Technology company, I will become the light of China!

"Mr. Zhang is righteous!"

"So you are Zhang Ming, CEO of ByteDance. It's true that heroes emerge from youth. Like CEO Chen, you are one of the best of the younger generation!"

"I wonder how much subsidy Mr. Zhang gives me?"

The medical academicians were all very concerned because 100 million was too expensive, and the hospital also had to make money, so the final cost might be 120 million or even 130 million.

What family can afford 130 million?
obviously.

Ordinary families can’t do that.

If money is not a consideration, doctors would most want their patients to use the most expensive medicine and enjoy the best medical services.

Unfortunately, most patients have no money.

It is impossible for doctors to pay for patients' medical expenses out of their own pockets, as they also have to make a living.

This is also why doctors and nurses are relatively indifferent to patients and the fundamental reason why they are indifferent to the life and death of patients is not because they don't want to help, but because their wallets do not support helping. If their sympathy is overflowing, they will not be able to help many people even if they are squeezed dry. Hospitals are the least short of patients, and every day there are people crying over medical expenses.

"I am negotiating with Mr. Chen and Mr. Li. You can wait for the news."

Zhang Ming responded in a deep voice.

Near noon, he discussed with Chen Xing and Li Ge that the three companies should use the concept of brain-computer interface to take their businesses to the next level.

"Yes, we are negotiating and trying to find a balance."

Li Ge echoed.

Chen Xing changed his perspective and asked the medical academicians, "I have a question for you academicians. If Longxing Group, WuXi Group and ByteDance reduce the supply price of brain-computer interfaces to less than six figures, the cost of implantation surgery in your hospitals will be approximately..."

Now the presidents of the 9th hospital of Union Hospital, West China Hospital, Xiangtan Hospital, Ruijin Hospital, and Shanghai Jiaotong University are all here, and he also wants to know the price of the operation.

For hospitals, they also need to make enough profit.

Having money is a life saver.

Without money, it's just a hospital.

"This one……"

The medical scholars looked at each other in bewilderment.

They cannot speak on behalf of the hospital casually, but judging from Chen Xing's attitude, he wants to supply brain-computer interfaces at a low price. Such an opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Why is it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?
Before medicines and medical devices are put on the market, the issue of return on investment is involved.

No one knows how much Longxing Group and WuXi Group have invested in research and development, but what is certain is that the cost price of such high-precision medical equipment is extremely high.

If the cost is 1, selling it for 100 million is not excessive at all, because it involves R&D costs and subsequent profit issues.

Of course.

Patients can also wait.

Any medicine or medical device will become cheaper and cheaper as long as you can wait, and eventually become very cheap.

"We have no say in the hospital's affairs, but if Mr. Chen, Mr. Li, and Mr. Zhang are willing to provide brain-computer equipment at a price of less than six cents, I can personally waive part of the cost, even if the operation is in vain." Wang Xiaoyong, the leading academician of Union Hospital, was the first to express his opinion.

"good."

At this time, an academician from West China University of Political Science and Law also stepped forward and responded: "There are only about 10 cases of ALS recorded in China. If you are willing to provide brain-computer equipment at a low price, we will not lose our sense of duty and will try our best to reduce the cost of the surgery to less than five figures."

"What Academician Zhang said also represents my thoughts. Even if I don't want a cent, I am willing to go on stage to perform the implant surgery."

"I am also willing to deduct the performance fee."

"me too."

Academicians expressed their opinions one after another.

Anyone who has worked in a hospital knows that in addition to their fixed salary, doctors and nurses also receive additional "performance bonuses."

What is the hospital's performance award?

To put it simply, each department pays a portion of its earnings to the hospital, and the rest is distributed among the departments.

Take circumcision in men's department as an example. Suppose you make 900 yuan for circumcising one circumcision, 600 yuan will be handed over to the hospital, and the remaining 300 yuan will be distributed among the doctors and nurses in the department.

In addition to performance, senior doctors receive performance fees, just like flying knife doctors. Before they perform a surgery, they must make it clear to the hospital how much money they will receive for the surgery. For academicians at this level, the salary for a single surgery often ranges from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands.

One side has six digits less and the other side has five digits less. Both sides know each other's psychological expectations.

Seeing this, Chen Xing smiled and said, "The brain-computer interface has not yet been approved for sale. Let's wait for good news."

"Waiting for good news."

"Waiting for good news."

The academicians nodded one after another.

They also know that if brain-computer interfaces are to be marketed and become qualified medical devices, they must be approved by relevant departments.

This time may be three months or half a year, but special medical devices will also have special approval channels, which can save a lot of time.

……

Over the next two days, medical workers from around the world gathered at Ruijin Hospital to check whether Jiang Ce's condition was stable and record relevant information about the brain-computer interface.

On the third day after their arrival, the headlines of the New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, Journal of the American Medical Association, and the British Medical Journal were all about the impact of brain-computer interfaces on neurology and the potential for subsequent development.

The Lancet Neurology, a sub-journal of The Lancet, fully introduces brain-computer interface and the cure of ALS, and calls brain-computer interface a milestone in neurology.

Jiang Ce, Qian Qiuliang, Longxing Group, WuXi Group, Ruijin Hospital and other names frequently appeared in the weekly journal "The Lancet Neurology". Qian Qiuliang also got his wish and was awarded the honor of leading the team to complete the first brain-computer interface implant and cure ALS.

Originally, Jewish capital wanted to block the news and prevent the four major medical journals from publishing relevant content on brain-computer interfaces.

But they have underestimated the four major journals. As the world's most reputable and top-level comprehensive clinical journals in the medical field, they will not easily bow to capital.

Even the Journal of the American Medical Association in the United States published an article about brain-computer interface curing ALS.

The four major medical journals, countless smaller medical journals, and the spread of the world's media have set off a wave of anticipation for brain-computer interfaces around the world.

On Twitter's hot search list, tens of millions of netizens are already discussing it.

[Zach Sylvie]: "Longxing Group and WuXi Group are incredible. They have created a miracle for mankind. The emergence of brain-computer interfaces may subvert our lives. I wonder if we can live in a virtual world and achieve digital immortality in the future."

[Ed Bowie]: "I understand why Napoleon called the Dragon Kingdom a sleeping lion. Its roar when it wakes up has made the whole world tremble. In the future, we may all be inseparable from its technology."

[Brandon Kane]: "This is a miracle of medicine, a miracle of Long Country, and a miracle of the world. The whole world will remember the efforts of Longxing Group and WuXi Group!"

[Finn McCue]: "I am a patient with ALS. The doctor told me that I only have one year to live. It is in the late stage. Which hospital in Longguo can perform brain-computer interface implantation surgery?"

[Jer Perlock]: "My friend in Longguo said that Longxing Group and WuXi Group have submitted their brain-computer interface medical qualification review. It is estimated that in half a year, or one or two years, they will pass the review and can be fully used for medical purposes."

With the discussion among a large number of netizens, the concept of brain-computer interface has continued to gain popularity on Twitter, with the total number of people viewing related posts reaching a terrifying 1.9 million.

This means that at least 1.9 million people around the world know that the brain-computer interface has been successfully launched and a case of ALS has been cured.

Because the matter is of great importance, even if Jewish capital wants to reduce the heat, there is no way, because TikTok next door is pushing it in turn, and it is also published in the four major medical journals. This news is a fire that cannot be covered up at all.

And at the same time.

the other side.

Dragon Kingdom Magic City.

Tesla Gigafactory.

When Masike saw the case of brain-computer interface curing ALS published in the four major medical journals, he almost blacked out and said in a lost voice, "Has Longxing Group really developed this?"

He didn't believe the news a few days ago, but now that four major medical journals have stood up for it, he has no choice but to believe it.

The fact that the New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, Journal of the American Medical Association, and the British Medical Journal dared to publish the articles collectively shows that their editors-in-chief or relevant personnel have come to Longguo for a careful review and found nothing fishy.

Those who know Marsek know that he mainly runs three companies, namely Tesla, SpaceX and Neuralink.

There is no need to explain too much about Tesla, it is a company that focuses on new energy vehicles.

The full name of Space X is Space Exploration Technologies Inc.

It is the world's first private enterprise to achieve the launch of a manned spacecraft. It is also an absolute leader in the space field. Its reusable rocket technology is its masterpiece.

Compared to Tesla and Space X, which have become famous all over the world, Neuralink is relatively low-key.

Although it is low-key, Neuralink is extremely complicated. Its main focus is to develop brain-computer interface technology to achieve super connection between the human brain and computer.

However, with the rise of Longxing Group, Starlink technology was seized ahead of time, and brain-computer interface was also developed first. Now Masik is gritting his teeth towards Chen Xing.

"Damn it!"

Masik clenched his fists.

He now seriously doubted whether Chen Xing was targeting him.

He worked on Starlink, hoping to achieve global network coverage, but was beaten to the punch by the BeiDou communications satellite, which was provided with 5G technology by Longxing Group. He worked on brain-computer interfaces, but was beaten to the punch by the brain-computer interfaces manufactured and produced by WuXi Group, which was provided with technology by Longxing Group.

The most outrageous thing now is that after he signed the "10 billion bet agreement" with Shanghai, Longxing Group announced that it would build cars, and they were new energy vehicles on the Tesla track.

What does Longxing Group want to do?
Or in other words, what does Chen Xing want to do?
Are you targeting me on purpose?

Masike already regretted why he had provoked Chen Xing in the first place. Now he was in a dilemma and had no way out.

Originally according to his plan, Longguo’s first Tesla model should have been launched in December, but the leading car equipped with “solid-state batteries” was still in road testing, so he didn’t dare to release it first, for fear that Chen Xing would adjust it.

Just like cars and mobile phones, whoever releases the product first and reveals the real deal is likely to suffer losses.

This is like two competitors have mobile phones with the same configuration. One holds a press conference to sell it for 3000 yuan, while the other knows that it has no configuration advantage and can easily sell the phone for 2900 yuan. Don't underestimate the 100 yuan price difference. Sometimes 100 yuan can really bring down a billion-dollar company.

Therefore, in the field of electronic equipment and fast-paced updates and iterations, manufacturers tend to choose the latter strategy over the first-mover strategy, because they can adjust their product pricing and configuration at any time based on their competitors.

When Masike was secretly pounding the table, the song "Love Story" sounded, and he picked up the mobile phone on the desk.

"what's up?"

He pressed the connect button.

"Boss, this is bad. I heard that Longxing Group and WuXi Group have developed a brain-computer interface and successfully implanted it. Our brain-computer research and development project may face a total loss."

Masik didn't answer. He hung up the phone directly, then angrily slammed the table and yelled, "Fuck!!!"

It would have been fine if he hadn't informed him, but as soon as he was informed, his temper became uncontrollable.

He invested 276 billion U.S. dollars in Neuralink for the research and development of brain-computer interface projects. Originally, he wanted to implant it in himself to achieve ideological immortality.

What is the immortality of ideology?

To put it simply, it's consciousness uploading.

To put it more complicatedly, he wants to create a virtual world of his own where he can do whatever he wants, equivalent to the creator god.

There is no rich person who is not afraid of death, because they have enough money to last for several lifetimes, or even dozens or hundreds of lifetimes.

In Masik's opinion, physical immortality is basically unrealistic, because human cells have a limit on the number of times they can divide. To break through this limit, biological technology must reach a very high level, which may only be achieved after several years, when we enter the interstellar age.

The body cannot live forever, but what about consciousness?
If we can read human consciousness, that is, the soul, and then copy and upload it, does it mean immortality to some extent?

To achieve this goal, Masik has continued to delve deeper into the field of brain-computer interface, hoping to achieve immortality through technology.

But now that Longxing Group and WuXi Group have taken the lead in successfully developing brain-computer interfaces, Neuralink's project may involve technology infringement, and the tens of billions of dollars invested by Marsik will be lost. How can it still remain calm?
However, no matter how angry they were, there was really no way to deal with Chen Xing at the moment. Longxing Group was no longer a small company that could be easily manipulated by anyone, but a multinational giant.

"The only way to decide the winner is in the automotive field. Chen Xing, just wait and see." Masike said in a deep voice, gritting his teeth, like a ferocious wolf.

He didn't like to say harsh words, but Chen Xing's step-by-step pressure forced him to be on high alert and try to defeat the enemy with one move.

Now, it is not just Tesla. Companies like BYD, GAC Group, SAIC Group, and BAIC Group are all waiting for Chen Xing to hold a car launch conference so that they can make targeted adjustments to their cars.

It is no exaggeration to say that because of the emergence of Linghang Automobile, the entire Longguo automobile industry is on high alert.

……

And on the other side.

Northeast, Fengtian City.

At the car manufacturing base of Longxing Heavy Industry, Ren Guofei looked at the news headlines and couldn't help but share with Lei Jun: "Chen Xing has done something big again. The brain-computer interface cured ALS. It seems that we still underestimated the foundation of Longxing Group."

"I'm really curious. In 2014, Longxing Group was on the verge of bankruptcy. It's not even a month into 2016, and Chen Xing has come up with a brain-computer interface. Could the bankruptcy be fake?"

Lei Jun was really confused.

Semiconductor chips, information communications, fast charging technology, energy storage, wireless connections, and now in the field of biotechnology, how many cards does Longxing Group have left?
I thought they were all mobile phone manufacturers, but now Lei Jun feels something is wrong. He feels that Longxing Group is really like a group, and its business scope is unimaginable.

"This shouldn't be false." Ren Guofei shook his head and said his guess: "But it is possible that Chen Xing received some external help in that incident."

"What do you mean?"

Lei Bush was puzzled.

"I suspect that the current Longxing Group is actually a spokesperson promoted by the Longke Institute." While Ren Guofei expressed his conjecture, he continued:

"Because I saw Academicians Qu Cheng, Liu Dongsheng, and Wang Hai from Longxing Institute of Technology crowded in the laboratory building of Longxing Group in SEG Technology Park."

"Only with the support of the state can Longxing Group achieve technological breakthroughs and recruit personnel in a very short period of time."

"You mean..."

Lei Bushi's pupils flashed with surprise. Before he could continue, Ren Guofei nodded and said, "Yes, I suspect that Chen Xing has reached some kind of cooperation with the country. This can explain his connections. He can make friends with Song Weiguo of the Fengtian Military Region, as well as the endless emergence of science and technology."

It’s not that Ren Guofei looks down on Chen Xing, but Chen Xing, as a grassroots entrepreneur, has risen too fast and has such a wide network of contacts that even the CEOs of old companies like him are ashamed of him.

"It should be."

Lei Jun echoed, he was also a grassroots, he could best understand the difficulties of having no connections and running into obstacles everywhere.

Even though he was a recognized genius, he did not start a business immediately after graduation. Instead, he quietly accumulated connections in the industry. Only when he had enough connections and knew the inside story of the industry did he really set foot in it.

Like the Chaoshan Chamber of Commerce in Chaoshan, this is a natural circle.

If you are not a Chaoshan person or a wealthy Chaoshan businessman, you cannot enter.

The reason why grassroots entrepreneurs are rare is that they are not competing with one person, but with a circle.

If the project you are interested in is taken a fancy to by people from the Chaoshan Chamber of Commerce, then you will need to face the pursuit and blockade of the Chaoshan Chamber of Commerce and defeat them before you can gain a foothold in the project.

But it is not easy to defeat the Chaoshan Chamber of Commerce. Not to mention that Ma Ge and Li Jiacheng are among them, the middle and lower-level businessmen in it are all leading local enterprises.

There are circles like the Chaoshan Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Huizhou merchants, Fujian merchants, Zhejiang merchants, Guangdong merchants, Taishan Association, Jiangnan Association, and Lakeside Academy founded by Jack Ma to connect the rich. These circles control a large amount of business resources. If the grassroots want to rise, they must snatch food from the tiger's mouth.

Longxing Group was able to develop so smoothly and to such a large scale, Lei Jun also believed that Chen Xing had reached a cooperation with the country, so everything could be explained.

"That's all."

Ren Guofei waved his hand, forced a smile and said, "No matter what Chen Xing's background is, he is now our partner. Now we just have to wait for him to hold a press conference."

"Too."

Rebus nodded.

After nationwide road testing, the Linghang 001 has accumulated a mileage of 9041 million kilometers, with only seven accidents occurring, but all of them were secondary accidents, and no mechanical failures have been found so far.

This means that the launch conference of Linghang 001 can be held at any time.

However, Lei Jun and Ren Guofei also understood that the reason why Chen Xing had not held a press conference was to wait for Tesla to hold a press conference first, and then severely crack down on its competitors. This is also Chen Xing's best and most commonly used trick.

But what they didn't expect was that the launch conference of Pilot 001 was delayed, and Tesla's press conference had no intention of being held, and other car companies also did not hold press conferences.

It’s like holding your breath underwater. Whoever can’t hold it first will have to hold a press conference first.

……

When Ren Guofei and Lei Jun were lamenting that Chen Xing was causing trouble again, Douyin and TikTok suddenly requested updates from their users.

[New version found, updated as follows]
[1. The built-in algorithm has been optimized to more intelligently recommend videos of interest based on your viewing tastes.]
[2. Fully open the live broadcast function. 1000 fans can submit an application in the creator center.]
[3. Added a new rare disease mutual assistance function. This issue will provide assistance services for patients with ALS. All users can participate in the assistance.]
[4. Optimized system stability.]
[5. Added...]
The sudden pop-up update window of Tik Tok made hundreds of millions of domestic users stunned for half a second. Before they could react, Weibo's hot search list exploded in popularity.

With the help of "investment flow", the entry "ALS Ice Bucket Challenge" appeared at the top of the Weibo hot search list.

Clicking on the entry, you will see the content released by ByteDance’s official account.

The content of the blog post is a 3-minute video, with Zhang Ming acting throughout.

In front of the ByteDance office building, Zhang Ming, wearing a down jacket and breathing air conditioning, introduced himself to the audience in front of the camera: "I am very happy to meet you all. I am Zhang Ming, the chairman and chief executive officer of ByteDance."

"Today the temperature in the capital is only 5 degrees, it's very cold. You can see white air is coming out of my mouth and nose. Why did I record this video? The reason is very simple. I want to do something big for patients with rare diseases!"

At this point, he began to unzip his down jacket and continued, "Those who have been following the recent news know that a brain-computer interface for treating ALS has been developed. I would like to use this practical action to call on all sectors of society to pay more attention to the rare disease group."

"This is a challenge I initiated. Mix ice water in a bucket and pour it directly on your head. You can experience the numbness of ALS patients suffering from the disease."

"Come on, assistant."

Zhang Ming in the video called out, and the assistant beside him was stunned for half a second and asked, "Is Mr. Zhang really going to fail?"

“I only play real.”

Zhang Ming was ready.

After he finished speaking, the assistant looked at Zhang Ming's determined eyes and without any hesitation, he decisively raised the bucket of water the size of an ordinary foot bath and poured it over Zhang Ming's head. The icy water fell with ice cubes, and the cold instantly invaded his body. Zhang Ming was frozen to the point of being numb.

Two seconds later, he recovered, wiped the water off his face with his hands, and continued to say to the camera: "The ice water is very cold, but at the same time, I succeeded in the challenge. This ice bucket challenge will represent ByteDance and increase the amount of treatment for ALS by 1000 yuan. There is no upper limit on the cumulative amount, but each user who successfully challenges can only be counted once."

"Users who participate in the challenge can not only receive traffic support and 20 yuan in phone bill rewards, but also receive a three-month trial version of the major disease medical insurance provided by ByteDance and Minsheng Life Insurance. This will allow us to lend a helping hand to ALS patients and draw more attention to patients with rare diseases."

"At the end of the video, I would like to remind you that although the Ice Bucket Challenge is a good thing, you should do it within your ability. I hope everyone can stay healthy."

Zhang Ming said this, and suddenly the corners of his mouth slightly raised, revealing a smile, and said: "Oh, by the way, I almost forgot, according to the rules, those who succeed in the challenge can choose two friends to participate in the new round of ice bucket challenge. Here, I want to name Chen Xing from Longxing Group and Li Ge from WuXi Group. Do you dare to participate in my ice bucket challenge?"

(End of this chapter)