Rebirth in 1960, My Industrial Age

Chapter 454 Returning Home to Discuss Matters
At the Beijing International Airport, a private plane slowly landed.

Not long after, a group of people disembarked from the plane and walked outside under the guidance of airport staff.

This group of people was Zhou Xianyang, who had just returned from a conference abroad. The partnership plan for fourth-generation communication technology was basically finalized, with more than 80% of the standards and regulations being formulated by China.

After all, they have core technologies. America has fallen behind in communication technology. When it came to seizing the opportunity to set the standards for third-generation communication technology, America failed.

At the time, they lacked the key technologies, yet they demanded to set rules and urged the International Telecommunication Union to push for it, all in an attempt to take away their technology without any investment.

As a result, China completely ignored them and slowly promoted third-generation communication technology within the communications market that they could influence.

Currently, it already has a large market share in the country, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and some small European countries.

In another five or six years, they will be able to push third-generation communication technology to completely replace second-generation communication technology.

This was an inevitable result, since second-generation communication could no longer keep up with the upgrading of communication equipment.

The latest Fiberhome smartphones have excellent performance and support online games and online videos, among other features. If they were still using second-generation communication technology, many of these features would be unavailable.

Therefore, after the project for the Accelink smartphone was approved, Zhou Xianyang approached the Ministry of Communications Industry to promote third-generation communication technology.

At the time, he also had the technology to manufacture communication equipment and had been in the market for more than two years.

The previous wireless communication factory was brought down, and it was a somewhat shady collapse. Logically speaking, this kind of thing is unlikely to happen, but it happened anyway.

Moreover, some people wanted to bring in foreigners, and when Zhou Fengnian found out about this, he decided to intervene.

Although he was only the president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhou Fengnian was basically among the top three full-time cadres; he had the right to interfere in the affairs of other departments, not to mention that two deputy cadres of the Ministry of Communications Industry had served as his secretaries.

There was a lot of shady dealings involved. After investigating, Zhou Fengnian also questioned Pan Heng and Wang Mingjie, and then investigated a group of people.

After several months of rigorous investigation, the person was imprisoned, but the money was very difficult to recover; in the end, it was estimated that more than a billion yuan was missing.

Because of this, the entire Ministry of Communications was criticized, and several key leaders were implicated.

In the end, it was split up and reorganized, and it took a lot of effort to reconstitute it into several state-owned telecommunications companies.

At that time, Zhou Xianyang also got involved, purchasing a batch of technological achievements and equipment, and recruiting many technical personnel to join his Fiberhome Communications Company.

Afterwards, they invested heavily in the research and development of specialized communication equipment, spending a lot of money and time before finally joining the table of communication industry upgrading.

During this period, he also asked Zhou Fengnian for help. Otherwise, the equipment technology upgrade would not have been so fast, and a few years would only have been enough for them to digest the technological achievements of the original wireless communication factory.

Currently, Fiberhome Communications is highly valuable. Once it fully joins the field of communication technology upgrades, its market value is expected to double, and not just by one or two times, but by at least four times.

While developing smartphones, Zhou Xianyang is also involved in the upgrading of the communications industry. This company has become the core business of the company.

The financial street in Amei gave Fiberhome Communications a very high valuation. If Zhou Xianyang planned to go public, he would easily become a trillionaire. However, Zhou Xianyang had no interest in that.

After leaving the airport and getting into the custom-made car, the secretary in the front seat took a phone call and then turned to Zhou Xianyang and said, "Mr. Zhou, Pan Heng's secretary called and wants to meet with you to discuss something."

"When did you say that?"

"They said they'd like to schedule a meeting for tomorrow if you're not busy."

After pondering for a few seconds, Zhou Xianyang said, "Then let's go tomorrow. I'll go see Leader Pan Heng."

"I understand. Also, Mr. Ren called you before, saying he would invite you to the wedding when you come back. At that time, Mr. Zhou was in a meeting, so I told Mr. Ren to call you back later."

"He's finally married. My son is fourteen now, haha. I'll call him later. I'm going home now."

Ren Zheng was also a runaway bride, getting married in his forties. Although he married late, he had a son long ago, whom Zhou Xianyang had met; the son was already seven years old.

Over the years, the cinemas and real estate companies he and Ren Zheng have partnered with have been quite successful. Now, the two companies together are worth over 10 billion yuan, and the real estate company has even become one of the top ten in the country.

Zhou Xianyang twisted his neck and sighed, saying, "I'm exhausted from going out, Qinghe. I don't want to talk about any work today. I'll rest for half a day."

"Have Vice President Ren handle the company matters here in Beijing for now. I'll go over after I finish what I'm doing."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Qinghe immediately replied, "Okay, Mr. Zhou."

The vice president, Ren Xueli, is Ren Zheng's niece. She joined Ren Zheng's company three years ago after returning from abroad.

He is currently in charge of Feiyang Electric Appliances and Internet-related affairs within the group. He is quite capable, and those who have studied abroad are all quite skilled. However, Zhou Xianyang is still in charge of the core business.

Fiberhome Communications was of paramount importance. Zhou Xianyang even transferred the electronics research institute in Beijing to Fiberhome Communications and hired professionals to draft confidentiality regulations.

After discussing company matters for a while, Zhou Xianyang closed his eyes to rest.

A short while later, the driver arrived at Nanluoguxiang, in front of Zhou Xianyang's house. At this moment, Zhang Qinghe turned his head and said softly, "Chairman Zhou? Chairman Zhou, we've arrived at your doorstep."

"Okay, I'll head back now. Old Li, come pick me up tomorrow morning."

Zhou Xianyang told the driver that he didn't ask Lao Li to stay either, as he didn't plan to work on company matters today and would just rest at home.

After the driver left, Zhou Xianyang was about to open the door and go home, but just as he was about to ring the doorbell, the small door next to the main door opened.

Then Zhou Xianyang saw his son come out of the small door.

Upon seeing his son, Zhou Xianyang happily rushed forward, picked him up, and asked, "Zeqian? Why didn't you go to school today?"

"Dad, there's nothing worth learning at school, put me down quickly."

Zhou Zeqian struggled a few times before jumping off Zhou Xianyang, then straightened his clothes and asked calmly:
"I'm planning to attend some classes at university, Dad. Have you finished your work out there?"

"I'm pretty much done with work now. I'll be taking a break in Beijing for a while. But you've already started taking university courses?"

Zhou Xianyang was somewhat surprised upon hearing this and quickly asked, "Do you understand? Don't force yourself, and will they let you in?"

Zhou Zeqian said, "I understand what you're saying. If you don't understand, you can remember it and ask Grandpa when you get back. Besides, Grandpa and Grandpa Zhao have already spoken to each other, so someone will guide me inside."

The "Grandpa Zhao" he mentioned is the dean of the School of Physics at Beijing University of Technology and has some connection with Zhou Fengnian. In fact, most academics have some connection with Zhou Fengnian, since many university research projects also involve cooperation with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Zhou Xianyang sighed and said, "Sigh, Zeqian, it's so rare for Dad to come back."

Zhou Zeqian said, almost as if he had foreseen it, "Then I won't go today. Dad, you haven't eaten yet, have you? What are you planning to eat?"

"Hey, Dad was just kidding. Go study, I'll drive you."

Zhou Xianyang glanced around; his wife's car was still parked at home, but she wasn't there; she probably hadn't driven out. Zhou Zeqian seemed to know what Zhou Xianyang was thinking and said, "Mom's at Grandpa's. Grandma said she'll drive me there. Dad, do you want to come along?"

"Let's go see where your sister is."

"Today is Thursday, and she's still in junior high school."

"Shuyu is not as good as you, so we need to make sure she studies hard."

Zhou Xianyang clicked his tongue and thought for a moment before saying, "It seems like there's a tradition in our family that the boys are a bit smarter than the girls. Your two aunts were terrible at studying, and your youngest aunt didn't even get into university."

I'm the first in our family. Oh, no, your great-aunt was the first college graduate in our family, and I'm the second.

Zhou Zeqian nodded and said, "Dad, you're really amazing."

Zhou Xianyang listened to the calm, emotionless tone of the voice and wondered if his son was genuinely praising him.

Their house is less than 200 meters away from Zhou Fengnian's house, which is only a three-minute walk away.

Upon arriving at his parents' house, Zhou Xiangyang immediately shouted, "Mom, Qing'an, I'm back!"

Less than a minute after he shouted, Bai Qing'an trotted out and clung to Zhou Xianyang like a koala, saying, "Why did it take you so long to come back?"

When Zhou Yan came out and saw Zhou Xianyang, she said irritably, "You're back, so what are you shouting for? You startled me."

"How can you be startled by the sound of your own son's voice? You loved me so much when I was little."

"Go away, I must have taken the wrong medicine."

Zhou Yan waved her away impatiently, then said, "I'll take Zeqian to school first. You can rest at home now that you're back. Have you eaten?"

"No, let's go out to eat later."

The family chef was replaced and his skills weren't as good as Chef Yang's. Although it was still pretty good, Zhou Xianyang was picky and preferred to eat at the Imperial Kitchen.

He is different from Zhou Fengnian in this respect. Zhou Fengnian can eat well if he wants, but if he doesn't, he can make do.

Zhou Xianyang had a good diet since childhood, after all, he had a master chef father who could make even noodle soup very well.

Having become picky about food, he naturally didn't want to be wronged. Fortunately, his uncle owned a restaurant, so there was always a seat available for him whenever he went.

"Then you guys go ahead, have dinner at home tonight."

After hesitating for a moment, Zhou Yan made up her mind and continued, "Have your dad cook today."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xianyang happily replied, "Then I'll just eat something simple at home and not go out. I'll have my dad cook something nice for me tonight."

"You."

Zhou Yan poked Zhou Xianyang's forehead with her finger, and then set off with Zhou Zeqian.

She doesn't even want to stay in the second tier anymore, even though her work is very light, consisting of studying, giving reports, and attending meetings, which adds up to less than three or four days a week.

But Zhou Yan still felt that she was taking up too much space, and that it would be better to make room for others so that she could go around with Bai Yujie.

Zhou Fengnian had told her several times that he would travel all over the country after he retired, but now it seems that it will be more than ten years before that happens. She was thinking of going on a trip with Bai Yujie.

Throughout her life, Zhou Yan had rarely left Beijing; the only times she left were when she went to visit Zhou Fengnian, who lived in another city.

------

"What kind of son comes home and expects his father to cook for him? That's going against the natural order!"

As Zhou Fengnian was cooking, he glanced back and noticed that Zhou Xianyang had cut the potatoes crookedly. He quickly said, "Okay, okay, go get a basin of water and I'll cut them."

The way you cut these potatoes is worse than a cat scratching them.

Zhou Xianyang put down the potato with a straight face and said, "Everyone has their own expertise. I'm not like you, who knows a little bit about everything..."

After Zhou Xianyang finished filling the pot with water, he leaned over to smell the aroma from the pot and said with a smile, "Dad, has your cooking improved again? It's so addictive! If I hadn't been watching the whole time, I would have suspected you were adding poppy seeds."

Over the years, I've tasted food all over China, but I've never found another cook as good as you!

If he were to encounter someone with skills like his father's, Zhou Xianyang would be willing to offer them a million-dollar annual salary to be his private chef.

Unfortunately, even though he had tasted state banquets several times, he still felt that they were not quite as good as his father's cooking.

Zhou Fengnian said, "What poppy syrup? That's just because you're greedy and have gotten used to eating my cooking since you were little."

His cooking skills were one of the first abilities he discovered, but after reaching level eight, Zhou Fengnian rarely cooked, which is why his progress was slow.

Over the past decade, Zhou Fengnian has occasionally cooked, and only four years ago did he upgrade his culinary skills to level nine.

He's now practically the God of Food on Earth; anything edible can be transformed into a delicacy in Zhou Fengnian's hands, with an exceptionally good taste.

No wonder Zhou Xianyang kept thinking about it. Zhou Fengnian's cooking skills can satisfy everyone. As long as you are still human, you will definitely give a thumbs up after eating Zhou Fengnian's dishes.

Zhou Xianyang was kicked out after making a mess in the kitchen for a while, and shortly afterward, Zhou Fengnian finished preparing dinner.

Neither of her daughters is here. Her eldest daughter is married and has children, while her younger daughter, Zhou Linlin, is still working hard in her own media career and rarely comes back.

There are only six people in the family, so Zhou Fengnian's workload is not very heavy. He cooked seven dishes and a soup and then finished.

As soon as the dishes were served, Zhou Xianyang couldn't help but pick up his chopsticks and take a few bites. After tasting them, he said with satisfaction, "This is the kind of cooking I need. Dad, I wish I could eat your cooking three meals a day."

Zhou Fengnian laughed and scolded, "Dream on! What family has a father serving his son? If you hadn't performed well outside, I wouldn't have cooked so easily."

Bai Qingan smiled smugly at Zhou Xianyang and said, "Xianyang, while you're not home, I often eat Dad's cooking with Zeqian."

"What? Dad, you're so biased! How come Zeqian gets to eat it?"

"Eat your food, it's your fault for being away from home so often."

The family chatted and laughed while talking about other things, but Zhou Xianyang talked more about his business outside.

With no outsiders at home, Zhou Xianyang could confidently discuss the progress of his research and development at his Fiberhome Communications company's laboratory.

(End of this chapter)