My Lord, you need to stand up!

Chapter 495 Squeeze Negotiation

It's still too ahead of its time.

In twenty or thirty years, the glass pyramid may just be the entrance to an underground supermarket in a commercial center of a prefecture-level city or a third-tier city.

But in the 1980s, it was a striking and fashionable modern design.

Placed on the famous Bund in Shanghai, with the backdrop of this renowned street of international architecture, the contrast is striking.

In fact, the glass pyramid in the Louvre Square in Paris was designed a few years ago, but it has never been approved.

It's just too unconventional and too ahead of its time.

It is said that the whole of France is boycotting it.

How can we put such an incongruous glass house in front of our ancestors' door?

So construction hasn't been approved yet.

It's fortunate that a climate of absolute prohibition against touching historical sites hasn't yet formed in China; otherwise, a bunch of experts and old-fashioned people would have already come to plead and remonstrate.

The Bund in 1986 was still quite simple. The riverside outside the observation deck also served as a dock for a large number of ferries to cross to the other side, with more than 100,000 to 200,000 people traveling back and forth between the two sides every day.

In winter, the bare branches and sparse trees along the river make the entire Bund look like an ordinary street park.

So it didn't have the iconic status it later achieved.

The glass building, covering an area of ​​400 square meters, was erected.

Because of its pyramid shape, the angled ground section will definitely reduce the actual usable area.

But Wei Dong was quite "well-traveled and knowledgeable," having also visited Akihabara in Tokyo and electronics stores in Los Angeles.

This is just a showroom; there aren't many facilities here.

After a large number of staff members painstakingly cleared the area, a circular platform with thickened glass panels in the middle was revealed.

The square space contained only a circular platform with a diameter of ten meters, around which were placed twenty black X-ray computers. Only two of them were connected to printers, while the other five were connected to different models of televisions, indicating that this new appliance could reduce the budget by utilizing existing televisions.

Other green-light single-display, black-and-white, and color monitors all exhibit completely different effects.
Then, in the four corners of the exterior, there are four computer knowledge information boards that explain in a simple and easy-to-understand way what computers can do now and what kind of jobs they can create in the future. In short, this new type of electrical appliance will enter all aspects of our lives in the form of a production tool.

Almost all the city leaders who came to work in the morning had gathered together.

Even though five computers were already being used in the secretariat and typing room of the office building.

Everyone was still extremely surprised.

Did it just appear out of nowhere like that?
Everyone would inevitably look up and glance around.

The service staff wearing uniforms with an "X" mark on their backs and "X Computer" on their chests are definitely part-time students from universities in Shanghai. Standing behind the counter, they excitedly and softly explain how to operate the equipment in front of them.

The screen isn't filled with large areas of text or tables; instead, it displays pixel-level games like tennis, racing, Solitaire, and Minesweeper.

Then, outside the transparent glass roof, on one side are the century-old buildings of the International Banks, and on the other side, across the river, is the flat Lujiazui area, with only low and dilapidated industrial buildings and dormitories.

It felt as if time and space had intersected.

It feels like the entire "crystal clear" glass pyramid was transported here by a time machine.

But looking at Rang Weidong being ushered in by the construction workers, one can't help but chuckle.

Because he had a baby hanging on his chest.

Those who report and exchange information with the leaders of Shanghai are all extremely cautious and apprehensive.

This guy carefully looked after the child, bowing and scraping as he spoke in hushed tones, seemingly to avoid disturbing the child: "Thank you for the city's support of X Computer. This is also the result of the concerted efforts of the national semiconductor and electronic computer industries. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce the components of this computer to you leaders..."

The "sea view room" chassis, with its side panel inlaid with glass, provides a clear and intuitive display.

Wei Dong could also rattle off the details: the power supply came from Shuchuan Radio Factory, the casing from Xishan Factory, the monitor from Shanghai Vacuum Electronics, the motherboard from Xizhou Factory, and the keyboard and mouse from Jiangzhou. However, the largest future production capacity would be in the Shanghai Electronics Industrial Park, because it was intended to be exported to Apple.

He was an outsider, yet he was able to explain things in a simple and easy-to-understand way, which amazed and impressed everyone around him.

Currently, the Jinling Factory, with its strongest capabilities, will take on the main task of assembly and production in East China. Almost all of the projects were subcontracted by Wei Dong in the past two months, negotiating with various departments under the Fourth Ministry of Machinery Industry to produce learning machines.

So he really knew it like the back of his hand: "Overall, it was a consortium formed by the Xishan Computer Industry Cluster under the Fifth Ministry of Machinery Industry, which was a collection of the third-line factories that were previously involved in computers, and then combined with the original learning machine industry chain of the Fourth Ministry of Machinery Industry. It mainly focused on domestic production and sales, provided OEM services for foreign brands, and exported keyboards and mice. This foreign-related base was located in Shanghai."

As it turned out, someone here had once led the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building, and they all laughed when they heard this: "You little devil, the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building has been working on this computer project for four years, and now you've taken it all down!"

Everyone around laughed.

You could tell from their tone that they were both satisfied and teasing about their own child.

This is the advantage that allowed Weidong to start his business at Xishan Factory by chance.

He successfully resolved the restructuring issues of the Third Front factories. Compared to the current predicament of many other Third Front factories struggling to survive, if he were still within the system, he would probably have been ordered to tackle the restructuring of other factories long ago.

As a result, Wei Dong, who was not used as a key player in the attack, managed to develop the computer, which became his flagship product.

Then let him completely lead the Xishan factory to integrate the other parts.

This makes Wei Dong truly a member of their own family with impeccable political credentials.

It's far more rare than that shipping magnate's descendant in Jiangzhou, who, relying on his lineage and connections, managed to find someone from a university to re-establish a large-scale private enterprise.

Even those soldiers who are labeled as "private capitalists" are extremely rare in China!

A trustworthy individual, financially reliable, and with exceptional business acumen, should ideally be placed in Hong Kong, one of the few countries with international business opportunities.

But what Wei Dong is doing in the country now is a series of surprises.

He said calmly, "The computer engineering of the learning machine only solved the product problem. They can't handle sales and costs. They quote more than 900 yuan for each TV host, while I only charge more than 500 yuan. Even if everyone's goal is not to make money, but to bring computers into ordinary households as much as possible, the learning machine will inevitably lose in the competition of the commercial market. So since we are engaged in commodity economy, we must follow the rules of market economy. For example, they cannot come up with a business plan to advertise on TV and establish this computer flagship store in Shanghai."

It's much easier to discuss business topics in Shanghai than in Beijing.

For example, if this matter involves administrative intervention, then a learning machine must be used.

Ironically, it was precisely because of this learning machine that Wei Dong avoided making computers, which is why X Computer has now become the first choice for financial and banking systems.

Everyone present understood.

But some people are wondering: "Does this mean we've caught up with international advanced levels? What gaps remain?"

Wei Dong skipped over a few chips earlier, not to report the good news and hide the bad, but because he had previously reported to relevant experts that his main topic was this kind of nationwide cooperation.

I want to extend this idea to cars.

Including the Pingjing Automobile Plant, it is now basically entirely self-sufficient in production and supporting facilities. The entire plant is a complex of parts, including chassis workshops, spring workshops, engine sub-plants, and so on, before finally assembling the components.

However, foreign manufacturers bring a modern model with four major stages: stamping, welding, painting, and final assembly, each of which is completed by supporting manufacturers.

As a result, none of the people present noticed that Wei Dong was in computer mode!

He could only point to the heart of the matter: "This is it, the most crucial and complex main chip. It's actually a product from Citibank in the mid-1970s, ten years ago. It's the key that we can't make now. The purpose of commercially selling and promoting domestically produced computers, developing OEM manufacturing for foreign companies, and exporting components is all to accumulate funds to invest in chip R&D and production capabilities. This is the microcosm of the current domestic computer industry. If we miss this crucial juncture, we can still see a way out..."

He would definitely attribute it to his only business trip to Europe and America: "Based on our visits and learning at the World Technology Expo and Citibank Silicon Valley, the computer industry is about to explode, it's going to take off!"

Everyone present looked serious: "Explain in detail where this outbreak started and what it will turn into?"

Rang Weidong then gestured to the four corners around him to explain computer knowledge: "Before, computers were huge machines. We also had these super-powerful computers, as big as several rooms. It was from the late 1970s that Apple, IBM and other companies launched personal PCs, which truly ushered in an era where everyone had a computer. We were only a few years behind them at that time, and we could still produce most of the components and semiconductors."

These descriptions are set against the backdrop of a brief overview of the international computer situation. Behind these few simple sentences lies a tremendous power to control the era.

Everyone, turn around and look back, nodding slowly.

Wei Dong then patted the monitor next to him: "The biggest change is in this Apple system. I also reminded everyone at the product demonstration meeting held by the Fourth Ministry of Machinery Industry, the First Ministry of Machinery Industry, and others that we should not underestimate this graphics system. In the past, only professionals could use computers, but now anyone who learns to operate a mouse and keyboard can use them. This thing will lead to the instant proliferation of personal computers!"

He casually estimated: "Previously, Apple produced 500,000 computers a year. Last year, I assisted them with their sales work, and they produced 850,000 units. This year, I estimate it will be 1.2 million units, aiming to capture one-third of the global PC market. Can you imagine how much the gap would suddenly skyrocket if millions of computers were continuously boosting productivity?"

The international economic situation and the development prospects of European and American countries could be the subject of a lengthy and detailed article if we were to discuss them in a professional manner.

Wei Dong was only allowed to cover up the fact that computers experienced a rapid development in the 1990s, which he did not know. He fabricated an angle, and some of the data in it was even fabricated.

But it reveals a shocking situation!
(End of this chapter)