That year the flowers bloomed 1981

Chapter 1217 Am I really a prodigal son?
Boston, Wang Laboratories.

Wang Lie had just finished a middle-level management meeting and walked into his office tiredly. He sat down on the chair and did not move for a long time.

He has been really tired lately.

His father passed away suddenly, many orders were cancelled, and the company's losses increased sharply. The bad news came one after another like wildebeests crossing a river in Africa, rushing over and drowning Wang Lie in an instant.

Wang Lie was really a little dazed. Was he really a "prodigal son"?

Four years ago, Wang Laboratories defeated all its competitors, including IBM, and won a military order worth nearly $500 million. This was one of the largest computer orders in the world in recent years. At that time, Wang Laboratories was in the limelight.

In the same year, Wang Lie's father handed over the company to Wang Lie due to health reasons.

Then there is no more.

In just three years, Wang Laboratories' losses offset its accumulated profits over the past 33 years.

In just a few years, Wang Laboratories went from being the world's top two company to being on the verge of bankruptcy.

"Everything started four years ago. What happened four years ago?"

Wang Lie couldn't help but mutter to himself, and his thoughts went back to four years ago.

That year, IBM began negotiations with small and medium-sized companies such as Microsoft and Apple to unify protocol standards so that the products of each subsidiary would be fully compatible.

In Wang Laboratories' view, this was simply cultivating competitors for themselves.

Now it seems that Mr. Wang An was right. Microsoft and Apple have really grown up and may become a hidden danger to IBM in the future.

That year, IBM focused on developing personal computers and "differentiated competition" with Wang An's company, which made Wang An sneer at it.

The military and government's mainframe computers are the gold mines that make money. How much profit can personal PCs bring?

When it comes to dealing with Official Smith, the Chinese have a unique talent. As long as they find the right way, they can make a living for three years after opening a business. Why should they cater to individual users who pay little but have a lot of trouble?
But four years later, the personal computer market has experienced explosive growth, and the growth rate cannot be stopped at all.

Wang Laboratories had no choice but to follow suit and developed its own personal computer, whose performance was even 30% higher than IBM's.

But the inertia of a large company is very huge, and it is very difficult to turn around.

Wang Laboratories' personal computers are not compatible with IMB or other companies' equipment.

But Wang Lie didn't think it was his problem. Instead, he felt that his opponents were not giving him a way to survive.

Who made IBM start working on compatibility in advance, making Wang Laboratories an outlier?
The winner is the king and the loser is the bandit. Wang Lie has known this truth since he was a child.

Four years ago, Wang Lie had the opportunity to completely defeat IBM.

Because at that time one of Wang Lie's subordinates discovered a small company called Cisco, which had a computer networking technology that could very likely affect the future development of the computer industry.

As long as Wang Laboratories obtained this patent, it could exclude IBM from the agreement. If other companies' computers wanted to connect to the Internet, they had to follow Wang Laboratories' rules.

So Wang Lie took his men to San Francisco, and then
Wang Lie's forehead suddenly twitched and his entire head began to ache.

"What a shame!"

Thinking of the negotiation in San Francisco, Wang Lie couldn't help but feel angry.

An unknown small company was unexpectedly taken over by someone else, who offered a high price of tens of millions of dollars.

Not only did they offer a high price, they also poached Wang Lie's subordinate.

It would have been fine if he had just poached him, but that subordinate who was of little use in his own company, turned out to be full of energy in his new position and managed to get Cisco listed.

If I had been ruthless enough to take over Cisco at that time, would Wang Laboratories still be in such a predicament now?

"It's all Pei Wencong's fault!"

The shadows of several people appeared in Wang Lie's mind, and then he felt his head hurt even more.

Pei Wencong had shares in GF, the company that took over Cisco first. Pei Wencong had begged his father to provide some help to his Hong Kong Fengyu Computer Company.

However, Wang Lie did not agree to Pei Wencong's request, so Pei Wencong took over Cisco without benefiting himself and ruined Wang Lie's plan.

But even now, Wang Lie doesn't think he did anything wrong.

What was Wang Laboratories like at the time? Microsoft and Apple were its "little brothers". Pei Wencong's small company had no technology, no market, and no patents. Wasn't it normal for Wang Laboratories to reject them?
Although Hong Kong Wind Language has developed now, their products are very low-end, and they are all personal computers that do not make much money. In Wang Lie's opinion, they do not have much future.

Computers, like Hermes, should be high-end products that are beyond the reach of the lower classes. Why should they serve the vulgar poor?
“Tuk-tuk-tuk~”

Wang Lie was gritting his teeth and secretly cursing Pei Wencong when there was a sudden knock on the office door.

Wang Lie immediately adjusted his mood and said calmly, "Come in."

Wang Lie's assistant came in and said carefully, "Chairman, Mr. Pei from Hong Kong Island just informed us that the cooperation talks with us have been temporarily cancelled."

"what why?"

Wang Lie was horrified.

Although Wang Lie still looked down on Pei Wencong in his heart, the company was in urgent need of external support, so in actual actions, Wang Lie treated Pei Wencong as a VIP.

After all, according to news from the wealthy circle in Hong Kong Island, Pei Wencong has made a fortune in the financial market in recent years. He can throw out hundreds of millions of US dollars with just a little effort, which is enough to pull Wang An Company out of the quagmire.

Wang Lie's assistant was also very frustrated and said, "They said Mr. Pei had something else to do. I wanted to make another appointment with them, but they didn't agree."

"This is really unreasonable!"

Wang Lie stood up angrily and walked around the office twice with a dark face, unable to suppress the hatred in his heart.

In order to prepare for this cooperation with Pei Wencong, Wang An Company has done a lot of work, and Wang Lie is also ready to "bleed heavily" and is willing to provide technical support to Hong Kong Island Wind Language.

As a result, even though our company showed enough sincerity, Pei Wencong actually changed his mind at the last minute. This was too unethical.

Wang Lie's assistant saw his boss's anxious look, and after hesitating for a moment, he tentatively said, "Chairman, do you want to contact Mr. Chambers? Maybe he can convince Mr. Pei."

But before the assistant finished speaking, Wang Lie said angrily: "Don't mention Chambers to me, that despicable villain, traitor!"

Chambers is an absolute celebrity at GF Company right now, so if he can lobby a little, Jeff or Pei Wencong will be able to save Wang An Company from the dire situation.

But when Chambers was poached, he took a large number of Wang Laboratories colleagues with him, which made Wang Lie very angry.

So even if Wang Lie begged Pei Wencong on his knees at this moment, he would not contact his former subordinate Chambers.

Can't afford to lose that person.

Wang Lie was angry for a while before he calmed down.

He turned to his assistant and said, "Go check why Pei Wencong suddenly changed his mind."

The assistant said in embarrassment: "This may be difficult."

Wang Lie raised his voice: "Can't you figure this out? Who do you pay the high consulting fees to every month?" "."

The assistant ran out in a panic.

Wang Lie threw himself on the chair again and did not move.

The company is now facing internal and external troubles. External enemies are closing in step by step, and internal employees are in panic. It is no longer the aggressive Wang An Company that my father started the business with.

However, Wang An Company was worthy of its relationship with the Lighthouse Military, and Wang Lie’s assistant was also very capable. Two hours later, he brought Wang Lie accurate news.

"Chairman, through various connections, I found out that Pei Wencong arrived in Detroit this morning, and GF seems to be discussing cooperation with an engine technology company."

"Engine Technology Company? Isn't that a sunset industry?"

Wang Lie was a little confused.

After all, engines are a traditional industry, and the rate of return is too low compared to emerging industries such as computers, and GF's investment focus is also on emerging industries.

But before Wang Lie could figure it out, his assistant hesitantly told him a piece of news.

"Chairman, the stock market has plummeted just now. It seems that someone is selling our company's shares."

"."

Wang Lie only felt dizzy and almost passed out.

What are you afraid of?

Why did he look for Pei Wencong?
Although the Fengyu computer in Pei Wencong's hands is "low-end", it has already opened up sales in East Asia and Southeast Asia due to its low price, and also has a certain share in Dengta.

If news of cooperation between the two parties comes out at this time, as long as it is handled well, it can boost Wang An’s stock price.

But before we even started talking about this, our own stock started to collapse.

In a place like Lighthouse, if you don't let investors make money, they will kill you.

"Find out which hotel Pei Wencong is staying in, and then we will fly to Detroit immediately."

Wang Lie made up his mind. If Han Xin could endure the humiliation under his crotch, why couldn't he?
. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Late that night, Wang Lie checked into the hotel where Pei Wencong was staying and tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Over the years, he has been reluctant to contact people from his hometown because he believes that his roots are in Dengta. After all, his father came to Dengta alone and made his fortune in this precious land.

But after many years, he had to seek help from people in his hometown.

Because the people on the lighthouse side are either vultures or crocodiles, and they are eager to eat up his company. Only people from his hometown may remember their old friendship and come to his aid.

The next morning, Wang Lie woke up at the sound of the alarm clock and waited for news from his assistant.

He came uninvited and needed a chance encounter.

"Chairman, Mr. Pei has gone downstairs for breakfast."

"Okay, let's go."

Wang Lie cheered up and went straight to the hotel restaurant.

Although everyone knew what happened, at least they could save some face and give themselves some leeway.

Otherwise, if you just show up at their door and they just say "I won't cooperate", wouldn't that just block the door?
Now we happen to have breakfast together and chat about some things indirectly, so as to determine each other's needs and bottom line.

But when Wang Lie and his assistant arrived at the hotel restaurant, they found Pei Wencong's bodyguards blocking them outside, and Pei Wencong was having breakfast with another young man.

"Why does this young man look so familiar?"

Wang Lie was stunned for a moment, and suddenly remembered who Li Ye was.

"Damn it, why is it this annoying guy again?"

At first, Li Ye left Pei Wencong alone for half an hour, but Pei Wencong did not get angry immediately. Instead, it was Li Ye, the "intern", who overturned the table.

. . . . . . . .

At this time, Pei Wencong was giving Li Ye a suggestion.

Pei Wencong said: "Mr. Li, in fact, with our current strength, we can seek cooperation with any automobile company in the world and establish a joint venture company in the mainland, just like Volkswagen in Shanghai, to occupy the mainland market."

While eating breakfast, Li Ye said calmly: "What's wrong, Lao Pei, are you interested in the automotive industry?"

Pei Wencong smiled and said, "Mr. Li, I have been investing in the mainland manufacturing industry in recent years. It is inevitable that someone will suggest that I invest in a car factory. However, you are the market leader in this regard. If you don't say anything, I will certainly not agree."

"I am not considering joint ventures with overseas car companies for the time being, because I am afraid that I will not have the final say when the time comes."

Li Ye refused outright, and then said: "Whether it is the Shanghai Auto Factory or the Jilin Auto Factory, overseas auto companies have too much say, and most of the profits flow overseas, which is inconsistent with my philosophy."

"Although we are now restricted in our access to technology, we will not be told what to do by others, and any money we earn will be kept in the mainland."

"."

If Li Ye were to set up a joint venture car company now, it would certainly not be difficult. After all, he has money and connections. As long as he wants to do it, he will definitely hit it off with overseas car companies.

But at that time, will he still be the Deputy Director Li who has the final say?

You will be played to death by others.

Even though it seems extremely difficult to acquire some technical skills now, in the end, you have the final say.

The rise of purely domestically-made cars means that the profits of the automobile manufacturing industry will remain in the country. You can use these profits to expand production, conduct research and development, or take any technological route you want.

Only through continuous expansion and research and development can our automobile industry gradually catch up in the industry and eventually develop our own first-class technology.

Only by keeping the technology and profits in their own hands can the workers in the mainland no longer be simply screwing screws and be the hard-working workers who only work for "good quality and low price".

Only when the technology and scale of mainland enterprises reach world-class levels will workers enjoy various welfare benefits and be able to enjoy life like workers in developed countries.

By that time, driving a 318 is no longer the exclusive domain of the wealthy, and young men who work as bricklayers can also have fun with it.

By that time, traveling to Sanya is no longer a show-off on WeChat Moments, but just a daily relaxation for ordinary working-class families.

If you want to achieve all this, you must start by "having the final say".

If we are always led by others, then only a few people will be able to "enjoy life".

Because differentiation is the only way to control other races.

(End of this chapter)