Who would still start a business seriously after being reborn?

Chapter 714 Oh, heavens, how cruel are you to me?

In addition to cultivating an image of a friendly and conscientious entrepreneur, Cheng Yi also came up with tailor-made solutions for engineers at different levels and with different needs.

For middle-aged key employees who have settled down and value stability, they are offered a generous settlement allowance, the right to use high-quality housing in the Momo Technology Industrial Park, and guaranteed school enrollment for their children.

For top architects and domain experts like Han Yue, in addition to high salaries and generous benefits, they are given the title of chief engineer, the right to form an independent team, and valuable company stock options, satisfying their dual needs for technical ambition and wealth appreciation.

What's most appealing is that Momo OS's recruitment process is extremely efficient.

Often, after a single secret meeting, a letter of intent and a check can be presented to the other party, greatly shortening the decision-making cycle and avoiding the parties' back-and-forth and hesitation.

In just ten days, more than 300 experienced engineers and researchers joined Momo OS. After a short day of training, these engineers immediately led teams to various government and enterprise units to put out fires, treating them as if they were family.

They experienced being condemned by everyone at Microsoft, but when they joined Momo OS, they experienced what it meant to be superior. When they visited various government and enterprise organizations, the level of enthusiasm they received made them feel flattered.

The more efficient they are now, the faster the number of Microsoft enterprise users is declining.

For Microsoft Research Asia, this is not just a loss of employees and users, but a fatal blow to the institute's core technological capabilities, project continuity, and team morale.

Many critical development projects have stalled because core members have left; team collaboration has also broken down because people familiar with the code and architecture are no longer there.

This makes it even more difficult for them to continue solving the Panda Burning Incense problem.

January 26th is the Laba Festival in the Chinese lunar calendar.

The Momo Technology Industrial Park in Jingzhou City is brightly decorated and filled with a festive atmosphere.

As night fell, the largest employee auditorium in the industrial park was brightly lit. The main characters tonight were the more than 300 former Microsoft elites who had just joined the Momo OS family.

Many of them were stepping into this auditorium for the first time. Looking at the modern buildings around them and the busy but bright-eyed Momo employees around them, their eyes were filled with curiosity.

Cheng Yi, along with the core management team of Momo OS, was already waiting at the entrance of the auditorium.

He was dressed in a well-fitting Chinese-style stand-up collar shirt, with a warm smile, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries with each new member. His face was adorned with a smile reminiscent of Lei Jun, and his tone and demeanor were full of Dongzi's boldness. After several days of intensive memory training, he could accurately call out everyone's names and even mention their previous projects, which surprised and warmed the newcomers.

The banquet began, with fine wine and delicious food, and the atmosphere was lively.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Cheng Yi walked onto the stage.

The entire room fell silent instantly, and all eyes were focused on the young leader.

"Dear new colleagues, old friends, and members of the Momo family!" Cheng Yi's voice resounded throughout the auditorium through the microphone, clear and powerful: "First of all, on behalf of Momo Group and Momo OS, I would like to wish you a happy holiday."

A round of enthusiastic applause immediately erupted from the audience.

"Today is Laba Festival, which symbolizes blessings, reunion, and a bountiful harvest," Cheng Yi said with a smile. "I've gathered everyone here to tell you that from today onwards, we are one family."

He quickly reviewed the harrowing experience of the past month, acknowledging the significant contributions made by both new and veteran employees in responding to the Panda virus and rescuing government and enterprise users.

Then, his tone became much more solemn as he said, "I know that many of the new colleagues here have given up what outsiders would consider a lucrative job to choose our private company, Momo OS, despite the pressure. This trust is very heavy, and I, Cheng Yi, and Momo OS will never let you down."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room, and deliberately spoke in a suspenseful tone: "To thank everyone for their trust, and to allow everyone to settle their families and adjust their mindset without any worries, so that we can better prepare for our next shared endeavor, I hereby announce—"

The entire room fell silent, and everyone looked at Cheng Yi.

"All employees who have officially completed their onboarding procedures before February 17th, Lunar New Year's Eve," Cheng Yi deliberately drew out his words, then announced, word by word, "will enjoy a sixty-day paid leave, of course, not including the 117 statutory holidays."

"what?"

Sixty days of paid leave?

"Did I hear that right? Two months? Does that mean we only need to work a little over 180 days a year?"

Sixty days of paid leave was simply a pipe dream in 2006, when the 996 work schedule was not yet common. This was not just a benefit; it was a gesture that demonstrated Momo OS's extreme respect for and appreciation of talent.

This decision even made the previously calm veteran employees cheer.

The boss's generosity and vision made them feel proud.

The revelry of the Laba Festival feast continued until late at night before gradually dissipating, but its influence spread rapidly through various social circles.

That evening, the first thing countless new employees did after returning to their temporary accommodations and hotels was to turn on their computers, log in to QQ, and share the news with their former colleagues who were still at Microsoft Research Asia.

"Old Li, it's such a pity you didn't come. President Cheng personally announced that we'll have sixty days of paid leave. Sixty days! I never thought there would be such a good thing."

"Sixty days? Does that include Saturdays and Sundays?"

"As President Cheng said, the 117 statutory holidays are not included."

"Are you talking nonsense? Just admit you're talking nonsense, you bastard!"

"I'm not trying to be mean, but what are you still doing there? Hurry up and submit your resume! This policy lasts until Chinese New Year's Eve, so there's still time!"

This condition is absolutely devastating.

For many engineers who are exhausted from long hours of overtime, this is a more irresistible temptation than a simple pay raise.

The third day, December 28th.

The email inbox of the Human Resources Department of Momo OS Company witnessed the most spectacular scene since its inception.

exploded!

A massive influx of resumes and job application inquiries flooded in, almost bursting my inbox.

The telephone hotline was also permanently busy from 8 a.m., with all calls coming from Beijing area codes inquiring about the onboarding process and compensation details.

Many Microsoft engineers couldn't even wait for the formal email application process. They directly asked colleagues who had already joined the company to refer them, and after getting the direct contact information of the recruitment team leader, they immediately expressed their desire to join the company.

This threw Microsoft Research Asia into complete chaos.

The news of the Laba Festival feast and the ultimate benefit of 60 days of paid leave became the last straw that broke the camel's back.

People no longer discuss it privately, but openly talk about the resignation procedures and handover matters.

The office was filled with an atmosphere of apocalyptic revelry, except that everyone's revelry was directed towards leaving.

Waters stared at the nearly half-empty office space, and at the dozens more resignation letters sent by HR. He slumped into his chair, his face ashen. He knew it was all over.

He didn't even have the energy to get angry.

He knew that Microsoft's battle in China had not only resulted in the loss of market share and customers, but more importantly, it had also cost them their most valuable asset for competing with technological rivals in the coming years—talent.

It wasn't that he didn't want to salvage the situation, but rather that it was difficult to do so. Given the current situation, Microsoft's systems had essentially withdrawn from the Chinese market.

All their previous plans were ruined by this sudden panda burning incense.

This feeling is like putting in a lot of effort, only to find out it was all just a fart.

Their plans to target Momo internet cafes and their attempts to block the Momo system have all become a joke.

That Chinese proverb is absolutely right.

This is what they mean by "Man proposes, God disposes."

At this moment, Waters only wanted to say a classic line from his favorite Chinese TV series: "Oh, heavens, how have you treated me so cruelly?"

The loss of over nine hundred core engineers was like a sudden myocardial infarction, almost hollowing out the foundation of the research institute.

The remaining employees were also filled with anxiety, the project came to a complete standstill, and all efforts to deal with Panda Burning Incense were completely in vain at this moment.

At present, remaining in Yanjing will not only fail to reverse the situation, but may also lead to the annihilation of the entire army due to the negative emotions of defeat.

“We must preserve the flame…” Waters said in a hoarse voice to the few remaining executives, his tone filled with resentment and helplessness. “We can no longer hold out in China. Immediately activate the emergency plan and pack up and migrate all remaining researchers, key project materials, server data, and everything else that can be taken to our Asian Academy of Engineering in Singapore.”

"Yes!"

This order was tantamount to sounding the retreat horn.

Over the next few days, the Microsoft Asia Group headquarters was unusually busy.

This was no longer a busy time of tackling technical challenges, but rather a scene of packing boxes, moving vehicles, and the undisguised confusion and haste on the faces of employees.

The office area, which used to be filled with the sound of keyboards clattering, is now filled with the noise of tattered tape.

Some employees who were still hesitant about whether to stay lost their last hope when they saw the company's decline and joined the resignation army, turning to Jingzhou instead.

Ultimately, only about a third of the researchers boarded the flight to Singapore with Waters.

Standing on the gangway of the plane about to take off, Waters looked back at the land he had once ambitiously wanted to conquer, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

His proud title of fire captain has become a joke here.

This defeat had nothing to do with technology or capital, yet it was a complete and utter loss.

“Oh, heavens…” he murmured again, but this time, the second half of the sentence turned into a bitter taste, which was drowned out by the roar of the plane engine.

Just as families were preparing offerings of sugar melons to the Kitchen God to welcome the Lunar New Year, Microsoft headquarters released a brief but earth-shattering announcement through its global website and major media outlets:
[Microsoft Corporate Strategy Adjustment Announcement]

In light of recent changes in the market environment and the need for global resource integration, Microsoft has decided to relocate the Microsoft Asia Joint Group headquarters and its core R&D functions to Microsoft Asia Engineering Institute in Singapore to better serve the Asia-Pacific market. Due to resource reallocation and strategic shifts, subsequent updates and maintenance services for the Windows XP Speed ​​Edition project will be suspended indefinitely.

Microsoft thanks its users in China for their long-term support and will continue to provide products and services to enterprise and individual users through existing channels.

Microsoft Corporation, February 11, 2006.

This simple announcement instantly ignited the entire technology, political, and business sectors of China, and even ordinary citizens were stunned by the news.

"Microsoft has moved away? Their research institute has moved to Singapore?"

"XP Speed ​​Edition has stopped maintenance? What are we users supposed to do then?"

"Does this mean they've completely abandoned the Chinese market?"

"My God, the Panda Burning Incense technique single-handedly brought Microsoft down?"

At this moment, due to Microsoft's withdrawal from China, major media outlets used every exaggerated word imaginable.

The collapse of giants, the end of an era, Microsoft's retreat from China, the decisive victory of independent operating systems...

Related reports instantly dominated the front page headlines of all major portal websites.

Everyone understands that the so-called strategic adjustments and resource integration are nothing more than a high-sounding fig leaf.

The core fact is that Microsoft's operating system market share in China, which it had painstakingly cultivated for many years, was completely lost due to an insurmountable virus crisis.

This is the most desperate blow to government and enterprise users who are still waiting for a Microsoft solution. Even Microsoft itself has run away, so how can they expect them to come to the rescue?

The news of Microsoft's defeat also sparked cheers at the Jingzhou Momo Technology Industrial Park.

Cheng Yi stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in his office, listening to the faint cheers coming from the park, and a relaxed smile appeared on his face.

It's not easy.

Although he had the home advantage, his opponent was Microsoft.

He had already prepared for a protracted war, but who could have imagined that a tiny virus would change the entire course of the battle?

Therefore, many things are not so absolute. When you feel that you are sure to win, you will often lose miserably.

Anyone who frequently fails a course knows that the worst grades often only appear in the subjects you are most confident in.

However, they're in for a busy Spring Festival. They're going to take advantage of Microsoft's collapse to take full control of all the government, enterprise, and high-end user markets left behind by Microsoft.

At the same time, the market reaction was much more intense.

Those companies that were previously wavering between Microsoft and Momo no longer hesitated and rushed to Momo OS, signing system migration and procurement contracts.

Local government information technology authorities held meetings overnight and quickly issued official documents, clearly requiring all units within their jurisdictions to prioritize the purchase and use of secure and controllable domestic operating systems for the construction and upgrading of information systems, with the Momo system's enterprise version becoming the only choice.

However, the price is not the same as before.

(End of this chapter)