Reborn in 2012, building a new energy empire

He found a corner spot by the window on the west side of the third floor of the old library. This place was usually deserted. Outside the window were several tall ginkgo trees, whose branches were just beginning to sprout tender green leaves.

I opened my laptop and pulled up the document Zhao Haichuan had just sent me, titled "Pilot Line Investment Budget (Third Edition)".

The cold light from the screen reflected on his face. He took a deep breath and began to examine and recalculate each item one by one.

"Custom plating tank cost (special corrosion-resistant alloy, with precision temperature control and current density uniformity adjustment module)", according to the latest detailed quotations from several suppliers, the price is 50.

"Circulating filtration system (high precision, used to maintain the stability of plating solution composition and remove impurity particles)," 45.

"Temperature control device (multi-zone independent PID control)", NT$28.

"Online testing instrument (imported, used for real-time monitoring of wire diameter, diamond density, and coating thickness)" has a price quote of up to 150 million, and the delivery cycle is extremely long.

"Factory renovation (earthquake-resistant foundation, cleanroom area, corrosion-resistant flooring and ventilation)," estimated at 10.

"Environmental protection treatment system (including heavy metal wastewater treatment and waste residue recycling and temporary storage)" is a mandatory requirement, costing at least 40.

"Auxiliary equipment (tension control machine, take-up and unwinding system, etc.)", 30.

He typed rapidly on the keyboard, adding more and more details.

Costs include power capacity expansion, laying of special gas pipelines, initial raw material inventory (high-carbon steel wire matrix, diamond micron powder, special nickel-cobalt metal salts, etc.), and most importantly, the salaries of the core R&D team and ongoing experimental expenses to sustain them for at least six months during the pilot-scale testing period…

The numbers in the "Total" column at the bottom of the table keep jumping and climbing.

Finally, the number settled on one that made him frown deeply: 5,870,000 yuan.

This is just the most basic hardware and one-time investment required to scale up the laboratory process to a pilot-scale demonstration line with the minimum economic scale.

It does not include the cost of solving any unplanned engineering problems that may arise later, nor the ongoing operating costs during the long customer verification and process adjustment cycle after the product is launched, let alone the ongoing R&D investment required for "at least two to three generations of technology iteration" mentioned by Professor Sun.

He rubbed his temples.

With its current cash reserves, plus previous investments, Kylin Technology has enough to cover laboratory costs, staff salaries, and daily expenses to support the company's regular operations for about eight to ten months.

However, if the construction of this nearly six-million-dollar pilot production line is to be started, and the subsequent prototype trial production and sample testing are to be carried out, the cash flow will immediately become extremely tight.

Funding is always the most real and ruthless obstacle on the road from innovation to the market.

He needs to accelerate the pace of recovering funds from his personal assets and Jiutian Investment. He has already reaped considerable gains from his personal, flexibly allocated "ammunition."

It's time for Jiutian Investment's first phase to undergo its first liquidation before the end of the year. After the new year, it can expand its scale and conduct its second round of fundraising.

The sunlight outside the window gradually rose, shining through the library's glass windows onto the table, forming a warm patch of light.

Jiang Haoran stared at the numbers on the screen, his fingers lingering on the keyboard for a long time.

Finally, he moved the cursor and slowly but firmly typed a line in the "Project Remarks" column at the top of the budget table: "The dawn of technological progress has appeared, and the technical path has been verified. We should concentrate resources and go all out to promote pilot testing to seize the initiative in industrialization."

This is not just a note, but also his assessment of the current situation and his tone for future actions.

He carefully saved the document and closed his laptop.

I gathered my few belongings and got up from my seat. The wooden floorboards creaked slightly, a sound that was particularly clear in the spacious reading area.

As I stepped out of the library, the midday sun poured down without any obstruction, so intense it was almost blinding.

He subconsciously raised his hand to shield his forehead, squinted, and looked at the gray-white, slightly old, yet hopeful experimental building of the School of Materials Science and Engineering at the other end of the campus.

There, through the efforts of a group of people, something is resolutely and persistently breaking free from the realm of "impossible," moving step by step towards "possible," and will eventually move towards "feasible" and "excellent."

Five days after the provincial competition ended, in the evening.

Jiang Haoran had just closed the last professional book on "Interfacial Stress Analysis of Hard Alloy Coatings," rubbed his dry eyes from reading for a long time, packed his bag, and left the library.

The biting spring chill seemed to have been waiting outside the door, and it immediately enveloped him, penetrating his not-so-thick coat, making him shiver involuntarily.

He was about to pull his coat tighter when his phone vibrated in his pocket. The screen showed an unfamiliar number, with the location clearly marked: Jinling.

Jiang Haoran's heart skipped a beat, and he slowed his pace.

He walked to the row of tall plane trees by the roadside, found a relatively quiet and sheltered spot, and answered the phone.

"Is this Jiang Haoran?" A gentle male voice came from the receiver, his tone calm and his pronunciation clear, with a habitual caution. "This is Bai Jingming."

Jiang Haoran stopped in his tracks, his body unconsciously straightening up slightly. "Director Bai, hello."

"If it's convenient, come to the Provincial Government Office at 10 a.m. tomorrow." Bai Jingming didn't waste any time with pleasantries and went straight to the point, his pace perfectly controlled, conveying an undeniable sense of authority without being aggressive, as if he were simply confirming a pre-arranged schedule.

"A leader from the provincial government wants to meet with you and hear about the specifics of your project. Xiwei will pick you up at the school gate tomorrow and come with you."

There was no explanation of who the "leader" was, nor any specific reason given, but the weight of those few words was conveyed heavily through the wire.

"Okay, Director Bai. I'll be there on time," Jiang Haoran replied without the slightest hesitation.

"Hmm." Bai Jingming seemed satisfied with his quick reaction and added, his tone slightly more relaxed than before, "We can prepare a little more. Dress formally tomorrow morning."

Jiang Haoran held his still-warm phone and stood for a moment by the roadside on campus as dusk fell.

The evening breeze rustled through the bare branches, making a soft, mournful sound.

He slowly inhaled the cool air, then exhaled, a cloud of white mist dissipating before his eyes before disappearing into the vast twilight.

At 9:20 a.m. the next day, Bai Xiwei appeared at the school gate on time.

Today she wore a high-quality dark blue cashmere coat, which made her skin look fair. Her long hair was neatly tied back, forming a clean and sleek bun, fully revealing her smooth forehead and beautifully curved neck.

With delicate and understated makeup on her face, she shed most of her former student-like air, revealing a composure and poise that seemed slightly out of place for her age. Standing there quietly, she was a sight to behold.

A black official sedan silently glided to a stop beside her.

"Are you nervous?" After getting into the warm and quiet car, Bai Xiwei turned her head slightly and spoke very softly, as if whispering.

"A little," Jiang Haoran said truthfully.

Jiang Haoran was wearing a well-tailored navy blue suit today. The fabric was crisp and had a subtle, sophisticated sheen in the dim light inside the car.

The white shirt inside was meticulously ironed at the collar and cuffs, and tied with a dark blue tie with subtle diagonal stripes. The color combination was dignified, yet the details revealed a touch of youthful vigor.

This outfit accentuated his slender frame, giving him a rare air of grandeur and formality, as if he had shed some of his youthful naiveté.