Chapter 50: Laboratory Established
In the Science and Technology Park, in front of a building next to Xinghai Technology.
Trucks transporting equipment were constantly coming and going.
At this moment, on the door of the newly renovated building, a brand-new sign was hanging.
‘Xinghai Technology First Laboratory’
Jin Qiaoying’s decisiveness was evident; she showed no neglect toward General Manager Fan’s requests.
“The 10 billion funds in the Xinghai account are almost all here now. There’s still about 50 million left to keep the company running normally.”
She recited these numbers effortlessly. After speaking, she looked toward Fan Ren, her captivating phoenix eyes filled with expectation deep within.
“Don’t worry. The purification issue is the top priority right now. I already have a method; it’s just that debugging presents some difficulties.”
Confidence showed on Fan Ren’s face. Over this past month, while reading books, he had verified the technology in his mind, and now he had a general idea of the purification process in his head.
The subsequent equipment development boiled down to throwing money at it—summarizing experience from repeated failures until completing the equipment development.
Without continuous funding support from Xinghai during this process, it would basically be impossible.
Now with Jin Qiaoying handling Xinghai’s daily affairs, Liu Jun managing the Marketing Department, and Zeng Yingying overseeing logistics.
He could finally free himself up to lead a group of Research Department researchers in focusing their energy on the graphene chip project.
Jin Qiaoying nodded and followed Fan Ren into the laboratory. Along the way, the equipment installation work was proceeding in an orderly manner, all of which Fan Ren saw.
This was Zeng Yingying’s merit.
Xinghai was already starting to take on the appearance of a proper enterprise, rather than the previous chaotic grassroots style of just him and Liu Jun.
In Fan Ren’s new office, Jin Qiaoying sat across from him and handed him a document.
“Last month, Xinghai Technology gained a total of 400 million from patent authorization. After deducting expenses, plus the previous 500 million battery order and existing funds, a total of 10 billion remains.”
Fan Ren nodded. Of this 10 billion, over 9 billion had already been invested in this laboratory, and the remainder untouched.
Jin Qiaoying continued: “According to the Marketing Department’s estimation, starting this month, major battery manufacturers will expand solid-state battery production capacity, with expected revenue at the end of the month 200% higher than last month.”
That would be 800 million in pure profit—an astonishing figure.
But Fan Ren’s face showed no joy, only solemnity. All this money would be invested in the development of graphene purification equipment.
Seeing that Fan Ren understood, Jin Qiaoying brought up the idea of spinning off the High-Voltage Radio division.
Currently, Xinghai’s High-Voltage Radio Department had very few personnel left. He and Liu Jun both bore undeniable responsibility for the failure in that market.
The initial pricing of 500 million for three years now seemed too low indeed.
Fortunately, there was still over a year and a half until the patent expired. By then, with Xinghai’s current business standing, they should be able to negotiate a satisfactory price.
Afterward, although Deli Electric Power’s malicious competition had now been compensated, the half-year delay in the market meant they had already been largely overtaken by major enterprises.
Currently, Xinghai had only a few dozen technicians in the High-Voltage Radio area, just maintaining department operations. They were solely responsible for providing upgrade and supporting facilities business to major manufacturers.
The revenue was pitifully low. Compared to Xingyun Manufacturing’s Phase One factory, the quotation was around 30 million, and with time, this price would only decrease further.
Jin Qiaoying’s idea was to spin off this department, with Xinghai holding 100%, and operate it toward listing to see if it could perform well on the stock market.
After all, the High-Voltage Radio Department was now a stably profitable project. It was just too slow in generating money for what Fan Ren wanted to do.
From this day on, Fan Ren’s life returned to the way it was during solid-state battery development.
Sleeping on a folding bed in the office, spending day and night in the laboratory.
The new direction in graphene purification development was actually extremely tedious. Following the system’s provided solution, after assembling the equipment, for the next few months, Fan Ren and the researchers repeatedly input data—fail—modify data again—fail again.
Time passed slowly in this endless loop.
On the Xinghai side, just one month later, High-Voltage Radio Company was established, with Xinghai Technology holding 90%, Liu Jun temporarily serving as Branch Company General Manager and holding 10% shares.
This was Fan Ren’s generous wedding gift money prepared in advance for his brother of five years.
Six months later, Xingyun Manufacturing completed the upgrade and renovation maintenance of the battery factory accepted from Deli Electric Power.
After production capacity was maxed out, Xingyun Manufacturing’s terrifying money-making ability was truly demonstrated.
In six months, Xinghai Technology parent company obtained nearly 5 billion in revenue from various battery merchants. Meanwhile, after completing the factory upgrade and renovation, Xingyun Manufacturing reached 70% of Deli Electric Power’s current battery production capacity in just one month.
Pure profit reached 3 billion.
Moreover, Jin Qiaoying hadn’t spent much effort on generating these profits; they were all handled by Yun Yin alone.
This was the benefit of spinning off business departments. The streamlined Xinghai parent company now only needed to focus its energy on investing in Fan Ren’s laboratory.
In a restaurant private room in Linhai City Area, two men were toasting each other.
“Mr. Lu now holds the high position of Team Leader of R&D Group 4—truly impressive.”
“Eh, don’t even mention it. That university student entrepreneurship is just messing around. The boss himself doesn’t enjoy his privileges but comes to our Research Department to occupy the top position—pure nonsense, right?”
“Heh, I don’t think so. I heard Xinghai has invested quite a bit of funds in new projects these past few months. Doesn’t sound like messing around, especially since General Manager Fan’s previous achievements are obvious to all.”
Hearing the middle-aged man’s words earlier, Lu Youbin, emboldened by alcohol, spat disdainfully.
“Manager Yu, you have no idea. That kid who graduated from university just a year ago knows nothing. Relying on a bit of luck, he thinks he’s invincible. Xinghai will be doomed under him sooner or later.”
After saying that, he showed a hint of helplessness: “But he holds the patents, and the company is his too, so he’s free to mess around.”
The Manager Yu across from him smiled without refuting, poured him a full glass, and the two clinked again.
Looking at Lu Youbin’s increasingly flushed face, he casually said: “I heard Xinghai’s profits this time have all been squandered by your General Manager Fan?”
“Exactly! That’s why I say he’s a fool, squandering billions like that. If he used that money to give us employees some welfare, would it kill him?”
As he spoke, greed flickered uncontrollably in his eyes.
Seeing all this, Yu Zheng smiled faintly at the corner of his mouth: “Bosses are all like that. No matter how much money, it’s theirs. What does it have to do with us workers? Right?”
“Exactly! Manager Yu, you hit the nail on the head. Though Xinghai’s bonuses aren’t low, we earn them through our own abilities completing tasks one by one. He casually throws billions into graphene purification—might as well give more welfare to us mid- and low-level employees. At least we’d remember him fondly, instead of empty efforts yielding nothing.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than a gleam visibly flashed in Yu Zheng’s eyes. This meal was indeed worth it.
He immediately added casually: “Isn’t there already an existing method for graphene purification? Messing with that isn’t just idle hands?”
Lu Youbin immediately followed up: “That goes to his wild ideas. After getting two patent technologies, he really thinks he’s omnipotent. He actually wants to achieve something in that area. He doesn’t realize if he can even handle it. Sorry, the company has a confidentiality agreement, so I can’t say too much specifically.”
Though Yu Zheng inwardly fumed—just one step away, yet halted—he showed no concern on the surface: “Ah, I understand. Cheers!”
