually, and also earns foreign exchange – a truly remarkable feat.

Of course, not all of Shuangye Company's profits went to Fenglin Institute; the Science and Technology Commission took a large portion. Even so, the remaining small portion was enough to make Fenglin Institute live like it was New Year's Day every day. Fenglin Institute used most of its retained profits for military research and development, and a small portion for employee welfare, including bonuses and building dormitories. They couldn't have lived a more comfortable life.

Gao Fan was naturally aware of these circumstances. In recent years, he had had frequent interactions with the Fenglin Institute and had even been invited to participate in some research seminars.

Yun Zhongming has now been promoted to deputy director. Every time he asks Gao Fan to do some work, he's full of thanks, but he never gives him any benefits. In his words, Gao Fan doesn't need their labor fees, does he?
Gao Fan didn't mind being taken advantage of by Fenglin Institute; he considered it a good deed. Fenglin Institute had a strong enough background that if they owed him a favor, he could ask the Science and Technology Commission, which was behind Fenglin Institute, for help in the future. Surely the Science and Technology Commission wouldn't be too embarrassed to refuse.

"The comrades from the Science and Technology Commission said that you deserve the most credit for the current state of Fenglin Institute," Zheng Linong said.

Gao Fan chuckled and said, "I didn't realize they had any conscience after all, knowing to remember my kindness."

Zheng Linong didn't respond to that, but continued, "Fenglin Institute is a unit within the science and technology system, and the Chemical Engineering Design Institute is a unit within the chemical industry system. You are a child of someone from the chemical industry system, and now you're also an entrepreneur within it. You've helped Fenglin Institute so much, how can you stand idly by while doing nothing for a unit within your own system?"

"I was actually willing to help the Chemical Engineering Design Institute, but Dean Song treated me like a thief. And you're blaming me?" Gao Fan retorted confidently.

Song Chunyuan, the director of the Chemical Engineering Design Institute, had a conflict with Gao Fan because Gao Fan proposed to link his contribution of the ammonium-to-urine conversion plan with the renovation of Canghai Fertilizer Plant, while Song Chunyuan said that the two things should not be confused.

Later, Zheng Linong made the final decision, granting Canghai Fertilizer Plant a quota for ammonium sulfate to urine conversion, thus settling the matter and superficially resolving the conflict between Song Chunyuan and Gao Fan. However, once a grudge is formed, it is difficult to remove. Song Chunyuan felt that he was more senior and held a much higher position than Gao Fan, and being rebuked by Gao Fan was a shameful thing, so he had always held a grudge.

Two years ago, Song Chunyuan became the director of a chemical engineering design institute. Gao Fan went to the institute several times to look for work, but Song Chunyuan refused to meet him, which was a way of giving Gao Fan the cold shoulder.

Zheng Linong knew about this matter but didn't want to comment on the rights and wrongs. He simply waved his hand and said, "Old Song retired at the beginning of this year. The current dean is Cai Muqing. You should know him, right? Dean Cai is quite open-minded, and you two should have some common ground. Should I arrange for you to meet him?"

"Does Minister Zheng mean for me to help the Chemical Engineering Design Institute find a money-making opportunity?" Gao Fan asked somewhat uncertainly.

(End of this chapter)