197: Chapter 197 Official Blacklist!

Beijing, the Central Government Procurement Center building. The scene of the office equipment bidding conference.

Wang Li, Sales Director of Lenovo Group, walked into the hall with his team.

He straightened his tie; inside his briefcase was the meticulously prepared tender document.

Wang Li knew this was Lenovo's last chance.

"President Wang, look, there are many familiar faces," the assistant whispered.

Wang Li scanned the surroundings; the venue was crowded with people.

Most were representatives of domestic PC manufacturers; he saw the banners of Huawei, Hasee, and Qingfang Tongfang.

These former "friendly competitors" were now standing on the opposite side.

At the entrance of the hall, security personnel stood tall.

Wang Li walked toward the entrance of the main venue with a professional smile on his face.

"Hello, we are from Lenovo Group." Wang Li took out his entry permit.

"Here is our invitation."

The security personnel did not take Wang Li's invitation.

They simply extended their arms and blocked the entrance.

"Sorry, representatives of Lenovo Group are not allowed to enter," one of them said calmly.

The smile froze on Wang Li's face. He looked up, feeling a sense of unease.

"What do you mean?" Wang Li raised his voice.

"We are a gold-tier supplier! We've cooperated with the procurement center for twenty years!"

"I have a formal entry ticket in my hand!" Wang Li waved the permit.

The noise in the hall quieted down a bit. Many eyes turned toward them.

Huawei's representative, Hu Ming, stood not far away. He cleared his throat.

President Li Ming, the Director of the Procurement Center, walked quickly out of the main venue.

He held a formal government document in his hand.

President Li Ming walked up to Wang Li, ignored his invitation, and simply held the document up to his chest.

"President Wang, please step back," President Li Ming said in a flat tone.

Wang Li looked at President Li Ming. An ominous premonition weighed on his heart as he took a step back.

President Li Ming opened the document and began to read aloud to everyone present.

"Representatives of the enterprises, friends from the media," President Li Ming's voice was loud and clear.

"According to the instructions of relevant state departments."

"I will now read: 'Guiding Opinions on Further Strengthening National Information Security and the Independent Controllability of Key Equipment'."

The hall fell completely silent as everyone watched the scene.

President Li Ming turned a page and paused briefly.

"Guiding Opinions, Article Two," President Li Ming continued reading.

"To safeguard national information security."

"To ensure the security of critical infrastructure and data."

"Following a decision by the National Information Security Review Commission."

"Enterprises and products that have security risks or pose a serious threat to national information security."

"Will be included in the 'Unreliable Entity List'."

Wang Li's breathing quickened as he stared at the document in President Li Ming's hand.

He clenched his fists.

President Li Ming's voice rang out again. Every word made Wang Li's scalp tingle.

"The list is as follows."

"Lenovo Group and its affiliated companies."

"Are included in the 'Unreliable Entity List'."

Wang Li's body swayed; he felt the world spinning.

Behind him, the assistant's face turned deathly pale.

President Li Ming closed the document, set it aside, and then looked at Wang Li.

"President Wang, please leave," President Li Ming said politely.

"Do not come back in the future."

"State agencies will no longer use any products containing backdoor programs."

Wang Li stood there dazed, his mind a complete blank.

He heard the whispers of those around him and saw the thoughtful expression on Hu Ming's face.

There were others whose gazes toward him carried an undisguised sense of schadenfreude.

Wang Li slowly turned around, feeling his legs go weak.

Step by step, he walked out of the Government Procurement Center building.

The Lenovo team followed closely behind, looking like a pack of stray dogs.

Outside the building, the sunlight was blinding, and Wang Li felt a wave of dizziness.

At seven o'clock that same evening, Xinwen Lianbo began its broadcast on time.

Yang Qing sat in his spacious living room, a glass of red wine on the coffee table.

Swirling his glass with a weary expression, he thought he had already passed the most difficult time.

"Next is an important news item," the anchor's voice was steady.

On the TV screen, images of the Government Procurement Center building appeared, along with a close-up of Director President Li Ming reading the document.

Yang Qing's body froze, and his hand holding the wine glass stopped mid-air.

"Recently, the Central Government Procurement Center held its annual office equipment bidding conference," the anchor continued.

"This bidding conference fully implemented the 'Domestic Substitution' strategy."

"It clearly stated that all office equipment must adopt independently controllable technology."

"Among them, the 'Chongming' architecture developed by Star Technology."

"Has been listed as the only designated standard."

Yang Qing's wine glass slipped from his hand.

The TV screen switched, showing a close-up of Star Technology's 'Chongming' logo. The anchor's voice continued.

"Additionally, it is understood that some enterprises with information security risks have been included in the 'Unreliable Entity List'."

"Products from the relevant enterprises will be gradually phased out of the national procurement catalog."

Yang Qing tried to stand up, but his legs refused to obey.

Announcements from various major state-owned enterprises began to play on the screen.

"State Grid has issued an announcement."

"Within three months, Lenovo equipment will be completely removed and replaced with Xingchen Alliance products."

"PetroChina has issued an announcement."

"Huaguo Bank has issued an announcement."

"China Mobile has issued an announcement."

Each announcement struck Yang Qing's heart like a heavy blow; his body began to tremble, and his spirit began to collapse.

In the news footage, he saw the representatives of those who were once "gold-tier suppliers."

Yang Qing slumped back onto the sofa, his breathing becoming heavy as cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

The final three minutes of Xinwen Lianbo were entirely centered on this event.

Yang Qing felt a spasm in his heart and an even greater sense of fear.

A phrase flashed through his mind: endangering national security.

Yang Qing lost all strength and went limp on the sofa.

He stared at the red wine spilled on the carpet, looking like a pool of blood.

One week later.

All over the country, stores of various brands like Huawei and Hasee were filled with PCs waiting for delivery.

The first batch of five million computers was ready for delivery.

The market landscape of China's PC industry has been reshaped.

The market share of Xingchen-series PC products soared to eighty percent.

The head of an evaluation agency stared at the feedback data in the backend.

"Positive rating: ninety-nine percent," he muttered to himself.

His subordinate also exclaimed, "The after-sales return rate is almost zero!"

The person in charge saw the positive curves on the data charts. He picked up the phone, his voice excited.

"Arrange it immediately."

"All media outlets willing to write positive reports for Star Technology and the Xingchen Alliance."

"This time, we will wait no longer."

Amidst the praise from countless consumers and the media.

Star Technology, the new PC overlord.

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