Summer's End Offensive?
So they were going to start a price war.
Bergman was slightly stunned. He found it somewhat unbelievable. He had been dealing with those merchants from China for years; by all rights, they should have long since become familiar with one another. Why was everyone still so nervous?
It was only when Bergman returned to the technical R&D department that he learned the details from his colleagues.
For some reason, China's largest fast-fashion companies had made an unprecedentedly lavish move, booking newspaper front pages, prime-time television slots, online express channels, and expensive billboards along bustling streets.
The company was nervous because the other side's investment was simply too massive. Something abnormal was bound to have a sinister cause. For Chinese companies to spend so extravagantly, there had to be some hidden secret behind it.
Based on the intelligence currently available, the most likely explanation was the mysterious X1 synthetic fiber fabric.
With that thing, their Chinese rivals seemed to have taken a little blue pill. They suddenly stood tall, launching a shocking offensive to take on the international giants entrenched across continental Europe.
Bergman also discovered that he was not the only one sent to buy samples from their competitors. Nearly every colleague arrived at the company carrying bags and packages.
This practice was hardly new in the industry. A major part of fast-fashion work was copying. Whenever anyone released a new design, they had to buy it back immediately, make slight alterations, add some new elements and color schemes, then boldly slap on their own trademark.
The heads of every department had been summoned by the boss for a meeting, so Bergman and his colleagues idly chatted. Whatever the other departments thought, at least the technical department absolutely did not believe the Chinese could turn the tables.
After all, everyone knew that companies with top-tier R&D capabilities in materials chemistry were without exception Western companies. China only held an advantage in production and costs. When it came to developing new products, Europe and America were still the real powerhouses.
Before long, Clavensen, the head of the technical department, returned. He gathered his researchers and said gravely, "The boss takes this matter very seriously. According to information from multiple sources, it seems that Chinese companies have obtained an extremely formidable fabric this time. Its Quick-Dry Index is three times that of DuPont Group's top product."
The moment Clavensen finished speaking, the room erupted.
"Impossible. Three times the Quick-Dry Index of COOLMAX? How could such chemical fiber technology possibly exist in this world?"
"If the Chinese really had such heaven-defying capabilities, why wouldn't they go win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry?"
"A rumor! It has to be a rumor! If China has really become this formidable in materials chemistry, I'll gladly cut off my own head and feed it to rabbits!"
Half the researchers said they absolutely refused to believe it was true, while the other half remained silent.
This was hardly surprising. Nearly all of the world's mainstream chemical fiber products currently came from the West. It was common knowledge within the field that China was weak in materials chemistry. The researchers could not believe that their peers in the distant East had become so powerful overnight.
"Quiet down, all of you!"
Clavensen slapped the table and waited for everyone to quiet down before saying, "No matter what, this is the boss's order. Every group is to stop its current research and investigate X1 Fiber. Find out exactly what it is."
It was already late at night, yet the technical laboratory at H.M Group headquarters remained brightly lit.
Compared to the daytime bustle, the place had become deathly silent. Everyone deliberately lowered their voices when speaking, and their expressions did not look very good, as though they had run into something deeply troubling.
"Your group's data is out too?"
"Mm."
"How did it turn out?"
"Its antibacterial performance is first-rate. I don't know how they did it, but X1 Fiber contains a cationic antibacterial compound that can directly undergo grafting reactions with amino, hydroxyl, and carboxyl groups in molecules, forming ionic bonds capable of adsorbing bacteria."
"No way, X1 Fiber is antibacterial too!?"
"Mm. Its antibacterial capabilities rank among the best in the world."
"My God. It feels like I've had a nightmare. What happened today is just too terrifying."
Several researchers drank coffee as they murmured among themselves.
Quick-drying was indeed X1 Fiber's main selling point, but that did not mean it lacked other capabilities.
After testing, H.M Group's textile technology laboratory discovered that fabrics based on X1 Fiber also possessed antibacterial, anti-static, wrinkle-resistant, and a whole series of other properties.
To be fair, none of these properties alone would have caused such an enormous stir.
The key was that all of these properties were combined, along with quick-drying capabilities three times better than the world champion. That was extremely terrifying, extremely insane, and extremely inconceivable!
Clavensen, the technical director and a giant in the field of materials chemistry, sat in his office staring blankly at report after report in his hands.
In just one night, he seemed to have aged considerably. An unprecedented sense of powerlessness welled up inside him. What he felt now was neither anger nor jealousy, but utter despair.
The experience and confidence he had accumulated over a lifetime of study had all collapsed. X1 Fiber had shattered them completely. Such a heaven-defying existence had achieved a miracle deemed absolutely impossible in materials chemistry, kneading countless superior properties together and bringing them close to perfection.
"This may be the chemical fiber product closest to perfection since chemical fibers were first discovered in 1848."
Clavensen set down the test report in his hand and let out a long sigh, hoarse and powerless.
Sigh~
Several close aides and students around him sighed and shook their heads. If even Mr. Clavensen said so, then there truly seemed to be no chance.
Young Bergman's eyes were bloodshot, every strand of his hair standing on end like a beast that refused to surrender no matter what.
"Impossible! There can't be a perfect chemical fiber material in this world!" Bergman said, veins bulging at his temples. "X1 Fiber must have a weakness. We'll continue the experiments, find that weakness, and send those damned Chinese straight to the eighteenth level of hell!"
After hearing this, Clavensen slightly raised his eyelids to glance at Bergman, then turned to look out the window.
Without realizing it, dawn was gradually breaking. The sun rose once again from that damned East.
"A weakness?" Clavensen shook his head. "Bergman, you are one of my finest students, but I have to say that you lack sufficient judgment and perspective."
"At this point, do you still think this is merely the concern of a single fast-fashion apparel company?"
"To tell you the truth, X1 Fiber, with its heaven-defying properties, has already shaken the foundations of the Western world's chemical fiber industry. What happens next is no longer something we can control."
"Kidd?"
"I'm here, Professor."
"Take down a note. Later, send these test reports in the name of the company and our laboratory, with copies to DowDuPont Group in North America."
Scratch, scratch, scratch~
Kidd quickly wrote down DowDuPont Group in North America in his notebook, preparing to contact them later.
At the same time, the young people sitting in the office were all stunned. They gradually understood the meaning behind Mr. Clavensen's words.
There were undoubtedly experts on China's side!
So this was no longer something they could fight on their own. They needed to call upon the experts of the Western world, such as DowDuPont Group, ranked number one globally in chemistry and materials science.
"Germany, BASF Group."
Mr. Clavensen named another colossal powerhouse in the chemistry field. Kidd hurriedly wrote it down, while everyone else grew even more excited.
DowDuPont plus BASF?
Those were the two Mount Tianwangs of the global chemistry world!
"Switzerland, INEOS Group."
"North America, ExxonMobil Group."
"The Netherlands, LyondellBasell Group."
"Japan, Mitsubishi Chemical Group."
"South Korea, LG Chem Group."
"France, Arkema Group."
"Belgium, Solvay Group..."
As Mr. Clavensen recited the names of one untouchable behemoth after another in the chemical world, the office gradually fell silent once more.
After a long while, Mr. Clavensen finally stopped speaking. Kidd's notebook was already densely filled with writing.
His gaze swept across the faces of his students and subordinates before Clavensen said coldly, "Just wait for the show. Those foolish Chinese have no idea what kind of trouble they have stirred up this time."
Has everyone seen the news?
Today, it seems our country tossed something resembling a small space shuttle into low Earth orbit.
If the news is true, then that thing is pretty impressive.
Rabbits are awesome!
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