My Lord, you need to stand up!

Chapter 992 Business and Sports Along the Way

Sure enough, Steve stated: "This is Kungfu Software's profit model. This is the key to the IPO, which is to explain the ins and outs to Wall Street. The reason we are listing Kungfu Software is to raise funds to promote the birth of this brand-new network!"

Before even hearing the translation, Wei Dong felt as if he could see You Qili using his deceptive skills!

Anyway, his mouth just wouldn't close.

Seeing his blank expression, Steve burst out laughing: "What, isn't this what you thought?"

Wei Dong shook his head vigorously: "It's my idea, but I'm following the salesperson's approach, figuring out how to sell software to different regions. Initially, we could only use mailed CDs, but as electronic networks became more established, we were able to leverage the fact that software can be transmitted via these networks..."

Steve smiled at him: "Who will build it? The federal government? Impossible, that's a socialist approach."

The socialist young man was stunned.

As a mischievous individual and early hacker who made his own intercoms to make long-distance calls more than a decade ago, Steve certainly knows the current state of "NET".

"It was originally called ARPANET, which was established in 69 with the support of the military. It connected large computers between four universities. Later, some similar networks were established, but they were all local area networks that formed their own groups, mainly connecting universities."

Steve then tapped the Citibank map on the table:
"It wasn't until 85, when the Citi National Science Foundation connected the National Center for Atmospheric Research with five supercomputer centers, that a high-speed connection was formed. This provided external access for scientists, researchers, and engineers who were not near the computing centers, allowing more than 100 Citi universities to share their resources. All the talk about NET is based on the sub-networks that are extended from this main framework."

His wife's translation was so halting that he almost thought of bringing the senior executive director along, but both of them were high school dropouts, and Lina's education level was higher than theirs.

Fortunately, with the help of the Sky Eye, Wei Dong could roughly understand: "How high speed?"

This math and physics problem completely stumped the translator, forcing Steve to write a 56K/S code on the page he had on hand.

Is 56K per second the current backbone network speed of Citibank?

This reminded Wei Dong of his 5G phone: could its transmission speed reach 5G per second?
They are at least several megabytes, hundreds or thousands of times larger than this.

Moreover, it's a wireless transmission.

This also demonstrates the crucial role that Dikun's optical fiber will play in this main transmission route.

Because it made Wei Dong truly understand that this thing was the future choice for network backbone.

He had tried desperately to recall, and it must have been around the turn of the millennium. A 2M fiber optic connection was the dedicated speed for internet cafes. There was one near the tax office, and he could see the speed advertised on the signboard every day at the front door.

That's really profound.

128K seems to be the speed of broadband to your home back then.

Are Lao Di and I here to help Citibank take the lead in the world ahead of schedule?

Will this make me a sinner for all time?

Anyway, Wei Dong was left stunned.

Steve thought he was amazed by the super-fast bandwidth, that it could transfer the current 5.25-inch disk capacity in just twenty or thirty seconds.

He got up and sat down by the table, gently patting Wei Dong's shoulder: "Now you understand, right? The entire internet isn't commercialized. It's just a small part of the national highways. The real expressways are for us to build, and then we'll collect tolls..."

This is quite understandable.

It's really similar to charging tolls for building a highway.

But would a cyber project launched by the Citibank military allow a Chinese person to build a highway?

So when Wei Dong heard this, he only asked the translator, "Where is Old Di? Where is Principal Di?"

Dikun had already gone to Yale without stopping, because at that time Apple computers were practically non-existent in terms of internet connectivity!
He had initially assumed, based on Rang Weidong's description, that Apple had developed a network division, but it turned out to be just a commercial computer company.

A commercial appliance company that sells products similar to televisions and microwave ovens.

Gui Zhenfei also went with him to the top university, hoping to learn about the most cutting-edge electrical and computer engineering fields.

Wei Dong's response to Steve was also very clear: "I need to talk to Principal Di. I originally just wanted to be a supplier in the fiber optic industry, not a backbone operator. You said it was initiated by the military, so this job should be done by Citibank. At most, I can only supply some materials. It's not appropriate for a Chinese person to get involved in such a defense-related project."

Before the translator switched to English, he was puzzled for a moment: "You're from Hong Kong now, what does that have to do with anything?"

Then Steve, upon hearing this, rubbed his hands together excitedly: "Don't you know that military orders are the most lucrative?"

Are those bags of screws worth tens of thousands of dollars a good deal?

Netizens were even less inclined to get involved: "I don't object to starting a software company, and it's fine if they want to go public and make money, but this kind of backbone network really shouldn't be built by a software company. You can start your own company, with proper credentials, and I'll provide you with fiber optic cables, and... switches."

To be honest, the reason Wei Dong brought Lao Di and Gui Zhenfei together was actually because he was aiming to solve the internet infrastructure problem in one step. They are the best line and line leader for the future, not someone to help the US achieve its goals in one fell swoop.

Damn, this actually made Wei Dong a little flustered.

In theory, Lao Gui, as a demobilized cadre, is now under strict control regarding going abroad.

It was because the West District gave us special permission to proceed. This trip to Citibank was also to let Lao Gui see a top-notch IT company.

Who would have thought we'd get dragged into this?

Steve, however, had clearly misunderstood. He patted Rang Weidong on the shoulder again: "I know you have the inspiration of a genius and the steady and meticulous steps to avoid the risks brought about by various political factors and regional differences. But now that I am in charge of Apple, I can no longer be in charge of Kungfu Software, let alone control network construction. This will definitely be labeled as a monopoly by Congress, and may even lead to the breakup of Apple!"

Wei Dong shrugged: "What can I do? Even though my wife and I are from Hong Kong, this is still too sensitive. Bob is from Singapore, so who else is there? We can't just pin this network construction job on Camp, can we?!"

Qin Yuye chuckled.

But when Steve asked who Kemp was, his wife quietly suggested, "What do you think about talking to the CEO about this?"

Wei Dong immediately turned to Steve and said, "You must have countless ways to push him to the forefront to act as the operator. I just need to be a supplier of fiber optic cables and switches. I don't need to take a stake or participate in the operation."

This is a job that could cost you your head.

Having watched so many films and TV shows exposing the dark side of the US military, I still don't know when or why he was assassinated.

Moreover, as his position in Hong Kong becomes more and more obvious, Lao Fang said that Hong Kong is the place with the most spies in the world, so there is no need to walk into a trap.

At best, all of Citibank's assets will be confiscated; at worst, its location will be tracked globally and its owner killed. Why bother?

Steve could only think of Wei Dong as a cunning old fox: "He's coming... He certainly has a great reputation in marketing management, but is it possible for someone his age to be involved in the IT and internet industry?"

Wei Dong quickly described: "A truly amazing person is still amazing. Just like how you managed to turn this software CD into what could be the largest software store, he actually told me that he is currently focused on how to connect computers and cars, and is privately working on the research and development of electric vehicles outside of Chrysler, which involves the research and development of many electronic components. He is very open to new things."

At this moment, Wei Dong already had the image of the man who would later become the world's richest man and manufacture electric vehicles in mind.

Isn't it he who pioneered the integration of the internet, new energy, and electric vehicles?

In the old security guard's memory, the earliest fully-fledged electric vehicle he saw was that imported model. Later, no matter how many domestic cars emerged, they didn't seem to be able to defeat it.

So the CEO's thinking was actually earlier, more advanced, and more complete than his, and closer to the truth.

Maserati cars are being fitted with batteries developed by General Motors...

Steve slowly nodded: "So we need to separate the software store and the high-speed fiber optic network. You'll still lead the software store, and my shares will be held through an asset management company. Then our funds will go through the asset management company to build the high-speed network. It's very safe. The asset management company has funds entrusted to tens of thousands of institutions, so nobody knows which banknotes are ours. Go talk to him..."

Wei Dong couldn't help but mimic his daughter's tone: "Damn it! Is this how they want me to be the one to stick my neck out?"

Steve even copied the pronunciation from him: "Damn! Otherwise, I only need to meet him once to immediately generate a lot of market attention. You're at least more low-key than me, right?"

Wei Dong was speechless. He suddenly remembered the news Hardaway had sent him that morning: "Yesterday, the Eastern Conference Finals were decided between the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics. Which of these two places is closer to Yale?"

Qin Yuye's expression was incredibly lively: "Reporting to Master, if you want to go to Detroit, just go there directly. I'll take Xiaoyuer shopping; there's no need to go through such a long detour."

Wei Dong was so angry that he yelled, "You're talking nonsense! I used watching the game as an excuse to get the old man out for a chat. What are you doing not acting as a translator?!"

Steve rarely saw Wei Dong so emotional, so he quickly inquired what they were arguing about.

Qin Yuye would tease or test her husband to see if he understood English: "His ex-girlfriend is in Detroit..."

Steve, the super straight guy, almost fainted from laughing!
But the fact is that Wei Dong's choice was very reasonable.

Yale University is located in the northeast corner of Boston, roughly similar to the location of Lianzhou or Tianjin in inland China, and it is not far from New York.

There's no need to go all the way to Detroit.

Then let’s go.

Tomorrow, Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals will be in Detroit, and two days later in Boston. We'll take our time flying back to the surfing capital to pick up all the young people from the basketball and windsurfing teams.

It must have been tough coming out to train through competitions for over two months.

Go watch the highest level basketball game right now; it'll be a good way to encourage everyone.

Steve was a little envious of Wei Dong's ability to conduct business while playing ball.

(End of this chapter)