Those Years When I Was Forced to Top the Forbes List

Chapter 392 All Things Come
Upon arriving in Sichuan, Mr. Chen's busy schedule took a different turn.

They rushed to various places for inspections.

I had dinner with Xian Ting and Sun Ting in the afternoon, and arrived in Mianyang in the evening.

The next day, Deyang, Aba.

On the third day, we traveled from Ya'an to Meishan.

On the fourth day, we passed through Dujiangyan and then returned to Chengdu.

Safety measures for the Sichuan project are being continuously strengthened, with even tofu being sold at meat prices. Currently, underground projects are being carried out in various places, making this step particularly important, and naturally, General Manager Chen will inspect them one by one.

Fortunately, after looking around, it was found that the land certificate, planning permit, and construction permit had been obtained before the supplier bidding process, so the construction progress was very fast after it started in early January.

Bi Yaxiong's unified model is very well done, with unified floor and basement designs, standardized processes, and easy inspection. The materials and construction process are exactly the same.

Currently, apart from Chengdu where construction has just started, almost all other places are in the final stages of building underground civil defense parking lots.

Because of this "civil defense parking lot", the pre-sale period for the entire project will be after May.

Logically, once the earthwork excavation, support, and basement construction reach ground level, and the above-ground structure has two or three floors, and the sales office and community gate are completed simultaneously, the property can be sold.

However, due to the design of this underground civil defense facility, the entire construction period was extended by two months.

Bi Yaxiong had objected to this design, but General Manager Chen felt it had to be added.

Because the central and western regions are strategic rear areas, it is necessary to promote military-civilian integration emergency response points. The warehouses in Huimin Square and the underground civil defense parking lots in the community can serve as emergency reserve material depots, and the armed forces department can contribute 30% of the construction funds.

Since we're building modern housing, and the armed forces department is offering subsidies, plus parking spaces can be sold, we absolutely have to do it.

However, Bi Yaxiong countered based on the policy that "the armed forces department can contribute 30% of the construction funds," but it is "can" contribute, not that it is mandatory. The armed forces departments in various regions do not have much funding to begin with, and communication would be very troublesome.

General Chen insisted that he had connections in Sichuan and could obtain subsidies from the Armed Forces Department, so he had to do it.

Why is it necessary to do this?
What is a civil defense parking lot?
This is a special underground project that combines civil air defense functions with civilian parking needs.

The thickness of the roof slab in the underground civil defense section is ≥350mm, the wall thickness is ≥400mm (two-way double-layer reinforcement), and the foundation is a box-type integral foundation.

It can disperse seismic forces and avoid uneven settlement; in wartime, its protection can withstand the shockwaves of a nuclear explosion.

In other words, since this standard was established in 2001, there have been no cases of collapse in buildings constructed in accordance with the standard for more than 20 years.

There are almost no countries with high earthquake incidence.

According to actual earthquake measurements in Japan, even if the ground buildings collapsed completely, the civil defense parking lot only showed a few cracks.

This standard is not currently included in mandatory building requirements, but the construction standards are very detailed in order to prevent nuclear disasters.

According to the design requirements, the civil defense works should be built at 2%-5% of the total ground building area. Chen Xuebing set it at 3%. Each project has a civil defense area of ​​about 4 to 5 square meters. This area can provide absolute safety exits and space for thousands of people.

According to the earthquake resistance level of Gu'an Building, even under the earthquake intensity in Beichuan, the building will inevitably suffer partial collapse due to the violent external impact, and residents will have enough time to enter the civil defense parking lot. Moreover, in order to let residents know the location and function of the civil defense area of ​​this parking lot, General Manager Chen has included this design in the on-site viewing part that must be introduced when buying a house.

The cost is quite high, about 2500 yuan per square meter, which is seven or eight times higher than that of ordinary parking areas. It raises the price of the land by about 75 yuan per square meter. However, Mr. Chen believes that this cost can be shared by the owners who buy parking spaces and the armed forces department. Impoverished areas should increase the quantity without increasing the price, while areas with strong purchasing power and good real estate sales can increase the price.

Bi Yaxiong was initially puzzled by the idea of ​​building underground parking lots in impoverished areas. After all, these days, it's already good enough if the driveways in a residential area are widened, some parking spaces are marked out, and fire lanes are properly planned. Residential areas with separation of pedestrians and vehicles are still quite rare.

Furthermore, underground parking spaces cannot be sold for money according to regulations, and permits cannot be obtained.

However, Chen Xuebing rejected the idea with the "Guan An Construction Standards," stating that the current low number of cars does not mean it will be in the future. He emphasized the need to create convenience for the first batch of Guan An customers, suggesting that if parking spaces cannot be sold, they can wait until regulations are in place before selling them. He also made a surprising prediction that "the rules will change soon."

The policy is very accommodating.

On March 16 this year, the Fifth Session of the Tenth National People's Congress passed the Property Law and revised the Measures for Housing Registration, clarifying the ownership of parking spaces.

It officially took effect on October 1st, which coincided with the time when the first batch of houses in Gu'an were delivered and certificates were issued.

Bi Yaxiong was completely convinced by the chairman.

During this inspection tour with the chairman, I complied with all of his requests without raising any further questions.

However, Chen Xuebing had some concerns after the inspection.

Houses priced at at least 3,000 yuan per square meter, and in places like Beichuan and Wenchuan where the average price is around 1,000 yuan, are probably not going to sell well.

Fortunately, a large number of houses were included in the planning process for these two areas to be demolished and replaced with new houses. The new houses are also fully furnished, so there is a very high probability that these relocated households will be able to move in in the first half of next year.

There is also plenty of time; if pre-sales are not good, the price can be "forced to drop further."

This house cannot be built for nothing; the occupancy rate must exceed 70%.

3 month 27 day.

Shuangliu Huanglongxi Ancient Town, Luxi River Ecological Farm.

Chen Xuebing gripped his newly bought 3.6-meter stream fishing pole, staring at the fine golden ripples on the river surface.

The reflection of the dawn redwood forest on the opposite bank was stirred up by a school of whitebait, turning into shimmering spots of light under the sun.

Yu Chunyin, who was sitting next to him, threw out a handful of bait, and then flicked his wrist like a whip, sending the bait out through the elasticity of the rod tip.

"Tilapia are introduced competitive fish that are very aggressive in their feeding. If there are no fish, they will cast their lines repeatedly to mimic an injured prey."

Chen Xuebing looked at the shimmering water opposite him and laughed, "Just enjoy the scenery and relax. If I really wanted to catch some fish, I would have sent someone to bait the area a few days ago."

He's not very good at fishing, but he doesn't mind being an air force pilot.

I've been working non-stop lately, and I heard that my uncle often goes fishing in the area when he comes to Chengdu. I suggested we meet up to relax and clear my head.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Yu Chunyin pointed to a lawn with great satisfaction and said, "Two months ago, I brought President Bi's family here, along with your mother and Xiao Jin, and Xin Xin was there too. We got a whole roasted lamb and set up a shed over there. It smelled amazing! You went to England and missed it! I've arranged to bring the kids here again this summer when they're on summer vacation. If you have time, bring Xiao Yang to keep your mother company. There are plenty of opportunities to make money. A mother gets old so quickly."

Chen Xuebing nodded: "I heard it from my mom, I'll come when I have time."

Time is too tight, Chongqing is no longer a key work area, and sometimes it's not convenient to go home to visit.

I wanted to buy my mom an apartment in Shanghai so she could move there, but she disagreed, saying she wouldn't be used to living there.

He didn't force it, nor did he dare to force it.

In his past life, he was even busier starting his own business than he is now, and he was never home. His mother was always in good health. Now that he has money, he doesn't need to run that small shop anymore. She is still willing to keep busy at home, inviting neighbors over for meals and chats. She is not lonely. He would be worried if he asked her to move to Shanghai or Shenzhen without his consent.

His mother's nagging about Yang Qingyue still had a significant impact on him. She kept telling him to find someone from a good family background, with a well-behaved personality, and a lively and loving home, so that life at home would be warm and make him want to go home. These nagging led him to subconsciously believe that Yang Qingyue was the best marriage partner.

But he had never considered when to meet Yang Qingyue's parents. This was a difficult hurdle for him, much more challenging than business matters.

In his previous life, from his marriage to his divorce, he never addressed his ex-wife's parents as "Mom and Dad," but always called them "Uncle" and "Aunt." It seems he never accepted any relatives other than his mother, brother, or uncle.

Back then, he was rather pragmatic, always considering what the other person could offer him and what he could offer them in any relationship. After his rebirth, this mindset gradually improved. He became more capable, less concerned about money, and surrounded himself with more kind people. He had a group of people in his company who were devoted to him and always considered his needs, so he didn't feel lonely.

He also became more pure in his actions, following his own heart.

The purer he felt, the more he realized there was something wrong with his attitude towards Yang Qingyue. He often felt it was unfair to her to put her in that position, but that didn't mean he wanted to give up on her. So he started to avoid her and not take the initiative, but he became even gentler towards her when she sent him messages or called him, treating it as compensation.

But the innocent lamb took this as love, becoming more tolerant and understanding of his busy schedule, and quietly striving to be a better match for him.

Chen Xuebing felt that her efforts had robbed her of her happiness, and he felt even more sorry for her. He wondered if it was fairer to treat her with the initial lustful intentions and sometimes having erotic dreams about her.

Just like with Xin Mengzhen, after going through ups and downs, the two of them made everything clear and saw each other completely, yet they were attracted to each other even more purely.

Older men actually have more complex feelings than women. They often weigh the gains and losses of their partners based on their own values. The more innocent the other person is, the more confused and conflicted they become.

The near-synonyms "pure" and "simple" sometimes produce a repulsive effect.

Fortunately, it was he who was struggling with the decision, not Yang Qingyue. His rationality often helped him resolve his dilemmas, and he was considerate in front of Yang Qingyue, thus maintaining control over the situation.

Only in these quiet moments of spacing out does he examine his own heart.

The water surface suddenly rippled, and he became more alert.

"Chairman."

"Don't panic! Sigh... I'm not destined for that. Just tell me."

Ren Ying came over to speak, and he replied with a sentence that disrupted the first fishing activity of the afternoon.

He's really not good at fishing.

Ren Ying stretched out her body to look at the water surface from where she had just been, and then briefly expressed her regret, but immediately regained her composure.

"Um, Mr. Wu said that the new leaders from Shanghai are here and want to visit the company. He asked if we could borrow a Kirin phone to demonstrate Spreadtrum's latest chip to the leaders."

"What?!" Chen Xuebing stood up abruptly. "Which General Wu?"

"Uh, not Wu Jiesi, it's Zhanxun, Wu Ping, the general manager."

"Give me the phone!"

Chen Xuebing hurriedly walked to the side with the phone to return Wu Ping's call.

Yu Chunyin's fishing was also disrupted, and he cast his line again, somewhat speechless.

When leaders inspect tech companies, it's simply to express their emphasis on the company's development and write some research reports. So what if they come? They've seen so much of the world, why get so excited about just one inspection?

If Chen Xuebing knew the truth, he would only say, "I've really never seen anything like this before."

"Hey, General Manager Wu! What's going on?"

"President Chen! Didn't I already tell Assistant Ren about this? The city suddenly notified us that leaders are coming, saying they want to see the latest progress on domestically produced 3G chips. Our SC8800G is exclusively supplied to Kirin, right? I'd like to use your machines to demonstrate to the leaders! There might be reporters present, so we can also give Singularity some publicity! Do you have any machines in Shanghai?"

"Yes! We have a 3G Rubik's Cube store under construction in Shanghai! The store has the machines! When will the leader arrive? I'll have someone deliver them!"

"Uh, I don't know either, we'll be there soon! We're waiting at the door! Hurry up!"

"Got it! Right now!"

Chen Xuebing hung up and thought for a moment, then realized it might be too late.

Singularity's Shanghai store is on Baoshan Road in Puxi, while Spreadtrum is in Zhangjiang, Pudong. It takes at least half an hour to get there.

He had a sudden thought and made a phone call to Xin Mengzhen.

Are you in the office?

“Ang is here.”

"Could you send your phone to Mr. Wu at Spreadtrum? The new leader is coming to inspect, and Mr. Wu wants to use a Kirin phone for a demonstration. Your phone's chip is Spreadtrum's new baseband. I can't arrange for someone to send it in time."

"Okay! I'll be there in three minutes from here at Spreadtrum."

The call ended abruptly.

Chen Xuebing let out a long breath and stared blankly for a while.

My heart is beating a little erratically.

This is a world-leading smartphone, designed in China. The leaders should be very happy to see it, right?

Unexpectedly, this opportunity actually came true.

“There’s something else,” Ren Ying said from the side.

"what?"

"The Nokia N95 has been announced to be available in China next week. It uses a 2G baseband but supports extended WCDMA baseband hardware, fully supporting the 1920-1980 and 2110-2170 frequency bands. The Chinese version will be priced at 5680 yuan."

Chen Xuebing was stunned for a moment.

Then, with a relaxed expression, he said, "Oh, I see."

Although China Unicom's WCDMA license has not yet been issued, the frequency bands have already been allocated: Band 1, 1920-1980, 2110-2170.

To support WCDMA expansion, the Chinese version of the N95 needs to add a Band 1 radio frequency link, which costs money—around a hundred yuan.

It also takes up space on the PCB board, and high-frequency power consumption also affects the battery.

This is preparation for a protracted battle.

They are quite confident that the N95 model can last until China issues WCDMA licenses, and as a 3G phone, it can still sell well.
That's wishful thinking.

“The N95 was launched a month earlier than Kirin, and the price of the domestic version was also lower than we expected. The international version of the grey market version has also dropped in price, approaching our offline price. In this month, they may steal a lot of potential customers from Kirin.”

Ren Ying was a little worried. After thinking for a moment, she said, "President Lu's mid-range version is almost finished with development. It's priced around 3200 yuan, which is a significant price advantage. Should we arrange for the mid-range version to be launched ahead of schedule?"

Chen Xuebing laughed and waved his hand: "Mid-range products should compete with mid-range products. We haven't even made a name for ourselves in the high-end market, how can we compete with N95 products in the mid-range market?"

He spoke with a hint of sarcasm in his smile.

"If it's N95, then you should use N95 to fight it."

(End of this chapter)