Chen Jin and Huang He talked for a long time, detailing the hardships of their current research and development, the immense effort of his staff, and the advanced nature of their technology.
Most importantly, Chen Jin subtly hinted at his desire to find a partner to commercialize Hanxin's potential, openly suggesting that Huang He should financially support his Hanxin endeavors.
"Oh, Professor Chen, if you were to continue developing Hanxin chips, how much more funding would you require?" Huang He asked with a smile.
"Not much, around 500 million yuan. With that, I can develop the next generation of Hanxin chips, achieve mass production, and completely reach international advanced levels!" Professor Chen stated confidently.
"Five hundred million? That's quite a lot!" Huang He frowned slightly, appearing unable to accept the price.
"Mr. Huang, please don't hide it from me. This amount is insignificant to you. As far as I know, you've already invested over 1 billion yuan in the institution headed by Academician Ni." Chen Jin chuckled.
"How do you know about that?" Huang He asked, his brow furrowed.
"Mr. Huang, Boss Huang, if you want to get into chips, you can't possibly bypass my circle. In the past year or so, at least four or five of my students have been recruited by Jiangnan Optoelectronics. These are my most outstanding, brilliant, and intelligent students. You've poached them one by one with high salaries, making it difficult for me to carry out much of my work. I have a lot of complaints against you!"
"It's not just me who has opinions about you; other professors in the circle also do. However, you are the only entrepreneur who has sincerely and generously invested in the chip industry. So, even though we have our grievances, we also deeply admire and respect you. These opinions have been kept to ourselves and never truly revealed!" Chen Jin explained.
"So, it seems I have wronged you, Professor Chen!" Huang He sighed. "But how can you deduce that I've invested over 1 billion based on this?"
"Although the students you've recruited are tight-lipped and won't reveal company matters to us, their latest research results indicate that you possess a lot of scientific research equipment that China currently lacks. The cost of acquiring just this equipment exceeds 1 billion yuan. This is why I've inferred that you've invested at least 1 billion in Jiangnan Optoelectronics!" Huang He countered.
"I see!" Huang He nodded. "Since Professor Chen has seen through it, there's nothing for me to conceal. My recent investments in the chip industry have indeed been substantial."
"However, precisely because my investments are so large, I've used up most of my liquid capital. Therefore, I'm truly unable to invest another 500 million yuan in you."
"Mr. Huang, when I was studying, my teachers taught us that time is like water in a sponge; squeeze it, and there's always some left," Chen Jin said.
"Heh heh..." Huang He gave a dry laugh. "It's really difficult for me to squeeze out 500 million."
"Mr. Huang, permit me to ask presumptuously, what results have you achieved after investing tens of billions? What kind of chips have you developed?"
"May I further ask, can the chips you've developed compare with my Hanxin?" Chen Jin asked proudly.
"Well... to be frank, the gap is still quite large. They are far inferior to the data from your Hanxin No. 1!" Huang He admitted sincerely.
"I see!" Chen Jin smiled slightly, glancing secretly at Ni Guangnan. He noticed that their Professor Ni's expression was grim and unpleasant.
This was understandable. Anyone whose results, after spending billions of yuan, were still inferior to a university research team would naturally have an unpleasant expression.
Chen Jin knew Ni Guangnan well. He knew this old professor was a traditionalist, and such people could not tolerate mockery. He would soon speak according to Chen Jin's wishes.
Indeed, after hearing Chen Jin's words, Ni Guangnan said to Huang He, "Boss Huang, Xiao Chen is right. I've wasted billions of yuan here, yet the results are far inferior to what Xiao Chen has produced. I am ashamed!"
"If Xiao Chen could truly cooperate with us at Jiangnan Optoelectronics and join our company to lead our research and development, I am willing to give up my position and let him continue to lead Jiangnan Optoelectronics' R&D team. As for this old man, I can finally break free from these constraints and happily retire!"
"Professor Ni, please don't say that. How could I possibly have the virtue to take your position? My intention is for me and Jiangnan Optoelectronics to cooperate. We will contribute technology, and Jiangnan Group will contribute capital. Establishing a joint venture enterprise is the best mode of cooperation for both of us, as it can balance the interests of both parties!" Chen Jin said with a smile.
"Oh, Professor Chen has great ambitions. It seems you intend to venture into the business world in the future!" Huang He chuckled.
"No, it's just that our team members almost all have overseas study experience in the United States. We are more accustomed to the American scientific research system. All our researchers prefer a free research environment and require greater independent autonomy."
"As for directly joining Jiangnan Group, while it might be simpler, it comes with more restrictions and unavoidable unnecessary troubles. It's far less convenient than having our own company."
"This is also why our research team can produce results so quickly – because all our members are free from those unnecessary limitations and can unleash their creative potential in a completely free system. This is the key to our success!"
"As long as you agree to this mode of cooperation, I guarantee that within three years, I will deliver the second-generation Hanxin chip and help Jiangnan Optoelectronics capture the global market!" Chen Jin spoke eloquently. Anyone unfamiliar with the American research system would likely be swayed into nodding repeatedly by Chen Jin's words.
At this time, China was infatuated, or rather, superstitious, about the American system.
Newspapers and media outlets were constantly promoting various advanced American cultures, such as quality education that fully liberates natural potential and abandons rote learning.
They lauded completely free work environments where employees could even move their beds into the company, wash and shower there, and do whatever they pleased.
Or perhaps, it was that employees, granted freedom, were all possessed by Einstein, possessing infinite potential and developing world-leading technology in the blink of an eye.
The narrative was generally along these lines, leading many Chinese people to be very superstitious, and many Chinese entrepreneurs intended to replicate these business operating models.
However, these individuals failed to consider that moving beds into the company and washing and sleeping there meant working overtime 24 hours a day.
That was truly freedom taken to the extreme.
Wait, something seemed amiss. It appeared that certain domestic companies had indeed learned these tactics to the extreme, completely extracting their essence!
However, Chen Jin clearly couldn't deceive Huang He. Huang He knew very well that no matter how high a salary he offered, even if it exceeded 100 million yuan annually, Chen Jin would absolutely not join his company.
The reason was simple: once Chen Jin joined the company, he would completely belong to the company. All his research and development would also belong to the company, and the company would certainly scrutinize everything.
Private enterprises were not like expert professors.
The results reviewed by expert professors would not harm their own interests; on the contrary, they would gain many benefits, so they didn't care about providing a false result.
But companies were different. Companies were waiting to make money from the final developed products, so companies would definitely conduct strict reviews.
Fine, let's say, even if Chen Jin used his influence to prevent the company from conducting an immediate review.
But once the company invested heavily, it would require results within a specified period and would need to achieve mass production. Where would Chen Jin obtain such technology then?
Therefore, Chen Jin would never truly join a private enterprise. He could only use a company to form a joint venture, making Chen Jin the boss of the company. In this way, Chen Jin would be the sole authority within the company, and no one would discover any anomalies.
More importantly, Chen Jin could find every possible way to transfer the company's money into his private account and seize the company's assets.
After three to five years, when the joint venture company demanded results, he could find ways to delay them and then directly flee abroad. At that point, Chen Jin would possess hundreds of millions of yuan in immense wealth, living a life of leisure and pleasure.
As for Huang He, who had partnered with him, he would likely have no recourse but to weep bitterly.
Historically, there was a company that Professor Chen had tormented to the brink of despair. Fortunately, it was a listed company, so the losses could be transferred to the shareholders.
Although Huang He wished he could kick the fellow who intended to trap him so severely, he still maintained an expression of great interest and said, "This sounds quite good. In principle, I have no objections!"
"Really!" Chen Jin's eyes suddenly lit up. It seemed he had successfully found a sugar daddy. However, in the next moment, Huang He added, "Professor Chen, I don't actually know the specifics of your chips. Could you show us Hanxin? I can't possibly not see the actual product, can I!"
"You will be able to see it at the press conference later!" Chen Jin's expression changed slightly.
"There will be too many people at the press conference, and I can't possibly crowd next to you to see it. It's still over an hour before the press conference. If it's convenient for you, Professor Chen, perhaps we could go and see this chip privately now."
"Of course, if Professor Chen's schedule is tight, then forget it. We can discuss it another time. However, I'm flying to the United States soon, so we can arrange a new time in a few months."
"What are you saying? It's just a look at Hanxin, what's the big deal? It's as if I'm showing off a fake chip!" Chen Jin laughed heartily and then led Huang He to see the chip.