A Gathering

Just last month, Xiao Yi had seen the news. At the time, it said Hua Long Technology was conducting inspections across various inland provinces and was interested in the provincial capital of Nanjiang Province, though nothing had been finalized yet. There was only a seventy to eighty percent chance.

The name "Zhong Wei Technology" beside the red banner marked "Hua Long Technology" also sounded vaguely familiar to him. He seemed to have seen it somewhere before—most likely in an official local news report, newspaper, or television broadcast.

Zhou Feiyu stood beside Xiao Yi, naturally noticing the change in his expression. Smiling faintly, he gave a brief explanation. "Leader, this is Hua Long Technology, the number one mobile phone ODM manufacturer. It is also Fei Yang New Material's first customer, and an important one at that. They sent people from Peng City to attend Feiyang's opening ceremony. They're on the way and will be here shortly."

Xiao Yi slowly nodded. The news gave him a hint of shock. This new company, Fei Yang New Material, was anything but ordinary.

Financing of tens of millions and a valuation of over a hundred million had indeed surprised and excited Xiao Yi enough for him to come personally and offer his congratulations. But compared to a move by Hua Long Technology, which casually invested tens of billions or even over a hundred billion, it left him shocked, even solemn.

There was no other reason. The two were simply on entirely different scales!

If he could bring Hua Long Technology to Nanjiang County to invest and build a factory—if he could pull that massive project worth over a hundred billion, originally intended for the provincial capital, into Nanjiang County—then his achievement would be immense enough to propel him upward with ease.

"This is far too important. I shouldn't indulge in such unrealistic fantasies."

Xiao Yi quickly extinguished that little thought. He was a major leader in Nanjiang County, but in the context of all Nanjiang Province, he was no bigger than an ant. If he really diverted Hua Long Technology's project from the provincial capital to Nanjiang County, it might not be a good thing at all. It could even become a bad thing. This was a major event.

Xiao Yi then asked about the other companies. "President Zhou, are Zhong Wei Technology, Qian Jia Technology, and Di Guang Optics also Feiyang's customers?"

"Zhong Wei currently counts as one. We're still at the sample-delivery stage and haven't yet brought in orders for mass production."

Zhou Feiyu smiled as he explained, "As for Qian Jia Technology and Di Guang Optics, those two should be my competitors."

Xiao Yi found that rather strange and immediately asked, "Competitors are sending you banners too? Is there something behind this?"

"It's simple. Their products are too outdated and not as advanced as mine, so they're eager to cooperate with me."

Zhou Feiyu gave a simple answer, his expression utterly calm, but the meaning in his words was incomparably domineering.

Strength prevailed!

Xiao Yi understood perfectly. Good lord, he isn't holding back at all. It seems his technical strength is far more formidable than I imagined. My previous assessment was still too conservative.

Xiao Yi thought of the patents Fei Yang New Material had applied for.

Without question, only a powerful player with advanced patents, sitting firmly in an unassailable position, could possess the strength to make competitors bow their heads and curry favor.

"Feiyang's technological strength truly is extraordinary!"

Xiao Yi praised him, then added, "President Zhou, I see that Feiyang has applied for so many patented technologies. You are fully qualified to participate in the county's High-Tech Torch Program evaluation. Why haven't you submitted the materials?"

Zhou Feiyu was delighted inside and quickly said, "Thank you for your concern, Leader. Feiyang will submit the materials tomorrow."

No matter how slow one was, upon hearing a leader say that, one would know he was not truly asking why the materials had not been submitted. He was reminding him that he could submit them now.

"Mm!"

Xiao Yi nodded in satisfaction.

Time passed second by second, and the people who had come to show their support gradually arrived as well.

The person leading Di Guang Optics this time was still its vice president, Xiao Weidong.

Qian Jia Technology's owner, Yang Jiacheng, had not come. Instead, its board secretary, Wen Changhua, had arrived. As the company's corporate secretary, he was also one of Qian Jia Technology's higher-ranking executives, with a status comparable to a vice president. He had come with Yang Jiacheng last time, so he was considered "familiar" with Zhou Feiyu.

Zhong Wei Technology had sent four or five people. Apart from Peng Fan, an old acquaintance of Zhou Feiyu's, the others were complete strangers. Only after Peng Fan introduced them did Zhou Feiyu learn that their leader was Zhong Wei Technology's executive vice president, Chen Xi—the well-known figure in the mobile phone industry who had spoken with Zhou Feiyu on the phone that day.

"President Zhou truly is young and accomplished!"

Upon meeting him in person, Chen Xi could not help but sigh with emotion.

Hua Long Technology had also sent quite a few people. Leading them was Zhao Yongyong, a vice president in charge of strategic investments. The others included project director Wu Feng, Zhou Feiyu's old classmate Wang Wei, as well as a purchasing manager and a quality manager.

Zhou Feiyu naturally exchanged a round of pleasantries with Wang Wei.

Zhou Feiyu was also more enthusiastic toward the people from Hua Long Technology, after all, they were customers who had placed orders.

The display industry, especially the mobile phone display industry, was neither particularly small nor particularly large. The senior executives of Zhong Wei Technology and Hua Long Technology might not know one another well, but they definitely recognized one another. Now that they had run into each other, they naturally exchanged greetings. As for the two material suppliers, Qian Jia and Di Guang, they were even more familiar with the people from Zhong Wei and Hua Long. Both were suppliers to Zhong Wei and Hua Long and did plenty of relationship-building work in ordinary times. After their initial surprise, they too stepped forward to greet them.

"President Xiao, it seems Fei Yang New Material has already won over both Hua Long and Zhong Wei."

During the ceremony that followed, Xiao Yi spoke onstage, congratulating Fei Yang New Material on its opening. The people from Qian Jia and Di Guang sat below the stage. Qian Jia Technology's board secretary, Wen Changhua, could not help whispering to Di Guang's vice president, Xiao Weidong.

Xiao Weidong shrugged, his tone candid. "Can't be helped. Their material is just better."

Wen Changhua glanced up at the stage and continued in a low voice, "As for the investment matter, I don't think either of us has much hope. Looking at Hua Long and Zhong Wei's posture—especially Zhong Wei, which even sent President Chen—it seems they came with the determination not to give up until they secured an investment. Feiyang might very well end up in Zhong Wei's embrace."

Xiao Weidong chuckled and looked at him as he asked, "President Wen, do you truly think so?"

Wen Changhua looked confused. "Doesn't President Xiao think so?"

Xiao Weidong shrugged again and said nothing further, only silently cursing in his heart, We're both old foxes. Why are you trying to play games with me?

"...Once again, thank you to all the leaders and friends for attending the opening ceremony of Feiyang New Material Technology Co., Ltd. The company has prepared a generous lunch. Please join us shortly for the meal. Thank you!"

There was not much to say about the ceremony itself. They exchanged ceremonial pleasantries and lively words, invited the leaders and friends to say a few words onstage, and then Zhou Feiyu, as the host, gave a speech about Fei Yang New Material's plans. In truth, none of it carried much real significance.

Still, although these things had little meaning, many things in life had little meaning. Yet it was precisely these meaningless things that made life seem less stiff and dull, filling it instead with vivid vitality.

The ceremony ended with Zhou Feiyu's words of thanks. Then came lunch for the guests, followed by the afternoon negotiations.

In truth, the main event was in the afternoon, and everyone present knew it.

"Huh? What are they doing here?"

After stepping down from the stage, while directing everyone toward the cafeteria, Li Shihan, who was walking beside Zhou Feiyu, suddenly looked toward the factory gate. There, a figure seen from behind startled her greatly. It was her second uncle by marriage, Li Xingwen.

Zhou Feiyu froze and followed her gaze. He immediately saw Li Xingwen's familiar back as he hurriedly dragged a young man away from the factory gate. That figure also looked very familiar.

"So it was him!"

A thought flashed through Zhou Feiyu's mind, but he merely smiled afterward and ignored this unexpected occurrence, which did not even count as a minor interlude. He said to Li Shihan, "Let's go."

"...Thirty million for thirty percent of the shares. Beyond that, Hua Long is willing to cooperate with President Zhou with the greatest sincerity. We will not participate at all in the management of future research and development projects, and will only participate to a limited extent in production operations and financial management."

As suppliers, Qian Jia and Di Guang were scheduled for the final negotiations. Hua Long Technology, as the customer that had already placed orders, was first, while Zhong Wei Technology was second.

After lunch, the county leaders and Director Dong's group left. Before going, they did not forget to urge Fei Yang New Material to submit its application materials as soon as possible. They even gave Zhou Feiyu a private phone number, telling him to contact them if he needed anything.

Once they had left, Zhou Feiyu began discussions with Hua Long Technology first. Hua Long's people had been waiting for quite some time.

They exchanged a round of pleasantries upon meeting, then Zhao Yongyong, Hua Long's vice president of strategic investments, presented Hua Long's terms. Clearly, those terms had only been offered after extensive inquiries and intelligence gathering.

Zhou Feiyu shook his head before Zhao Yongyong had even finished. "Too low."

Zhao Yongyong smiled. "President Zhou, please hear me out. Beyond the terms above, Fei Yang New Material can leverage Hua Long Technology's massive platform to reach nearly every domestic customer, and even global customers, that can use FY-01 in a short time. No other company can compare in this regard. I believe that relying on Fei Yang New Material's own strength, it would take at least five years to achieve this. Five years—how many five-year periods does a person have in life? I also believe President Zhou will not limit himself to researching just FY-01. Is President Zhou really willing to spend those five years operating only this one material?"

It was quite a speech. It both flattered Zhou Feiyu and laid out the facts, giving people the sense that Hua Long Technology was the only correct choice.

Yet Zhou Feiyu remained unmoved.

Wang Lei and Li Shihan, standing nearby, did not react much either. They had already heard Zhou Feiyu explain this many times. Only Xiao Jianguo felt his blood boil and his mind race, as if he could barely breathe. At that moment, he had only one thought: No wonder my old classmate dared to start a business—he's this damn impressive? Fuck! Coming back this time was the right choice. Looks like I'm destined to prosper in the second half of my life!