The winter of Magic City is completely different from that of Boca Chica.
When Zhao Chen walked out of Pudong Airport, a gust of moist and cold air rushed towards him, bringing Jiangnan the kind of chill that penetrates into the bones that is unique to winter.
Su Wantang came up to him from the airport reception hall and handed him a dark gray cashmere coat.
"Zhou Bingcheng has an appointment over there, tomorrow morning, Green Energy Technology Zhangjiang Laboratory."
Zhao Chen took the coat and put it on.
"Have you arranged the samples?"
"Chen Xi has communicated with Zhou Bingcheng.
Green Energy Technology is preparing, in accordance with the inspection standards of Tesla Materials Laboratory, three sets of parallel samples, each set is not less than five kilograms.
When you go tomorrow, you should be able to see with your own eyes the packaging process of the samples."
Zhao Chen nodded. Su Wantang never needed him to worry about anything.
The next morning, Zhangjiang.
Green Energy Technology's laboratory is hidden deep in an inconspicuous office building. When Zhao Chen's car parked downstairs, Zhou Bingcheng was already waiting at the door.
He was wearing a pair of work clothes that had been washed a bit and had Green Energy Technology's logo printed on the left chest. His hair was a bit whiter than when Chen Xi went to negotiate with Chongqing.
But the look in his eyes has not changed, it is still the same look as if he finally saw the bright light at the exit after walking in the tunnel for four years.
"Zhao Zong." Zhou Bingcheng came up to him, and when he extended his hand, he held it with both hands.
"Mr. Chen said that you just came back from United States, and you came directly to Zhangjiang without the jet lag."
"Some things can't wait. I don't have time to get jet-lagged."
Zhou Bingcheng didn't say much, turned around and led Zhao Chen towards the laboratory.
Passing through two security doors that require card swiping, and passing through a corridor with floor-to-ceiling glass windows on both sides, Green Energy Technology's Pilot Line spread out in front of Zhao Chen's eyes.
Stainless steel Reactor, vacuum drying oven, high-temperature sintering furnace, powder processing equipment, large and small equipment are arranged in a compact assembly line along the process route.
Engineers wore clean clothes and shuttled between various processes. When they saw Zhou Bingcheng leading a stranger in, they just raised their heads and continued to work on their own hands.
"This is Pilot Line from Third-Generation Formula."
Zhou Bingcheng stands in front of a Reactor,
"From Powder Synthesis to molding and sintering, all process parameters are explored by ourselves.
Zhao Zong, I won't tell you too many technical details, and you may not be interested if I do.
I only want to say one thing - after this line is run through, the cost of Green Energy Technology is Thermal Storage Material,
It went from being 40% higher than the mainstream products in the market four years ago to 35% lower."
Zhao Chen stood in front of Reactor, looking through the observation window at the ongoing Powder Synthesis reaction inside.
He doesn't know much about materials and technology, but he knows how to judge whether a person really believes in what he is doing.
When Zhou Bingcheng stood next to him and explained, his voice was not high and his speaking speed was not fast, but every word seemed to be burned out of the Pilot Line.
With a kind of warmth that doesn't require anyone to believe, but that I firmly believe in.
After the visit, Zhou Bingcheng took Zhao Chen to a room Small Meeting Room next to the laboratory.
There is a row of sealed sample bags on the table. Each bag is labeled with the sample number, batch, weight and date.
Three technicians are using aluminum foil bags to perform final Vacuum Packaging on the samples, and their movements are as detailed as if they are handling some kind of fragile and precious cultural relics.
"Zhao Zong, this is the sample to be sent to United States.
According to the inspection standard of Tesla Materials Laboratory, there are three sets of parallel samples, each set is five kilograms. After the packaging is completed, the entire process is temperature-controlled and transported."
Zhou Bingcheng stood by the table, his eyes falling on the bags of samples.
"To be honest, when I heard the news from Mr. Chen, I couldn't sleep all night."
Zhao Chen picked up a bag of sealed samples and looked at the off-white powder inside through the transparent window of the aluminum foil bag.
It was these powders that made Elon Musk flip through the test reports twice under the sunshine of Boca Chica.
It was these powders that made a global technology icon who had never invested in China companies say the words "I will go to Magic City".
"Zhao Zong." Zhou Bingcheng's voice suddenly became a little tight,
"Can Green Energy Technology's technology really be incorporated into Tesla's Supply Chain?"
Zhao Chen Put the sample bag back on the table.
"Mr. Zhou, I won't make any promises to you until things are confirmed.
Send the sample to United States, Tesla's own material laboratory will make Independent Testing.
Until the test results come out, everything is unknown."
Zhou Bingcheng's lips moved, as if he wanted to ask more questions, but Zhao Chen had already continued.
"But one thing is certain now."
Zhou Bingcheng sat up slightly.
"In the meeting with Industrial Capital three days later, Green Energy Technology's valuation of Series B cannot be less than eight billion."
Meeting Room was quiet for a moment.
The sound of Pilot Line's equipment running outside the window could be heard faintly, like a low river.
Zhou Bingcheng's fingers tightened slightly on the table.
Eight billion.
The last time he negotiated with Chen Xi, the valuation of The Times was 5 billion after the investment.
Five billion was the number he reported through gritted teeth, because he knew that Industrial Capital would not give a higher price, because he knew that Green Energy Technology had no other choice.
And now, Zhao Chen stood in his laboratory, in front of the row of samples that were about to be sent to United States, and changed five billion to eight billion.
"Zhao Zong, the number eight billion--" Zhou Bingcheng's voice was a little dry.
"It's the lowest line." Zhao Chen took over his words,
"If Industrial Capital is unwilling to accept a valuation of more than 8 billion, Henglong will exercise all its co-investment rights.
20% of the shares belong to Henglong, and we will definitely not give up.
What Industrial Capital can give, Henglong may not be able to give. What Industrial Capital cannot give--"
His eyes fell on the bags of samples, "Henglong is already giving them."
Zhou Bingcheng was silent for a long time.
The Pilot Line equipment outside the window was still running, and the stirring sound of Reactor came through the corridor, low and continuous, like some kind of heartbeat that would never stop.
"Zhao Zong, I believe in you."
Zhou Bingcheng finally spoke. His voice was not high, but every word was steady.
"Eight billion. At the meeting in three days, I will negotiate at this price."
Zhao Chen nodded, turned around and walked out of the laboratory.
When he reached the door, he paused.
"Mr. Zhou, after the sample packaging is completed, hand it over to Chen Xi.
She will arrange for international Cold-Chain Logistics to be sent directly to Tesla Fremont Materials Laboratory.
The testing cycle takes about three to five days. After the test results come out--"
Zhao Chen paused, "If there is no problem with the data, I will give you a chance to meet Elon Musk."
Zhou Bingcheng stood in front of the row of samples. The off-white powder was sealed in an aluminum foil bag, as quiet as some kind of sleeping energy.
He opened his mouth to ask who that person was, but Zhao Chen had already opened the door and walked out.
Zhangjiang The winter sun reflects off the glass curtain wall of the office building, casting a pale golden light spot on Zhao Chen's coat.
Su Wantang opened the car door and sat in the back seat. The moment the car door closed, Magic City's noise was cut off.
"Go back to the hotel?" Su Wantang asked.
"You come with me to the meeting in three days," he said.
Su Wantang turned his head and looked at him.
"Zhou Bingcheng is a good person technically and very practical in negotiation.
Over there Industrial Capital, the people sent by Dening Times and Bidiya will not be simple.
They are accustomed to using their industrial chain voice to suppress the valuation of start-up companies. Five billion is not their bottom line, but their tentative quotation."
Zhao Chen's voice is not high-pitched, but every word carries a kind of certainty brought back from Boca Chica.
"But it's different now. Green Energy Technology has samples in hand, and Tesla's materials laboratory is waiting for these samples.
Industrial Capital doesn't know this information, but they will know it soon.
At the meeting three days later, I want Zhou Bingcheng to put this information on the table at the most appropriate time and in the most appropriate way."
Su Wantang nodded slightly.
The car drove past the iconic sculpture of Zhangjiang Hi-Tech and got on Inner Ring Elevated Road.
The skyline of Magic City spreads out in the distance, and the outlines of Oriental Pearl and Jin Mao Tower are vaguely visible in the winter mist.
Green Energy Technology needs to make Industrial Capital understand one thing at the negotiation table three days later -
From today on, Green Energy Technology no longer has the only path of Industrial Capital.
What Zhao Chen has to do is to make Zhou Bingcheng believe that he walked this road with him.