290: How many chapters are there in Chapter 289?

Entering the mobile phone industry?

Wang Shuo was slightly stunned, then shook his head.

It wasn't that he didn't want to enter the mobile phone industry, but rather that mobile phones were no longer suitable for future development. According to his plan, zero egg was the perfect substitute for mobile phones.

Why did Wang Shuo set the price of zero egg at 13888? Why not add a zero to the end?

It was all for the sake of making it accessible to the masses, and to promote it in the most advantageous way.

The price of 13888 was neither too high nor too low.

It ensured his need to raise funds quickly while avoiding discouraging people due to a high price.

After all, in this day and age, it wasn't uncommon for phones equipped with low-performance Chips to sell for 68888.

In comparison, wasn't zero egg much better than that?

Facts proved that Wang Shuo's decision was correct.

Pre-orders for zero egg were exceptionally hot, and among those ordering, there was no shortage of middle-income working-class people.

This group was the solid guarantee for whether zero egg could expand in the future.

Seeing Wang Shuo shake his head, General Manager Yu Tongguang breathed a slight sigh of relief and said, "My condition is that I need a guarantee from you, President Wang."

General Manager Yu Tongguang's gaze lifted slightly.

"I need you, President Wang, to guarantee that you will not enter the mobile phone or wearable device field for at least five years."

Wang Shuo was slightly surprised.

What kind of condition was this?

Was this even allowed?

Restricting the other party's development path through a contract?

Looking at Wang Shuo's puzzled eyes, General Manager Yu Tongguang's gaze remained calm and unyielding.

Wang Shuo did not hesitate; he nodded gently and promised, "I will not enter the mobile phone manufacturing field."

Having obtained Wang Shuo's promise, General Manager Yu Tongguang felt a bit more relaxed.

This was a condition he had suddenly thought of.

He didn't know why, but whenever he thought about the other party entering the mobile phone manufacturing industry, he felt that something bad would happen, as if once the other party competed with him, Huaneng Technology's consumer business would suffer a heavy blow.

This feeling was strange, but very real, and General Manager Yu Tongguang chose to believe it.

In order to avoid a situation of competing in the same field as Frontier Technology, he specifically risked offending people to make this request, and the price was agreeing to the other party's profit-sharing cooperation model.

His thoughts were complex, but what he revealed was very simple.

In just two or three sentences of conversation, General Manager Yu Tongguang had already signed what he considered the most satisfying cooperation agreement in history with Wang Shuo.

Rights and wrongs are sometimes really hard to explain clearly.

After finishing the details, General Manager Yu Tongguang picked up his teacup and took a sip of the now slightly cool tea.

He gently placed the teacup on the table, rubbed it with his fingers, and pondered how to start with the real purpose of his visit today.

He Chenguang had been observing General Manager Yu Tongguang's movements, and seeing him slightly hesitate, he knew that the main point of the day was finally coming.

His eyes lit up slightly.

He knew the purpose of General Manager Yu Tongguang's visit to Frontier Technology this time.

The cooperation agreement just reached could only be considered an appetizer, but it also started things off well for what was to be discussed next today.

It was just that he didn't know... how would General Manager Yu Tongguang cooperate this time?

Finally, General Manager Yu Tongguang spoke up.

"President Wang," General Manager Yu Tongguang said, "I just heard that your company also has some cooperation with the Chinese Academy of Sciences?"

Wang Shuo nodded: "Yes."

"May I be so bold as to ask, what aspect of cooperation is it?"

Wang Shuo looked up at General Manager Yu Tongguang, seemingly understanding why he had come here.

He did not hide it and stated very frankly: "Chips."

General Manager Yu Tongguang's gaze tightened slightly.

Sure enough, He Chenguang hadn't guessed wrong; Wang Shuo's goal was indeed Chip manufacturing.

"Also, it's not just the Chinese Academy of Sciences; HUST is also involved." Wang Shuo said solemnly: "They are the main members of the technical team."

HUST is also involved?

General Manager Yu Tongguang was slightly surprised.

They had also cooperated with HUST before, and he had met Principal Ding of HUST a few times.

He knew the temperament of that principal at HUST very well. For such a big matter, if there wasn't enough certainty, that Principal Ding would almost certainly not have agreed.

So... could this matter succeed?

Thinking to himself, General Manager Yu Tongguang cast his gaze toward He Chenguang beside him.

This young man, highly valued by Elder Ren, had resolutely given up his million-dollar annual salary and resigned after coming into contact with Frontier Technology. He didn't think this was a coincidence.

"President Wang." General Manager Yu Tongguang deliberated his words. Although Wang Shuo opposite him was just a young man even younger than He Chenguang, he didn't know why, but he always felt like he was facing Elder Ren.

"Although asking this might seem impolite, I still want to ask: regarding the Chip, to what extent have you prepared? And how much certainty do you have?"

Wang Shuo smiled calmly.

How much certainty?

For a mere improvement on an existing Chip, if he still had to ask about his own certainty, then the Humanoid Race could just take out the core in their brains and hand it over to someone else.

Without speaking, Wang Shuo just opened his mobile phone, jumped to a page, and then pushed the phone in front of General Manager Yu Tongguang.

General Manager Yu Tongguang looked at the phone screen with some confusion.

What was displayed on it was the widely publicized news about Wanji Semiconductor and Samsung Semiconductor simultaneously banning Frontier Technology.

General Manager Yu Tongguang had already seen this news, and for a moment, he didn't understand Wang Shuo's meaning.

"General Manager Yu Tongguang, you have seen it too." Wang Shuo said calmly: "Our company has currently encountered unprecedented difficulties, and the way to get out of the predicament is the Chip. Whether the Super Chip can be successfully developed and mass-produced directly relates to whether our company will exist in the future."

"So you want to ask me how much certainty I have?"

"My answer is — 100 percent!"

Wang Shuo's voice was sonorous and powerful.

"This is a fight to the death. I absolutely will not allow Frontier Technology to fall on the eve of its rise because of a small Chip. Even if I have to sell everything I own and bet everything, I will get this Chip made!"

General Manager Yu Tongguang looked at Wang Shuo's impassioned speech in astonishment.

Meanwhile, He Chenguang on the side had a strange expression.

If he hadn't come into contact with the theoretical technology of the Super Chip, he would have almost believed Wang Shuo's nonsense.

However... President Wang actually had 100 percent confidence in producing the Super Chip?

He Chenguang was slightly thoughtful.

Chip manufacturing is extremely complex. After mastering the theory, turning theory into reality requires more cutting-edge manufacturing processes to achieve. This is also why only a small number of companies currently can master manufacturing technology.

There are many companies that can design high-end Chips.

But there are only a few large companies in the world that can truly turn design drawings into Chips.

This is not to say that manufacturing is harder than design, but simply because Chip manufacturing itself is a challenge to the limits of existing physical theory.

At the microscopic level, even a tiny mistake will be infinitely magnified, eventually leading to failure.

Therefore, precise processes and equipment are particularly important.

So... President Wang not only has the theory but also has perfect processes, and even the manufacturing equipment?

He Chenguang was startled by this thought of his own.

General Manager Yu Tongguang watched Wang Shuo's performance quietly, feeling slightly helpless.

He hadn't experienced this kind of exaggerated performance in many years.

But no matter how exaggerated Wang Shuo was, he still grasped what he wanted to express.

100 percent certainty.

Even if he halved this number for the sake of prudence, it would still be 50 percent certainty.

50 percent is not low.

Their Huaneng Group had been working in the field of Chip design for ten consecutive years, and he wouldn't dare say that his own Chip had a 50 percent chance of success.

Now, the problem was right in front of him.

50 percent certainty, to get on this train... himself, or rather Huaneng Group... should they get on or not?

Although Elder Ren had fully empowered him, when actually facing this problem, he still felt a lot of pressure.

He could choose not to get on this train, but if he didn't, where would the next train be?

General Manager Yu Tongguang rubbed his temples with a headache.

Before today, the question of whether to get on the train or not wasn't really a big issue.

Their Huaneng Group had never thought about achieving success in Chip manufacturing; the only idea was to design a Chip that belonged to Huaxia itself. As for manufacturing, it could completely be left to a foundry.

They were more professional and more efficient.

But after today, everything was different.

Frontier Technology was suddenly jointly banned by two Chip foundry companies, giving both Elder Ren and him a deep sense of crisis.

They knew very well why Frontier Technology was banned, so it was inevitable to have a feeling of 'the rabbit dies and the fox grieves' — today it was Frontier Technology, so what about tomorrow? Was there a possibility that Huaneng Group would reach this day?

When their products were sold throughout Huaxia, went abroad, covered the world, and touched others' cake, would Huaneng Group also be banned like this?

Or even worse than now?

So the purpose of this visit had changed from inspection to assistance.

General Manager Yu Tongguang looked up slightly, looked at Wang Shuo in front of him, and asked in a deep voice: "President Wang, if Huaneng Group wants to join your Chip project, what do we need to pay? And what will we get?"

Wang Shuo's eyes narrowed slightly. From this sentence, he heard a tone of certainty.

"Personnel, technology, venue, production processes, and samples can all be handled by me. Huaneng Group only needs to provide financial support. After the new Chip company is officially established, your company will hold 30 percent of the shares, while Huazhong University of Science and Technology and the Chinese Academy of Sciences will each hold 10 percent. I will contribute technology as a stake and hold 50 percent of the shares."

"As for what your company can get."

"Besides dividends, your company will also get a Central Processing Unit with performance dozens of times higher than existing Chips, and..."

Wang Shuo looked up slightly.

"A solid rear base."

General Manager Yu Tongguang was not surprised, nor did he question it; he nodded slowly.

He could not care about other things, but the last thing Wang Shuo said — a solid rear base — was exactly what Huaneng Group cared about the most right now.

"If that's the case..."

General Manager Yu Tongguang looked up slightly, his voice clear and audible: "On behalf of Huaneng Group, I formally apply to your company to join the Super Chip project."

This was a very serious moment, and Wang Shuo also nodded seriously.

"Welcome, Huaneng Group, to the project."

The two stretched out their hands, shook them together, and smiled at each other.

He Chenguang watched the scene in front of him excitedly from the side. He had a feeling that this would be a scene recorded in history, and he was fortunate to witness it on the spot.

Releasing his hand, General Manager Yu Tongguang seemed to have had a weight lifted off his mind. His expression eased a bit, and he asked with a smile: "So President Wang, now you can introduce the project preparation situation to me."

Hmm... this preparation situation, how should he put it...

Wang Shuo was a bit embarrassed to speak.

If it were Chen Zhongxuan, he would bluff however he wanted; anyway, he had no psychological burden bluffing an old fox.

But facing a partner who was already joining the project, exaggerating again wouldn't be right.

"Hmm... General Manager Yu Tongguang, I'll just tell the truth." Wang Shuo decided to be a bit more frank: "Currently, the team has been formed, the technology already has a prototype, and everything else is still being prepared."

General Manager Yu Tongguang's smile froze for a moment: "President Wang, what do you mean..."

"The technology and people are there; now I lack money, a venue, and equipment." Wang Shuo spread his hands, dropping the pretense.

General Manager Yu Tongguang showed a bitter smile: "President Wang, why do I feel like we've boarded a pirate ship?"

Wang Shuo shook his head calmly: "Of course it's not a pirate ship. How could a pirate ship have people and technology?"

Shaking his head helplessly, General Manager Yu Tongguang sighed and said: "It really is a pirate ship, easy to get on but hard to get off. Fine, since I've taken the shares, I have to do something."

"How about this, President Wang." General Manager Yu Tongguang said: "The startup capital will be provided by our Huaneng Group, and the subsequent funds will be raised together, how about that?"

"However, in this case, the land will need to be provided by the remaining two parties, which can be counted as their contribution."

General Manager Yu Tongguang understood very well that after all the calculations, technology was the most important, so he never asked Wang Shuo to provide more things, and even less would he ask where the technology came from.

These things would have detailed agreements when signing the contract; now it was just a preliminary intention.

"That's acceptable, very fair." Wang Shuo nodded gently, then turned to ask: "However, how much capital is your company prepared to provide in the early stage? If it's too little, it might delay the project progress."

Doing the math, he could now come up with at least nearly 2 billion, including Chen Zhongxuan's 1 billion, the 500 million investment, and the 500 million in the company's account.

HUST could only provide personnel, and in terms of funds, they could pay at most 100 million, which was better than nothing.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences could provide land, but might have some difficulties with funds, so they were just hanging their name for now.

Now with Huaneng Group, and raising a bit more, the factory could start construction immediately.

"President Wang can rest assured about this; we are following international practice." General Manager Yu Tongguang smiled and said: "The first installment will pay 30 percent of the total cost of building the wafer fab, totaling..."

Under Wang Shuo's gaze, General Manager Yu Tongguang held up three fingers.

3 billion?

Wang Shuo nodded slightly.

With Huaneng Group's scale, it was absolutely impossible to bring out 300 million to make a fool of themselves; that wouldn't be participating in a project, that would be shooing away a beggar.

Casually picking up his teacup to take a sip of water, just as Wang Shuo was preparing to nod, he heard General Manager Yu Tongguang calmly spit out a few words.

"30 billion!"

"Pfft."

Before Wang Shuo could spray out his water, He Chenguang on the side had already sprayed out a waterfall.

Wang Shuo had no time to pay attention to him, staring blankly at General Manager Yu Tongguang, his voice somewhat incredulous.

"How much?"