Reborn in the red age

"Okay, the textbook issue is over for now. Please help me make an appointment with the bosses of the three home appliance companies. I want to talk to them about smart home appliances."

Writing university textbooks is not the same as writing novels or scripts. A university professional textbook carries the responsibility of disseminating knowledge and is a rigorous scientific system.

Every symbol and every formula derivation must be accurate without any ambiguity.

It takes two to three years to write any basic textbook, let alone a large-scale textbook like Li Qingfeng's that requires the integration of cutting-edge technology and basic theory and is co-authored by multiple people.

Don't even think about it, it will take at least three to five years from planning and writing to final publication.

If the experts and scholars involved have other important projects to manage during the writing period, it will take longer to publish this textbook.

This meeting was just a pre-writing plan and would be completed in a month. As the editor-in-chief, Li Qingfeng had already sent all the experts and scholars on the plane back home yesterday.

After finishing the work of compiling the textbooks, Li Qingfeng took only a short rest for one day before rushing to meet with the three giants of home appliances.

Although the last meeting time was canceled at the last minute, the three major home appliance giants still agreed to keep the appointment when Li Qingfeng re-invited them.

After all, Qingfeng Li's status and position are there, not to mention that this time Qingfeng Li is going to lead them to the international stage.

In recent years, the market share of home appliances such as televisions, refrigerators, air conditioners, and washing machines in the domestic market has been continuously occupied by domestic brands, but there is still a distance to go before completely occupying the market, let alone exporting.

Although they don’t understand what intelligence means, and don’t know how home appliances should be intelligent, it doesn’t matter. If the boss of the world’s largest technology company says home appliances can be intelligent, then they can definitely be intelligent.

If we can get on board Qingfeng Li's good side and make something intelligent, wouldn't it be easy for us to go overseas and earn foreign exchange?
With such expectations, the bosses of the three home appliance companies arrived on time.

On the day of the meeting, Qingfeng Li arrived at the meeting room early. When the three people arrived together, Qingfeng Li walked up to them one by one with an apologetic smile on his face and shook hands with them one by one.

After introducing each other, Qingfeng Li took the initiative to apologize for what happened last time: "Three of you, I'm really sorry for what happened last time. I had something urgent to do, and it was quite important, so I had to adjust the time. This time I have arranged everything, let's have a good chat."

"I understand, I understand. Teacher Li is doing a big job of compiling textbooks. We can discuss business at any time, but teaching and educating people cannot be delayed."

The person who spoke was Ni Runfeng from Changhong. Changhong was currently a popular figure in the eyes of the leaders. He would be elected as an alternate member of the domestic committee this year. He had a good relationship with the higher-ups and knew that Li Qingfeng was taking the lead in writing the semiconductor and computer textbooks this time.

The other two companies were also state-owned enterprises that had done well after transformation, and they had some connections with the higher-ups. Knowing the inside story of why Qingfeng Li canceled the meeting without reason, they all expressed their understanding.

Haier's Zhang Ruimin smiled and waved his hand: "Teacher Li, we all know that textbook compilation is a major issue related to the country's future talent training. It is much more important than our business. Since you have made arrangements this time, let's discuss this smart home appliance issue."

He Xiangjian from Midea also nodded and agreed: "Yes, Mr. Li, we are all waiting to hear your advice. How should we make smart home appliances?"

Seeing that two of the three people were eager to get straight to the point, Li Qingfeng smiled, did not continue to be polite, pulled the three of them to sit down, and asked He Guangqin to turn on the projector that had been prepared in advance.

As the projector was turned on, a pre-prepared PPT appeared on the big screen.

He Guangqin drew the curtains, picked up the projector controller, stood in front of the four people and introduced: "The concept of smart home appliances appeared in the 1972s and s. The first smart home appliance appeared in . It was a refrigerator with electronic temperature control function launched by Sharp."

"Nowadays, with the development of computer technology, sensor technology and communication technology in foreign countries, the intelligentization of home appliances has begun to accelerate rapidly. Refrigerators that can automatically adjust the temperature according to the storage conditions of food and washing machines that can automatically select washing programs according to the conditions of clothes have appeared one after another."

As He Guangqin continued to explain, the three major home appliance giants in China also understood the concept of smart home appliances.

After He Guangqin finished his explanation, the three of them looked at each other, with a hint of disapproval in their eyes.

I thought smart home appliances were something else, but it turns out to be just this.

Among the products currently produced and sold in their factory, there are many so-called smart furniture.

Ni Runfeng spoke first, with a hint of doubt and questioning in his tone: "Teacher He, what you said sounds good, but the high-end refrigerators we produce now can also control the temperature, and the washing machines can also adjust the program according to the weight of clothes. This doesn't seem to be much different from the smart home appliances you mentioned."

He Xiangjian also nodded: "Yes, Mr. Li, can these functions really help us open up the international market? This is indeed rare for ordinary people in China, but it is very common abroad."

Although Zhang Ruimin didn't say anything, his eyes revealed some hesitation.

Facing the three people's suspicious eyes, Li Qingfeng smiled, took the remote control from He Guangqin himself, and reopened another PPT.

He personally introduced them to the three people: "In my opinion, these are not real smart home appliances, they are just some functions. What I want to make is real smart furniture."

"Really smart furniture?" The three people murmured in confusion.

Li Qingfeng tapped the remote control lightly, and the new PPT page showed a concept video of a smart home scene.

The owner on the big screen opened the door and returned home. The smart sensor at the entrance instantly captured his figure and automatically turned on the lights in the house. The warm yellow light softly filled the entire living room.

At the same time, the TV at home turns on automatically, and the smart air conditioner also turns on quickly, adjusting the indoor temperature to the most suitable temperature.

Li Qingfeng pointed at the screen and began to explain formally: "This is the smart home appliance I want to make. They are not isolated individuals, but closely connected through advanced Internet of Things technology to form an organic whole. They can actively provide services based on user behavior and environmental changes."

"At present, due to technical limitations, we can only provide some functions such as automatic power on by sensing and power off by voice. However, with the development of technology in the future, we can realize more functions beyond imagination."

The three people were shocked when they saw the TV and air conditioner automatically turned on and the voice automatically turned off in the video.
After Li Qingfeng explained what smart furniture could do in the future, the three people who had just been dismissive of smart appliances were now speechless.

How could people born in the 1990s have ever seen such advanced life scenes?
In their minds, home appliances are nothing more than functional items with their own functions. Now, the smart blueprint drawn by Li Qingfeng has completely overturned their imagination.

After a long while, Zhang Ruimin was the first to react and asked, "Teacher Li, can such an advanced concept really be realized in the future?" "Many of the technologies I described can actually be realized now, but even if they are realized, it is meaningless. The cost of research and development and production is too high, and ordinary people can't afford it at all," Li Qingfeng shrugged and said with a smile.

Zhang Ruimin nodded and said in agreement: "Indeed, just like the smart toilets in Japan, they are really useful, but they are too expensive. Ordinary people can't afford them, and not many are sold in a year."

In fact, many high-tech products that ordinary people in later generations have only just begun to use were already standard equipment for the rich in the 1980s and 1990s.

Just like the smart toilet that Zhang Ruimin mentioned, Li Qingfeng's family uses it. It was bought by his brother-in-law when the Isetan opened in Shanghai, and he specially asked someone to transport it to the capital.

There is almost no big difference in function between the smart toilets at this time and the smart toilets of later generations. Functions such as warm water cleaning buttocks, heated toilet seat, warm air drying, and sterilization have already appeared.

Even in 2025, most ordinary people except those in first-tier cities will not be able to use such technological products.

After the three of them learned about the smart furniture that Li Qingfeng mentioned, they quickly made up their minds to start this project immediately.

Anyone who can grow a business from the brink of bankruptcy to its current size must have business acumen.

As we all know, this smart home appliance represents the current high-end status and future industry development.

After learning more about it, Ni Runfeng asked a key question: "Teacher Li, if this can really be realized, it will be the first time in the world. Once the product comes out, it will definitely create a huge wave in the domestic and international markets."

"However, to achieve voice control and sensor control, there must be many technical difficulties, and the research and development funds must be an astronomical figure, right?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the other two also looked at Li Qingfeng, waiting for his answer.

Facing the gazes of the three people, Qingfeng Li pursed his lips and smiled, and said: "Don't worry about this. Whether it is technology or R&D funds, you don't have to be responsible. Just leave it to our Lemon Company."

Li Qingfeng's words made the three of them feel relieved, but at the same time they also felt a little confused.

Ni Runfeng couldn't help but ask, "Teacher Li, since Lemon Company is responsible for both technology and funding, what are the roles of our three companies? We can't just sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labor, right?"

"Of course not. Your role is very important. You have rich experience in home appliance manufacturing, mature production lines and perfect sales channels, which are the basis of our cooperation."

At this point, Li Qingfeng paused and continued, "Lemon Company will be responsible for the core technology research and development of smart home appliances, including chip design and operating system development, and you will need to design and produce products according to our technical solutions. At the same time, you will also be responsible for marketing and after-sales service."

Having said this, the three of them understood what Qingfeng Li meant.

They are responsible for hardware manufacturing and marketing, while Lemon is responsible for software and chips.

What Li Qingfeng wants is to master the core technology and become an upstream manufacturer of smart home appliances. People like us are just Li Qingfeng's downstream manufacturers.

Is this reasonable? Of course it is reasonable, because they have mastered the core technology.

No matter what industry, whoever masters the core technology has the right to speak.

The three of them knew very well that Li Qingfeng had the core technology firmly in his hands, and this was an unavoidable reality.

After all, the core competitiveness of smart home appliances lies in software and chip technology, which are exactly the strengths of Lemon Company.

Thinking of this, the three of them looked at each other and couldn't help but sigh in their hearts that it was really easy for others to earn this money.

They do the easiest job, but take away the biggest profits in the industry.

After a brief thought, Ni Runfeng took the lead in expressing his opinion: "Teacher Li, your arrangement is very reasonable. Changhong is willing to cooperate with Lemon Company's technical solutions and devote all its efforts to the production and marketing of smart home appliances."

Zhang Ruimin also nodded in agreement: "Haier has always focused on technological innovation. This cooperation is a rare opportunity for us. We will adjust the production line as soon as possible according to Lemon Company's technical solutions to ensure smooth production of the products."

He Xiangjian smiled and said: "Midea is also willing to participate in it"

The statements of the three people did not surprise Qingfeng Li. In order to show his importance to them, Qingfeng Li made a promise with them on the spot.

They said that as long as they cooperated with the R&D personnel of Lemon Company to carry out the research and development of intelligent home appliances, then when the research and development is successful in the future, all the research and development will be successful, the three of them will have a five percentage point discount on procurement over other peers.

Five points means 5 percent, which is not a small amount in large-volume cost procurement. It is enough to give the three companies a huge price advantage in market competition.

When the three heard this promise, their eyes lit up and they looked forward to this cooperation more and more.

After the main business is settled, the next step is naturally the traditional skill in the domestic business world, business banquets.

Li Qingfeng had already instructed He Guangqin to book private rooms in the capital's best hotels, nightclubs, bath centers and other places, providing one-stop services for eating, drinking and entertainment.

In order to express their strong support last time, Li Qingfeng personally accompanied them for dinner this time.

At the dinner table, Li Qingfeng formally thanked the three for what they had done during the Chinese New Year, and handed over to the three companies the purchase orders for home appliances in the staff dormitories and company-funded housing that were being built by Lemon Company.

This order includes all the dormitories under Lemon Company, including the dormitories planned and prepared at the Hong Kong headquarters.

Although the order quantity is not small, it is just a small matter for three people. In the company, this is just a business that can be negotiated by a manager.

However, the person who placed the order was different. The three of them still showed pleasant surprise and raised their glasses to thank Qingfeng Li. (End of this chapter)