I'm reborn and I'm an international student again?

Most of Xinde's employees came from Huade. Although they still had feelings for their former employer, Chen Yifeng often deducted their wages, and Chen Caiyue had also been a part-owner of Huade. So when the two companies competed head-on, these people not only had no psychological burden, but were also secretly excited.

“This year’s World Manufacturing Convention has participants from more than 60 countries around the world, including many former foreign political figures, heads of international organizations such as the United Industrial Development Organization, and dozens of ambassadors to China. More than 4000 business representatives are attending, including many Fortune 500 companies and hidden champions in the manufacturing sector. We want to take this opportunity to showcase our latest equipment. Although our foundation is not as strong as Huade’s, our innovation speed is top-notch. Huade hasn’t launched a new product for a long time…” Chen Caiyue continued encouragingly.

The employees were all eager to try it out. Xinde planned to launch several new devices at the exhibition, but some of them were designed based on Chen Xi's ideas. Although everyone recognized the performance of the devices, they were unsure whether the market would be willing to buy them.

But the veteran employees thought about it again and felt relieved. Xinde did not start out simply as a machine tool manufacturer. It initially focused on equipment such as printers. Now that its product line has been expanded, it seems reasonable.

Inside an office building.

"Your task is to make sure Musk invests here..." Wu Wanrong instructed with a serious expression.

“He had already planned to build a factory in Shanghai, how could he possibly set up a factory in Xinlu?” Chen Xi said helplessly.

“Didn’t he specifically ask to see you? He even said he wanted to discuss in-depth cooperation. Even if we don’t build a complete vehicle factory, setting up a research institute or something similar can attract other large companies to settle here. Xinlu started late, and it has only developed with great difficulty over the years through precise investment. We must seize the opportunity! As long as technology companies are willing to set up institutions here, creating a chain effect, more and more new technologies will be born here, and Xinlu can truly become a city of innovation…” Wu Wanrong was eager to make achievements after his promotion, and Musk’s arrival gave him an opportunity.

"Understood." Since the leader had put it that way, Chen Xi had no choice but to bite the bullet and accept the task.

A few hours later, the convention center was packed with people.

Unlike previous exhibitions, this one focuses not only on product transactions but also on technological exchange and cooperation opportunities. Of course, Xinlu's extensive efforts are also driven by several objectives: enhancing the city's image, attracting resources, promoting industrial agglomeration, and boosting economic growth.

The conference serves as a platform for project matchmaking and signing. In previous years, each conference resulted in investment collaborations worth hundreds of billions of yuan. These projects directly landed in Xinlu, bringing new production lines, R&D centers, and jobs, strongly driving the local economy. Furthermore, it guided capital and policy resources towards future industries, consolidating and expanding industrial advantages.

In fact, cities like Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Suzhou have been doing this for a long time, but they are already well-known coastal port cities. As a rising star, Xinlu must host a world-class event to attract investment.

Despite the large crowd at the event, Chen Xi knew that many people were drawn in by Musk's statement on television. It's not just Chinese people who love a good spectacle; foreigners do too.

Why are the booths of Xinde and Huade next to each other?

"I heard the two bosses got divorced, but they've gotten back together?"

"Who knows? But both companies have new equipment, let's go take a look."

Several industry insiders were whispering among themselves in front of the booth.

"Hurry up, everyone! Promote what needs to be promoted, smile when you need to smile. Do I have to introduce it myself? Is the equipment ready? The customers are waiting to see the demonstration. Don't let them think we're just displaying models!" Chen Yifeng ordered his employees with a stern face, but his eyes kept glancing towards Chen Caiyue next door.

As a long-established industry leader, Huade attracts many visitors. However, in recent years, the company has not upgraded its models, and its reputation has declined, after-sales problems have been frequent, and counterfeit products are rampant. As a result, many people turn to Xinde after just a glance, which greatly annoys Chen Yifeng.

Chen Caiyue's side was already extremely busy, and her booth was surrounded by a huge crowd, making Chen Yifeng feel embarrassed.

"You guys continue, I'm going to make a phone call," he said, then excused himself and quietly moved towards the Xinde exhibition area with the flow of people.

"What is this? Doesn't Xinde make advertising machines and printers? Why are they getting into food production equipment?" A long-time Xinde customer curiously examined a machine that was in operation.

The device resembled a printer, with a nozzle moving back and forth on a metal plate, spraying out colorful liquids that quickly formed cartoon patterns. Although it didn't look very sophisticated at first glance, after being heated and baked on the metal plate, the robotic arm used a spatula to flip the pancake, and a beautiful cartoon pancake was presented to everyone.

"Wow, Hello Kitty! Amazing!" exclaimed a Japanese man who was watching.

"Everyone, this is a pancake machine developed by our company, Xinde. It uses 3D printing technology, so you only need to preset the desired pattern to make exquisite pancakes. These colored ingredients are all vegetable juices, so they are absolutely edible..." Chen Caiyue enthusiastically introduced the new equipment her son had envisioned.

Chen Xi had predicted that such products would be popular in the island nation, and indeed, the island nation audience was amazed.

"In addition, we have also launched chocolate and icing 3D printers for cake decoration and personalized candy making... as well as personalized beauty and skin care product printers, which, like inkjet printers, can mix and print unique cosmetics or skin care products on-site based on the user's skin tone and skin texture data..." Chen Caiyue continued to introduce.

These novel devices attracted great interest from the audience, who asked for details.

Ten minutes later, Chen Caiyue walked out of the booth to go to the restroom, but caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in the crowd. She quietly walked behind the person and stood there for two minutes before speaking, "What, here to spy on me?"

Chen Yifeng was startled and turned around, blushing as he explained, "What do you mean by spying! I was just on the phone when I saw a group of people gathered here, and I thought something had happened."

"hehe."

"What are you laughing at? Look what you've done to Xinde! Can't you just stick to making traditional machine tools and printers? Why do you have to mess around with all this fancy stuff? Pancakes? Cosmetics? Are you planning to set up a street stall or open a cosmetics store? You're going to ruin the Xinde brand..." Chen Yifeng rattled off a string of words.

Just like the ideas Chen Xi had mentioned to him before, Chen Yifeng felt that these products were not up to standard.

"Can't you see how popular our new equipment is? Your side, on the other hand, is practically deserted. That's just sour grapes! Hahaha." Chen Caiyue laughed even harder. "Hmph, my new equipment hasn't even been shown yet. Soon all your people will be rushing to my place." Chen Yifeng snorted, but couldn't help laughing too.

"Heh, maybe your device is just a model," Chen Caiyue said sarcastically.

"Why isn't Chen Xi here at the exhibition today? Wasn't he supposed to be taking over Xinde?" Chen Yifeng asked, unable to bear not seeing his son.

"Don't you have internet at home? Musk specifically asked to see him."

"What? Musk is really talking about him? Come on, what do all that stuff he's doing have to do with Tesla?"

Chen Yifeng shook his head repeatedly; even knowing the answer, he still refused to believe it.

"Believe it or not," Chen Caiyue said, glancing towards Huade's booth.

Chen Yifeng noticed her gaze, glanced back casually, and then smiled: "Ha, I knew it, people always end up coming to me. Looks like our equipment is working properly."

At the Xinde booth, Chen Caiyue was introducing Huade's new generation of products to a customer: "With the advancement of technology, CNC machine tools are undergoing a complete transformation, integrating interconnectivity, data, and intelligence. Machine tools are no longer isolated processing units, but have become nodes in the smart factory network that combine data acquisition and decision execution functions."

Newly manufactured CNC machine tools are generally equipped with IoT modules, which can upload data such as equipment status, machining parameters, and alarm information to the cloud or factory management system in real time. We construct a digital model that completely corresponds to the physical machine tool in virtual space, which can be used for machining simulation, collision detection, and program optimization to predict and avoid problems before actual cutting.

Managers can view the overall equipment efficiency (OEE) of the entire workshop in real time via mobile phone or electronic dashboards, accurately pinpointing production bottlenecks. The system can also analyze data trends such as spindle vibration and temperature to provide early warnings of faults, effectively preventing unplanned downtime.

Furthermore, Huade is not lagging behind in the application of AI and big data. Artificial intelligence is moving from the laboratory to the workshop, solving complex problems that traditional CNC systems struggle to handle. The system can automatically adjust the feed rate and speed based on real-time feedback from spindle load, vibration, and other factors, maximizing machining efficiency while protecting the cutting tools.

Machine learning models can identify abnormal trajectories in the machining process that may cause collisions. AI can recommend optimal cutting parameters based on historical machining data, helping even inexperienced operators achieve high-quality machining. This means that in the future, companies will significantly reduce their reliance on experienced operators, leading to a substantial decrease in labor costs…

In addition, we have integrated laser metal deposition technology, adding a laser cladding head to CNC equipment, which can repair expensive damaged parts, or print complex features on the substrate before fine machining..."

Compared to the innovative products from Xinde, industry insiders were clearly more interested in the technologies introduced by Chen Caiyue. After all, most viewers who follow these two brands are more concerned with the machine tools themselves.

Currently, the salaries of CNC machine tool operators in factories are generally quite high, which means that business operating costs are relatively high. Before the widespread adoption of CNC technology, most parts were still hand-polished, and the wages of skilled workers were even more exorbitant. If equipment like Huade's becomes more common in China, the wages of operators are expected to decrease, which is exactly what business owners would welcome—who wouldn't want to control labor costs?
Many large factories have begun to promote mechanization, especially after adjustments to social security policies, with some companies accelerating the introduction of new equipment to reduce manpower. This is a necessary measure, as more and more jobs will be replaced by automation technology in the future.

Chen Xi recalls that CNC technology was established in Chinese universities around 2006, and it wasn't initially well-regarded. Later, due to increased job demand and salaries reaching around 10,000 yuan per month, it attracted a large number of applicants. However, with technological advancements, the wages of CNC machine tool operators gradually declined, eventually dropping to a few thousand yuan per month.

"Awesome! The combination of internet technology and machine tools..." The islander from before was now standing in front of the Huade booth, expressing the same amazement.

"How about that? Focusing on machine tools is the right way. Those fancy gadgets are just for attracting attention. Let me tell you, all the money I've poured into the Baxi Research Institute over the years hasn't been wasted. I'm just waiting for the new product to make a splash. Not just this one machine, but there are many more new models to come. We'll save the trump card for last," Chen Yifeng said with no small amount of pride.

"Heh, you have a royal flush, but do you think I don't?" Chen Caiyue scoffed, threw down those words, and turned to leave.

With visitors flocking to the Huade booth, she had to play her new trump card to win back popularity.

"Hey, what trump card do you have? Are you going to launch a new bread maker? Life is like the waves of the sea, sometimes rising and sometimes falling. Good luck or bad luck, you still have to work. Three parts are destined by fate, seven parts depend on hard work, only those who dare to fight will win!" Seeing Chen Caiyue flee in a panic, Chen Yifeng assumed that she had given up and was too ashamed to stay, so he smugly hummed his favorite tune and walked back to his own booth.

"Don't worry, everyone. Although this is a prototype, the parts are already in mass production. Orders placed now will be delivered soon..." Chen Yifeng squeezed into the display stand and began promoting the product to the inquiring customers.

However, the questions that customers were concerned about were completely unexpected.

Many of those present were executives from major global corporations, companies that place extreme importance on product data privacy. Once the manufacturing process is connected to the internet, key parameters become virtually transparent. If this data is leaked and obtained by competitors, or even if a competitor preemptively starts production before a new product is released, wouldn't all the hard work invested in research and development be wasted?

"Everyone, there's no need to worry. As a large enterprise, Huade has strict professional ethics. We live in the era of big data, and data flow is the norm, so there's no need to be overly concerned..." Faced with a series of questions, Chen Yifeng could only manage to respond with these words.

More than ten minutes later.

The Japanese guy suddenly pointed towards the Sinde booth and exclaimed, "Hey? It looks like Sinde has also launched new models, and it seems like there's more than one!"

As he said, the new equipment was indeed unveiled at the Newde booth at that moment.

Actually, these two machines had been placed in the exhibition area long ago, but they had been tightly covered with dust cloths, so everyone thought they were temporary storage materials or decorations.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Chen Caiyue stood before two brand-new devices and announced with great confidence:

"Ladies and gentlemen, these are the two new pieces of equipment that Xinde is proud to launch today. I would like to solemnly declare that what others can do, Xinde can also do. And what others cannot do, Xinde can still do!" (End of Chapter)