78: Bringing his wife and children to Harbin Institute of Technology

Ye Bingwen stood at the door, motionless. The motor factory had received the assembly drawings and rotor structure diagrams, but without the control circuitry, the finished product was just a shell. For the motor to turn, it needed a controller. He had the controller.

"What else did Chief Engineer Li say?"

"He said that when Director Wang handed the blueprints to the technical department, he said it was technology he bought from a research institute in another city for five thousand yuan. The people in the technical department believed him and have already started making a prototype." Chen Zhiyuan said, panting. "Chief Engineer Li wants you to find a solution."

Ye Bingwen picked up his coat. "I'm going to make a phone call."

There was a public telephone at the convenience store downstairs, so he dialed Li Guoliang's number.

"Chief Engineer Li, it's me."

"Ye, you found out?" Li Guoliang's voice was low. "Director Wang took the blueprints to the technical department this afternoon, saying it was technology he bought from out of town. I looked at the blueprints, and they are exactly the same as your final assembly drawings, even the positions of the dimension markings are the same."

"That blueprint didn't have the control circuitry, so they couldn't make a motor that could actually turn."

"I know. But Director Han said they can develop the control circuit themselves. There are a few electronics engineers in the factory; give them time, and they might be able to figure it out."

"Where did Director Wang get his blueprints from?"

"He didn't say. But I had someone check, and he went to Shenyang a few days ago, and he had the blueprints when he came back."

Shenyang. Who is Director Wang going to Shenyang to see? The people at Institute 601 won't pay any attention to the director of an electric motor factory's office. There's only one reason he's going to Shenyang: to find someone who can replicate control circuits.

"Chief Engineer Li, thank you. I'll figure something out."

"Hurry up. If the factory actually makes a prototype, your skills will be worthless."

Back at his residence, Zheng Shuyun was waiting for him.

"The motor factory took my blueprints and started making a prototype. They don't have the control circuitry, but they might have someone copy it."

Zheng Shuyun's face turned pale. "What should we do?"

"We need to speed up the factory setup. Equipment, factory buildings, and workers should be in place within a month. There are no problems with the school, and there are no problems with the Light Industry Bureau either. We're still a bit short on funds, but Director Zhang's orders can cover part of that."

"Which county's agricultural machinery factory?"

"Yes. An order for 120 units, with a 30% down payment, is enough to start the business."

Ye Bingwen sat down and wrote two words on a piece of paper: Shenyang. Who? Who did Director Wang go to Shenyang to see?

The next morning, he went to Zhang Guangyuan's office.

Zhang Guangyuan's face darkened after hearing this. "Director Wang went to Shenyang, presumably to see someone from the Shenyang Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. There's a professor surnamed Qian there, a leading authority in motor control in China. This person knows Zhao Jianguo; they've collaborated on projects before."

"Can Professor Qian replicate my control circuit?"

"Possibly. Your control circuit is ingenious, but it's not foolproof. Anyone with expertise can take it apart and understand the principles," Zhang Guangyuan said, looking at him. "You need to get ahead of the curve and secure the patents and papers. Once the patents are published, your technology will be legally protected."

"With the paper published and the technology made public, isn't it easier for them to copy it?"

"Once it's made public, they can't claim it as their own technology. The paper is yours, the patent is yours. And once the paper is published, your name is on the academic list. No matter how capable Zhao Jianguo is, he wouldn't dare to blatantly steal the technology of someone who has already published in a top-tier journal."

Zhang Guangyuan picked up the phone and dialed the editorial department. After hanging up, he said, "The paper is scheduled for the third issue, to be published in May. It can't be published any earlier. But I can issue you an acceptance letter with an official seal."

"Okay. When can I get it?"

"next week."

After leaving Zhang Guangyuan's office, Ye Bingwen went to the school-run factory.

The factory manager, surnamed Sun, was a seasoned worker in his fifties. "Principal Liu told me they'll clear out a factory building for you, and you can choose equipment from the warehouse. When do you need it?"

"The sooner the better."

"That warehouse was cluttered with miscellaneous items, but it'll be clean in three days," Factory Manager Sun said, pointing to the lathes, milling machines, and drilling machines against the wall. "They're all old machines, but they're still usable."

Ye Bingwen chose a drilling machine, but said the lathe and milling machine needed repairing. Factory Director Sun agreed.

In the afternoon, Ye Bingwen went to the Light Industry Department.

Su Min was waiting for him in the office, a contract spread out on the table. "A framework agreement for five thousand motors, to be delivered in installments over three years. Thirty percent down payment, the first installment of fifteen thousand yuan will be deposited into your account next week."

Ye Bingwen took the contract and read it through.

"There's one more thing: the loan from the Provincial Industrial and Commercial Bank has been approved. It's 50,000 yuan, a three-year term, with an annual interest rate of four percent. The guarantor is the Light Industry Department."

Ye Bingwen was taken aback. "Fifty thousand yuan?"

"Yes. Enough for you to buy equipment, hire workers, and set up your business."

His hand holding the contract trembled slightly. A loan of 50,000 yuan, a prepayment of 15,000 yuan, plus the school's equipment—that would be enough to start the factory.

"Comrade Su, I don't know how to thank you."

"Work hard and get the factory up and running."

As he left the Light Industry Hall, it was getting dark. He boarded a bus and leaned against the window, watching the streetlights come on one by one.

When I got back to my apartment building, a black sedan was parked there. It was the old man's car.

The car door opened, the old man rolled down the window, and waved to him. Ye Bingwen walked over and got into the car.

"I know about the motor factory stealing your blueprints." The old man leaned back in his chair, his eyes closed. "The person Zhao Jianguo found in Shenyang is Professor Qian from the Shenyang Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. Professor Qian has already disassembled your control circuit and drawn up the schematic diagram. In another half month, they will be able to make a prototype."

Ye Bingwen's heart sank to the bottom.

"I'm not trying to scare you. I'm letting you know that your time is running out. Within half a month, you need to get the factory up and running, produce the product, and capture the market. Whoever launches it first is the original. Those who launch later are imitations."

The old man took a photograph out of his pocket. "Do you recognize this person?"

Ye Bingwen took the photo. A young woman, in her early thirties, wearing a red cotton-padded jacket, with permed curly hair. Zhao Min, a reporter from the provincial television station.

"Is she one of Zhao Jianguo's people?"

"She's not just Zhao Jianguo's person. She's Zhao Jianguo's niece. The last time I interviewed you, it wasn't for a report, it was to find out more about you."

Ye Bingwen clutched the photo, his fingers slowly tightening. That day, Zhao Min asked him many questions: technical details, partners, factory plans. He answered them all.

"She asked me about my factory plans."

"So Zhao Jianguo knew you wanted to set up your own factory, knew you wanted to cooperate with the Light Industry Bureau, and knew you were short of money." The old man sighed. "You've been exposed without even realizing it."

Ye Bingwen leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. After Zhao Min turned off the recorder, she said, "Zhao Jianguo also called the TV station this morning, saying there's a problem with your technology and that we shouldn't report on it." She was acting. First, she scared him, then comforted him, making him lower his guard.

"I was wrong."

"It's not your fault. She's a good actress." The old man looked at him. "It's not too late to know now. Remember, never believe anyone except your wife."

Ye Bingwen got out of the car. He went upstairs, where Zheng Shuyun was waiting for him; a hot meal was laid out on the table.

"Bingwen, why do you look so pale?"

Ye Bingwen placed the photo on the table. Zheng Shuyun picked it up and glanced at it. "Isn't this that reporter?"

"She is Zhao Jianguo's niece. The last time she came for an interview, she was doing some preliminary research for Zhao Jianguo. I told her about the factory plan, the partners, and the funding situation."

The room was quiet for a few seconds. An'an rolled over in her crib.

Zheng Shuyun walked over and took his hand. "You've learned your lesson. Just be more careful next time."

Ye Bingwen took the chopsticks, picked up a bite of food, chewed for a long time, but couldn't swallow it.

Outside the window, the winter night in Harbin was dark. But before dawn, he had one more thing to do. Tomorrow morning, he was going to the police station. Not to file a report, but to report someone. To report Director Wang for stealing technical blueprints, to report Factory Director Han for knowingly failing to report it, and to report Zhao Jianguo for instructing others to steal trade secrets.

He has no evidence, but he has witnesses. Liu Weidong. And Li Guoliang.

This time, he's going to take the initiative.