Chapter 56

"Li Sheng, your Oriental Electronics has been making quite a stir recently!" Han Peng said with a smile.

"Hmm, it’s going well, I guess!" Li Xuan finally understood why the other party had come to greet him; it seemed they were well aware of his background.

Ampex, whose English name is Ampex, is an American storage device manufacturer that began focusing on magnetic tape storage technology research after World War II, developing the first practical audio and video recording tapes in the United States.

However, with the rapid development of integrated circuits, semiconductor memory chips gradually began to replace the position of magnetic tapes, and Ampex failed to keenly recognize the revolutionary changes brought about by the new technology, gradually losing its dominant position in the storage market.

While operating in the storage business, Ampex also engaged in television equipment. The technology in recording tapes and cameras from Japanese companies like Sony all came from Ampex, but now the students have surpassed the teacher.

Although Ampex is now showing signs of fatigue and is not as vigorous as it was a decade ago, its Hong Kong branch is still one of the largest and most technologically advanced electronic companies in Hong Kong. Unlike high-tech companies like IBM and DEC, which only set up sales offices in Hong Kong, Ampex not only has a large-scale factory in Hong Kong but also has the only research and development department outside of its headquarters in Silicon Valley, California.

Ampex's Hong Kong branch's engineering and technology research and development department is hailed as the "Whampoa Military Academy" of Hong Kong's electronics industry, cultivating the first generation of electronic technology talent in Hong Kong, with technical strength on par with the R&D department in Silicon Valley.

Ampex also provides circuit board design services to other electronic companies. Most of Hong Kong's electronics factories are small-scale, with fewer than 100 employees, and lack design and research capabilities. Ampex effectively fills this gap for them.

"I have seen the computer motherboard you designed for your company's game console. The wiring is very reasonable, and it’s hard to imagine that you are just a first-year student!" Han Peng praised, "I am a graduate of the first class of the Electronics Department at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, so I am actually your senior!"

After graduating from the Electronics Department of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Han Peng went to the Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States to pursue a master's degree in electrical and electronic engineering. After obtaining his master's degree, he joined Ampex and worked as a test engineer, focusing on product design and development.

As the saying goes, "When parents are around, one should not travel far." Under the repeated requests of his family, Han Peng returned to Hong Kong three years ago, transitioning from technical research and development to administrative management, and became the executive vice president of Ampex's Hong Kong branch.

"Senior, hello!" Li Xuan felt a bit more familiar, as being alumni is a very special bond. "Half a year ago, I designed a chip for a printer's Chinese card, and I asked Ampex to help with the test sample!"

"Oh, so there is such a connection. I hope we will have the opportunity to work with Oriental Electronics in the future. Although our Hong Kong factory does not produce circuit boards, the American company has a dedicated circuit board factory that can customize various computer motherboards according to customer requirements!" Han Peng nodded and said.

After a few more words, the two tacitly stopped the deep conversation. This cocktail party provided a good opportunity for everyone to get to know each other, but if they truly wanted to have a deeper discussion, they could arrange it for another time.

Not long after Han Peng left, Lin Yuhao returned with a half glass of white wine. Li Xuan learned from his roommate that Han Peng's father had joined the Lin Group at the beginning of Lin Guotai's entrepreneurship and was one of Lin Guotai's most trusted right-hand men. Even Lin Guotai's biological children had to respectfully call him Uncle Zhong when they met him.

"My father wants to arrange for me to intern at the Ninghua Hotel in Causeway Bay soon!" Lin Yuhao said unhappily.

The Ninghua Hotel is a four-star hotel located on Gloucester Road in Causeway Bay, operated by the Lin Group's hotel management company. No wonder Lin Yuxin couldn't help but jump out and mock him; in his view, Lin Yuhao had overstepped his bounds and encroached on his interests.

"Do you agree?" Li Xuan asked.

"No, I don't care!" Lin Yuhao said coldly, "If I could, I would rather be called Zhang Zihao instead of being surnamed Lin!"

Before returning to the Lin family, Lin Yuhao was called Zhang Zihao, and Lin Guotai had changed his name to Lin Yuhao.

"That's more like my roommate!" Li Xuan lightly tapped his roommate's chest, "What are your plans next?"

Lin Yuhao's eyes dimmed a bit, and he said in a lost manner, "I don't know. Refusing to go to the Ninghua Hotel has already made my father very unhappy!"

Being born into a wealthy family did not bring Lin Yuhao any happiness or joy; instead, it only brought endless frustration and pressure. He wished his original parents had not been in a car accident, so he wouldn't have been drawn into this whirlpool. Being an ordinary person is actually quite nice, finding a stable job, and marrying a girl he likes.

"You need to prove yourself, to show those who look down on you that the Lin family's wealth means nothing to you!" Li Xuan looked at his roommate seriously, "I have an idea, do you dare to try it?"

"What idea?"

"Invest in the mainland and do real estate development! Your older brother Lin Yuli can achieve success in Hong Kong, why can't you! Only by making a significant achievement will your status in the Lin family truly improve, and you won't have to suffer from being looked down upon!

Living like Lin Yuxin, indulging in pleasure and waiting for your father's inheritance, what's the point of that! A sparrow cannot understand the ambition of a swan. Only the wealth you earn with your own hands can be spent freely and without restraint!"

Li Xuan had this idea while chatting with Cai Yongmin earlier. In his previous life, he grew up in Shenzhen, and he had a high school classmate who lived in Donghu Liyuan, the first commercial housing complex in the special economic zone and in all of China, developed by Hong Kong businessman Liu Chengzhu and the special economic zone's real estate development company, using a loophole in the policy to develop it under the guise of compensation trade, around the Spring Festival of 1980. His classmate had mentioned this interesting story more than once to the class.

"But I have no experience, no capital, and no idea where to start!" Lin Yuhao did not agree with Li Xuan's proposal.

"Confidence is all you need!" Li Xuan took out two business cards from his pocket and handed them to Lin Yuhao.

"Here, this is Deputy Director Cai of the Special Zone Housing Bureau. When you're ready, make an appointment to talk to him in detail. He is currently urgently seeking investments. Liu Chengzhu from Miao Li Group must have already talked to them, so you just need to follow his example.

The other card is for Zhang Wenjin, a high-level graduate in civil engineering from the University of Guangzhou in the mainland! Hong Kong does not recognize mainland degrees and qualifications, so he is not very satisfied with his position at your Lin Group.

Actually, mainland universities admit very few students each year, and the competition is no less intense than getting into the University of Hong Kong or the Chinese University of Hong Kong. University graduates are highly valuable. If you can convince him to quit and work with you, you won't have to worry about the technical aspects!

As for capital, I will invest one million dollars, taking 60% of the shares, and I won't participate in the direct management of the company, leaving it entirely up to you!"

"60% is too little!" Lin Yuhao waved his hand, his competitive spirit already ignited.

"It's not little, you'll understand later!" Li Xuan shook his head with a smile.

Li Xuan was fully funding the project but only taking 60% of the shares, which might seem like a disadvantage, but it wasn't. He didn't plan to enter the real estate market himself; even his current Oriental Electronics was urgently looking for a suitable leader to help manage it.

The main reason for investing one million dollars was to help his roommate. Although it might seem like Lin Yuhao was getting a big deal by getting 40% of the shares without contributing anything, Li Xuan believed that his status as Lin Guotai's son already entitled him to that much.

Why did Cai Yongmin continue to try to persuade the Lin Group to invest in the special economic zone despite repeated rejections? Because attracting the Lin Group's investment had long surpassed the scope of ordinary commercial investment.

The Lin family's investment in the mainland would mean that Hong Kong tycoon Lin Guotai saw potential in the special economic zone. When the special economic zone's officials went out to attract investments, they could simply use the Lin Group's name. Many Hong Kong investors trusted Lin Guotai's judgment more than their own. It's like if Warren Buffett endorsed a stock; even if the stock was performing poorly, countless people would be willing to take a chance on it.

PS: Three updates! Where are your recommendations? Throw them all at me!