Chapter 229 Opening New Frontiers
A week later, Chen Jing returned to the Special Zone with a thick stack of contracts. She stayed only one day before heading back to the provincial capital with the newly resigned Duan Yongping and his deputy, Cao Xiaoliang. The eighteen-person team Duan Yongping had brought officially joined Yuanxin after completing onboarding procedures.
Wang Rui didn't return because he stayed in the Special Zone to help integrate the team.
Su Yuanshan personally went to the airport in the provincial capital to pick up Chen Jing and the others.
...
After asking Zhou Xiaohui to arrange accommodations for Duan Yongping and Cao Xiaoliang, Su Yuanshan took Chen Jing straight back to his office.
"Good work, Sister Jing," Su Yuanshan said, smiling as he personally brewed her a cup of floral tea. "Please, have some tea."
"Heh, yeah, it was a bit exhausting. That little mosquito-leg-sized market... and yet they really know how to grind you," Chen Jing said as she set the cup down, stretched her fingers, and let out a long sigh, visibly relaxing her whole body.
Seeing her like this, Su Yuanshan pulled up a chair and sat opposite her.
Chen Jing leaned back into the sofa, adjusted her mood slightly, and then pulled a contract from her briefcase, handing it over. "You'll handle the ministry side, right? I don't need to run around for that?"
Su Yuanshan took the contract, gave it a brief glance, then set it aside—he was already fully aware of its contents.
Yuanxin had invested $50 million in cash plus equipment valued at $180 million to acquire a 20% stake in TrueCorp.
The agreement outlined that Yuanxin would complete 90% urban base station coverage across Siam within fifteen months, totaling one hundred stations. Full national coverage would be achieved by the end of 1996.
With Yuanxin's backing, TrueCorp would be propelled onto the fast track of mobile communications.
As long as they managed operations well, becoming the number one telecom operator in Siam was no longer a dream.
"Just have my dad take care of it," Su Yuanshan chuckled. "It's just a matter of stamping a few seals."
Chen Jing tilted her head, brushing back her hair. "What did the higher-ups say about the contract?"
"They called it opening new frontiers," Su Yuanshan said, smiling.
"Pfft..." Chen Jing couldn't help but laugh. "This isn't exactly opening new territory. The whole of Siam doesn't even have as many people as one of our provinces. They only developed early because the West shifted manufacturing there to save costs. Now that China has fully entered the reform era, the wind will blow our way soon enough."
Su Yuanshan smiled warmly at her, feeling a rare surge of emotion.
Since joining Yuanxin, Chen Jing's vision and perspective had steadily grown.
As a CEO, she was now fully qualified.
Her only shortcoming was that she wasn't from the semiconductor industry and couldn't predict its future directions with precision.
But with Su Yuanshan guiding from behind, did that even matter?
No one could grasp the future of semiconductors better than he could.
He also recalled how the government leaders, upon hearing that Chen Jing had spent nearly half a month to secure such a deal, were deeply impressed — suggesting that the United Front Work Department ought to "express appreciation"...
After all, if you don't pull someone like this into your fold, who are you going to pull?
"Hmm, the situation will only keep improving," Su Yuanshan said, then asked, "What's your impression of Duan Yongping?"
At the mention of Duan Yongping, Chen Jing immediately became serious.
After all, this was no ordinary recruitment. Duan Yongping was by far the most significant figure Yuanxin had poached to date.
Given the vision and future of the Mobile Communications Division, Duan Yongping would inevitably become a senior executive and enter the company's core leadership circle.
After thinking carefully for a few seconds, Chen Jing answered solemnly:
"Outstanding background.
Entered university at 16, majored in radio communications at Zhejiang University, and later earned a master's degree in economics — a pedigree that most tech company CEOs can't match."
"And he's battle-tested too, having created hit products against the odds."
"Frankly, if he were a competitor at an equally strong company, I'd be worried about him."
"Worried?"
This was the first time Su Yuanshan had ever heard Chen Jing use that word. He blinked in surprise.
"I thought nothing scared you, Sister Jing."
"Heh, not fear. More like... he'd be a real headache," Chen Jing said with a laugh.
She crossed her legs, rested her chin on her hand, and gave Su Yuanshan a sideways glance, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
"You, on the other hand, always made me feel you were... overwhelmingly capable.
When you casually mentioned Schelling points the other day, I was stunned.
Seriously, what's in your head? I've never even seen you reading any serious economics books!"
"Learning never ends...
But I only know the basics," Su Yuanshan said awkwardly.
In truth, he was no expert in economics — after being reborn, he had only read a few books out of necessity.
Given a choice, he preferred delving into technology.
They chatted a little longer. Su Yuanshan packed up the contract, and the two headed downstairs together.
...
The next day, Su Yuanshan met privately with Duan Yongping.
The two talked in the office for nearly the entire morning.
That afternoon, Duan Yongping returned to his apartment and didn't come out again.
On the third day, Chen Jing convened the first quarterly meeting of the year.
Inside the meeting room, all of Yuanxin's primary department heads were present.
Seated to Chen Jing's left were the R&D heads led by Xi Xiaoding. To her right were the corporate heads led by Wan Yongliang.
This time, Wang Rui hadn't returned — his seat was now filled by Duan Yongping.
After the opening remarks, Chen Jing smiled toward Duan Yongping's side.
"Let me introduce a new colleague:
Duan Yongping, Director of the Mobile Communications Division.
He will be fully responsible for the production and sales of mobile communication equipment."
Su Yuanshan led the applause, and soon the whole room followed.
Duan Yongping quickly stood, cupped his hands in a traditional gesture of greeting, and bowed slightly.
"Alright, now onto the main agenda," Chen Jing said, smiling briefly before her expression turned serious.
"In the first quarter of this year, our primary focus was on promoting Yuanxin's mobile phone brand and entering the market."
"But after a full quarter plus the month of April, results have been... underwhelming."
"Meanwhile, according to Zhongxin's reports, the opening of caller ID services caused pager sales to plummet sharply in April.
Fortunately, Zhongxin swiftly adjusted pricing and repositioned the product, stabilizing the business."
"This clearly demonstrates that in the tech sector,
anyone can suffer a 'Han card incident' at any time."
(*Note: The 'Han card incident' refers to how Chinese character input cards were instantly made obsolete by the release of Windows 3.2 with built-in Chinese support.)
"Zhongxin's pager business being hit has forced them to refocus entirely on mobile phones."
"And Yuanxin — with foreign brands blocking our way ahead, and our own sister company chasing from behind —
must figure out how to move forward."
Chen Jing looked around the room and smiled slightly.
"And of course...
punching our little sister isn't an option."
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