Chapter 108 - The Lithography Machine Moves
Jiangdu Building.
To welcome back Su Yuanshan and Xi Xiaoding, Chen Jing had prepared a small welcome ceremony — just her and a few senior managers greeting them in the reception area.
After meeting, they all moved into the conference room for an informal high-level meeting.
Because it was unofficial, the atmosphere was very relaxed.
Everyone mostly chatted with Xi Xiaoding and Su Yuanshan, and during these casual conversations, Su Yuanshan gave a "report" on his month-long journey to Silicon Valley.
"Alright, let's get back to business.
If we keep chatting, someone's going to start selling sunflower seeds here," Su Yuanshan joked as he got up and walked to the main seat, smiling at Chen Jing.
"Sister Jing, let me be the boss today."
Chen Jing pursed her lips and smiled.
Normally, she chaired company meetings, with Su Yuanshan sitting in the second seat according to international practice — the spot for the second-in-command.
Today, letting Su Yuanshan "play boss" was a small ceremony, symbolically announcing the power structure of Yuanchip.
In the new structure, Chen Jing would be CEO, and Xi Xiaoding would be CTO.
In terms of corporate hierarchy, Chen Jing would be more authoritative.
However, at Yuanchip, Xi Xiaoding was not only CTO of the company but also Chief Scientist of the Yuanchip Technology Park.
Thus, the company would remain science and technology-focused.
But among those present — mainly tech staff except for Finance Manager Tang Jie and newly recruited Marketing Manager Xue Qinhua — few understood the deeper meaning.
"Let's do a quick summary and look ahead," Su Yuanshan said, clearing his throat.
"Recently, Yuanchip hasn't made much money — although everyone knows Xinghai's account has several hundred million dollars, officially, that's my private money."
Hearing this, everyone straightened up a little — it was a subtle but important reminder.
Formally, the offshore Xinghai company's shareholders were only three people: Su Yuanshan, his father, and his uncle.
Of those, the father and uncle were mere figureheads — the real owner was Su Yuanshan.
"Of course," Su Yuanshan continued, "you all know...
I'm not really attached to money."
He suddenly remembered something Jack Ma once said in the future:
"Would I be beaten up if I said that?"
Xi Xiaoding, smiling nearby, said, "Keep going and we'll find out."
"So, I'll continue — all of Xinghai's money will be fully reinvested back into Yuanchip, into research."
"All of it!" he repeated.
"Meanwhile, by next year, Yuanchip will achieve several major goals."
"First, the EDA division will be spun off into a separate company initially controlled by Yuanchip, then will open up for multiple investors, especially our strategic partners.
It might even go public domestically."
Su Yuanshan looked at Jiang Wanchao: "When that happens, EDA and Yuanchip won't have a superior-subordinate relationship anymore — it'll be a cooperative relationship.
Brother Jiang, we look forward to working with you."
Jiang Wanchao's face trembled with emotion.
Although Su Yuanshan had mentioned it a month ago, now that it was officially announced, he couldn't help feeling excited.
He took a deep breath and laughed, "Understood!
Everything to confuse the enemy!"
Su Yuanshan corrected him seriously, "No — it's to make EDA a giant rooted in China that sweeps the industry."
"Second, Shanghai will become our development focus for the next few years.
Yuanchip and Xinghai will jointly establish Xinghai Hi-Tech in Shanghai.
Although it will technically be controlled by Xinghai, it will be operated and dominated by Yuanchip."
"Its main business will be CPU design and manufacturing."
"Third, before the VCD officially hits the market, we'll set up a Home Appliance Division.
Starting from the current VCD business, we'll expand into the entire home audio-visual electronics field.
Of course, that has little to do with most of you."
"Fourth — and this concerns everyone's personal interests — Yuanchip will not seek a public listing, but will introduce virtual stock options and an employee shareholding plan."
"In plain words — giving everyone an iron rice bowl."
Su Yuanshan smiled, "Employees can retire after at least 25 years and cash out their shares — or keep working until traditional retirement age if they prefer."
"In addition, Yuanchip will also gradually improve employee benefits: housing, healthcare, children's education, and so on."
He glanced around the room, laughing, "Apart from Sister Tang and Manager Xue, none of you have kids yet, right?"
"Basically no one," someone responded.
"Good. Then you'll be able to fully enjoy these benefits later."
"And finally, about equipment and material needs — all R&D groups can start submitting purchase requests."
After the meeting, Xi Xiaoding went upstairs to the EDA division to visit his old colleagues.
Su Yuanshan stayed behind with Chen Jing, heading into the office for a private chat.
"Jing Jie, I need to build a physics lab..." Su Yuanshan said, sitting on the sofa, fingers interlocked, frowning slightly as he looked at her.
"What equipment do you need?"
"Scanning tunneling microscopes, ultra-low-temperature systems... basically everything a condensed matter physics lab should have."
Chen Jing crossed her legs neatly, placed her folder on her lap, and smiled while sighing,
"You really think I'm a magic genie, huh?"
"I asked around in Silicon Valley. Apart from a few special devices, most of it can still be purchased.
It's for research, after all..." Su Yuanshan grinned. "Please?"
Chen Jing smiled helplessly, "Alright, I'll do my best.
But seriously, if you spin off the EDA division, Yuanchip will immediately lose a lot of income —
are you really that confident about VCDs?"
Su Yuanshan nodded vigorously, "Of course!
It's not just me — the market is confident too.
And besides, our existing products like single-chip microcontrollers can already support the current headcount.
And next year, the chip market will definitely heat up."
At that moment, the phone rang.
Chen Jing answered it, glanced at Su Yuanshan, and covered the receiver, smiling,
"It's Li Gong."
"Which Li Gong?"
"Li Mingliu," she said, passing the phone to him.
"Congratulations — he says the lithography machine is moving!"
Congratulations? Moving?
Su Yuanshan's heart leapt.
He picked up the phone:
"Senior Li, I'm back."
"Hahaha! You're finally back! Without saying a word!
The lithography machine is running!"
Suppressing his excitement, Su Yuanshan said, "Give me the details!"
"Simply put, we skipped the chip design tape-out stage," Li Mingliu explained.
"Instead, we implemented the chip design directly onto a PLD (Programmable Logic Device) board.
We assembled it into a machine for testing — and it worked!"
On the other end, Li Mingliu laughed freely, sounding completely relaxed and proud.
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