Tech startup: I really do make mobile phones!

Chapter 128 That year, I was 16 years old.
The next morning.

Chen Mo stood in front of the huge aquarium, casually scattering fish food between his fingertips.

Various colorful tropical fish stirred the water, vying for food, but he stared at the ripples in a daze.

After feeding the fish, he sat back down at his large desk, with the investment promotion materials that Gong Yun had prepared spread out in front of him, focusing on the Futian and Longhua districts.

Futian District: The conditions are average, with tax exemption and industry support, and the policy will last until 2013.

The advantage lies in the mature supporting infrastructure, especially the strong distribution channels in North China, on which oranges depend for their survival, are located here.

As for the drawbacks, land is extremely scarce and there's simply no available land or factory space available for oranges.

Longhua New District: It was just separated from Bao'an District, and the conditions are dazzlingly generous: tax exemption + factory buildings + industrial support + talent introduction, and the policies are extended to 2015. It can be said to be full of sincerity.

However, the disadvantages are also obvious: the new district has virtually no supporting facilities.

Is the most bustling area the North Railway Station commercial district in Shenzhen?

Chen Mo frowned; this location was almost in the suburbs of Shenzhen.

Moreover, transportation is a major drawback. The park is a full 15 kilometers away from the nearest subway line 4, which means that employees must be provided with a dedicated shuttle bus.

For employees accustomed to the convenience of commuting and the vibrant lifestyle of the city, this is a troublesome matter. At Orange Technology, who knows how many employees will resign!
Looking left and right, it's hard to choose.

Chen Mo simply pushed the documents aside, cleared his head, and picked up the "Orange 2 exterior sketch" sent by the design team.

[Orange 2 Exterior Design Concept Image, Internal Number C2-001]

High screen-to-body ratio continues: narrower bezels and stronger visual impact.

Wide forehead and narrow chin for symmetry: Unlike the Apple 4, which features a symmetrical design with equal width at the top and bottom, Orange sticks to its own path, making it more suitable for holding habits.

Trapezoidal bevel at the screen edge: enhances grip and visually extends the screen boundary.

Material and color: Glass/metal, multiple colors available.

Note: This data contains undisclosed characteristic parameters and is considered sensitive internal information. Unauthorized distribution is strictly prohibited.

Chen Mo quickly scanned the text descriptions and concept diagrams.

It's clear that the designers on the design team studied Orange 1 carefully, maintaining the style while making some optimizations in details (such as the borders and bevels).

Overall, it's rather conventional, with only minor innovations based on the Orange 1, lacking any truly groundbreaking breakthroughs.

"Sigh!" Chen Mo put down the sketch and rubbed his temples.

Forget it, the core of Orange 2 is hardware upgrades, not the appearance of the scroll.

Chen Mo positioned Orange Phone as a product that sells exclusive technologies (such as gaseous lithium batteries), rather than relying on its "good looks" to compete with aesthetically pleasing phones like Dovii.

The idea of ​​finding a top expert to lead the design team flashed through his mind.

"Knock knock knock~" A knocking sound rang out on the door.

"Enter!"

Gong Yun pushed open the door and entered, a gentle smile on her face.

"Mr. Chen, a gentleman who is going to interview the deputy head of the hardware R&D team has arrived."

"Oh?"

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised: "Sister Gong, you're really efficient. We were just talking about hiring a headhunter yesterday, and someone's already here for an interview today?"

Gong Yun lowered her eyes, smiled faintly, and gently shook her head.

"Mr. Chen, you've misunderstood. This person wasn't found by a headhunter; he came to us on his own. I wouldn't dare take credit for it!"

"They came to us on their own?" Chen Mo became even more interested: "Where are they?"

"It's arranged in meeting room number 2. Please come and take a look!" Gong Yun stepped aside.

Chen Mo stood up, saying that hardware development was the key to the success or failure of Orange 2.

His memories of disassembling the "Orange 4" from his previous life were only enough for one use, and he urgently needed a truly knowledgeable expert to oversee things.

Chen Mo's requirements weren't high; he'd be grateful if he could get a stable 70-point performance from an 80-point hardware combination.

Gong Yun led Chen Mo into conference room number 2.

The moment the door opened, the man sitting inside looked up, their eyes met, and they both froze!

"Xiao Chen?"

The man, wearing a signature dark blue suit and with a faint scar on his left eyebrow, stood up in surprise.

"Brother Yu!" Chen Mo exclaimed in surprise, "It's actually you who's here for the interview!"

Upon seeing this, Gong Yun smiled, pursing her lips.

"It seems I don't need to introduce you! Mr. Chen, Mr. Jiang, please continue your conversation."

She quietly left, closing the conference room door behind her.

Jiang Yu snapped out of his daze and couldn't help but laugh and tease him.

"Mr. Chen, that's not fair of you. At the hotpot dinner the other day, Mr. Shen didn't seem to know you were the owner of Orange Technology, did he?"

Chen Mo helplessly spread his hands: "Brother Yu, I told you back then that I was the owner of Orange, but you didn't believe me. Is it my fault?"

Jiang Yu laughed loudly: "Haha, who told you to talk like you were chatting back then? Who knew you were serious!"

The two already knew each other, and the atmosphere instantly became more familiar.

Chen Mo waved his hand, his smile fading, and said seriously, "We can catch up later. Brother Yu, since you're here for an interview, let's go through the formalities. Why don't you formally introduce yourself first?"

Jiang Yu immediately adjusted his mindset and became serious.

He highlighted his experience at Xunmei Technology in Chongqing:

In 08, I served as a research and development assistant and solved the persistent problem of "earpiece static" in counterfeit mobile phones.

In 09, he served as the R&D director and led the development of the "dual SIM dual standby feature phone".

Since the beginning of 10, the company has achieved a 30-day ultra-long standby time for feature phones by relying on its self-developed power management module, which has become a best-selling product in Southwest China and earned the company a bonus of 30 yuan.

Chen Mo nodded repeatedly as he listened.

Stealing your brother's girlfriend is a bit unethical, but it's really tempting!
He extended an olive branch directly: "Brother Yu, if you're willing to come, you can directly serve as the deputy head of the technology department at Orange Technology!"
The salary is negotiable; if the Orange 2 is successfully developed, you will be promoted to a managerial position.

Don't underestimate this supervisor position. Our company is in a period of rapid development and has implemented a flat management structure. Supervisors are considered senior executives and enjoy stock options, which are given to them upon joining!

Jiang Yu listened attentively, then changed the subject: "Mr. Chen, thank you for your consideration, but I need to think about this matter further. I'll give you an answer in three days, is that alright?"

A glint flashed in Chen Mo's eyes, but he remained expressionless and smiled as he extended his hand.

"Of course! Orange Technology's doors are always open for Brother Yu."

After seeing Jiang Yu off, the smile on Chen Mo's face faded.

He picked up his phone and made a call: "Wang Kai, come to conference room number 2 immediately."

Soon after joining the company, Wang Kai, who had a low profile, knocked on the door and came in.

"Lock the door from the inside and sit down!" Chen Mo pointed to the chair opposite the conference table.

"How's it feeling being affiliated with the logistics department? Are all the people in your market research team here?" Chen Mo asked casually.

"Supervisor Gong trusts me a lot, and all four members of the team have already reported for duty," Wang Kai replied meticulously.

Chen Mo nodded slightly. Gong Yun was indeed sensible and didn't treat the market research team as her own private logistics area.

"Good! Now that the makeshift team for the market investigation has been set up, there's something I need you to do."

Chen Mo stared at him: "I need to know this person's core needs in two days."

He pushed a piece of paper with Jiang Yu's name and basic information on it: "I want to poach him to be the deputy head of hardware R&D!"

Wang Kai frowned almost imperceptibly. Investigating an individual?

This was somewhat beyond his expectations regarding the company's "market research scope".

Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately replied, "Understood! I guarantee to complete the task and give you results within two days!"

The leader's will is the direction. The future funding and status of the market research team will depend on how many practical problems they can solve for General Manager Chen.

“Very good! Go find Manager Gong and get his resume. You know what to do next!” Chen Mo looked at him meaningfully.

"Understood!" Wang Kai picked up the note and quickly left.

Half an hour later, with the information provided by Gong Yun in hand, he looked at the "Mountain City Yuzhong District" in the Jiang Yu's place of origin column and decisively booked the next flight to the mountain city.

With time running out, Wang Kai decided to personally take charge and investigate directly at the source.

Every 16-year-old is never the same for everyone.

A luxury apartment in North America.

Xiao Ran waved dismissively at the laptop screen: "Alright, Dad, the $20 has arrived. I'm hanging up now!"

Before Lu Laowu could finish his endless admonitions about his "daughter," the video was abruptly cut off.

Xiao Ran turned to the room full of international students and held up her phone: "Everyone! The money's here! Let's get the music going! Tonight, we're drinking until we drop!"

Cheers erupted, and the party escalated.

A mid-to-high-end residential community in Shenzhen.

Xiaoyu tossed the Arale Angel hat onto the shoe cabinet in the entryway and jumped into her mother's arms.

"Mom! Where are you taking me this weekend?"

Mom smiled and poked her forehead: "Get into a top university first, and then you can have pocket money from the rent for those two small workshops in Huabei Qiang!"

"Huh? That lousy place gets sun twice a day, how can the rent cover anything?"

"Silly girl, the tenant already agreed to double the rent! So, study hard, okay?"

A high school classroom in Hanxi Province.

Zhao Jincheng watched with envy as several art students carried their art supplies and asked their teacher for leave to attend their professional classes.

He lowered his head and silently unfolded the math test paper in front of him.

A mountain city, Yuzhong District, stilted houses along the river.

In the dim light, 16-year-old Xiaoying carefully propped her newly screen-protected Orange 1 phone against a bamboo pole tied with a red rope by the window. There was a sycamore tree in the yard outside.

The screen showed the mother's tired but determined face in her factory dormitory in Shenzhen.

"Xiaoying, have you eaten? How is Grandma? Do you have enough money?" Xiaoying forced a bright smile: "Mom, I've eaten! Grandma's fine! We have enough money! We just sold some tangerines, enough to last a long time! Don't overwork yourself over there!"

She quickly recounted that everything was fine at home, until her mother heard her coworkers urging her to go to work.

The video call ended, and the forced smile on Xiaoying's face vanished instantly. She silently put away her Orange 1 phone, turned around, and walked towards the low-ceilinged kitchen next door.

Grandma, her back hunched, was adding firewood to the stove, coughing incessantly.

Xiaoying skillfully rolled up her sleeves: "Grandma, you rest, I'll chop the vegetables and cook."

The firelight illuminated her silent yet exceptionally sensible profile, while the rising steam from the pot blurred the lights of countless homes outside the window.

Smoke from the chimneys mingled with the heavy, damp river mist, drifting silently toward the construction site across the river from Xiaoying's home.

"Snapped!"

The sharp, grating sound of the bamboo stick striking flesh was deafening.

A thin, sallow-faced girl was hanging from a frame, while the foreman cursed and swore.

"You little thief! You've stolen my steel bars time and time again. Just because I haven't shown my teeth doesn't mean I'm a pushover!"

The girl bit her lip, tears mingling with dust as they streamed down her face, her sobs muffled.

The window of the apartment building across the street slammed shut, and a shout could be faintly heard: "Longlong! What are you looking at! Do your homework!"

The next day, on the streets of the mountain city, An Xiaoquan, who had been beaten and hung up all night, limped along the scorching hot streets.

Suddenly, she saw a man in a thick suit sway in front of her and then collapse to the ground with a thud—he had clearly suffered from heatstroke.

Passersby avoided the area as if it were a plague, and the news about whether to help someone in Yingtian caused widespread panic.

Why did you help if you didn't hit him?
It still echoes in the ears of passersby!

For more than 20 years afterward, the moral dilemma of whether or not to help someone collapsed along with the rule of law.

Xiao Quan frowned and looked for a while. After hesitating for a long time, he still struggled to drag the unconscious Wang Kai to the shade of a tree.

Pinching his philtrum didn't work, so she gritted her teeth, took out the only two yuan she had in her pocket, bought a bottle of water and a vial of Huoxiang Zhengqi Water, and forced it down his throat.

Wang Kai slowly woke up and saw that his savior was a little girl covered in injuries. He quickly took out two hundred yuan and stuffed it into her hand.

"Thank you, little girl!"

Xiao Quan didn't take the money; instead, she grabbed his trouser leg, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Uncle, please take me in! I can cook and do laundry, anything is fine!"

This sudden turn of events left Wang Kai completely bewildered. He had come to Shancheng to investigate and recruit people; how could he bring along a burden?

So he forced two hundred yuan into her pocket and got up to leave.

"Waaaaah! Daddy! Please don't abandon me!"

Xiao Quan suddenly burst into a shrill cry and clung tightly to his leg.

The onlookers who had initially been watching the commotion quickly gathered around, pointing and whispering.

"Look at this injury! Did you do this?"

"Dressed so smartly, how could the child be so cruel!"

Whether or not to help someone is a complex issue involving morality, the rule of law, and economics, but abusing one's own daughter is purely a moral issue.

The crowd was outraged, and Wang Kai was speechless with anger.

"No, it wasn't Dad who hit me," Xiao Quan explained, sobbing at the opportune moment. "It was Mom and Uncle."

The onlookers got even more excited: "Did you hear that? Your own child wants to stay with you, and you have the heart to send her back to that hellhole?"

Seeing that he was about to delay important matters, Wang Kai gritted his teeth, picked up the light-footed Xiao Quan, and quickly fled the scene.

After Wang Kai, he had to take Xiao Quan to get his hair washed, his injuries checked, change his clothes, and eat a large chicken.

Sitting in a booth in the shop, watching her wolf down her food, Wang Kai sighed.

"Girl! I know your tricks, but I really can't take you in!"

Xiao Quan's eyes dimmed instantly, he lowered his head and remained silent, and his hands stopped moving.

Wang Kai got up and left. After confirming that she hadn't followed him, he breathed a sigh of relief, but felt a pang of guilt.

After a while, Wang Kai asked Xiao Ying, who was passing by carrying a bamboo basket, for directions, and then headed straight for his target neighborhood—Jiang Yu's home.

"Mrs. Jiang, I am a recruitment specialist from Orange Technology. Mr. Jiang is exactly the kind of talent the company urgently needs. I am here with the utmost sincerity, and I can even help solve the troubles of your family members."

Wang Kai got straight to the point.

"We have no trouble!" Mrs. Jiang said coldly, about to close the door.

"Jiang Long is studying at Shancheng No. 1 Middle School, right? We can help him transfer to Shenzhen Foreign Languages ​​School, which is one of the most prestigious middle schools in the country!"

Wang Kai unleashed his trump card, precisely striking at the Achilles' heel of this full-time "tiger mom."

He quickly listed the prestigious reputation of Shenzhen Foreign Languages ​​School:
Each year, 15% of the high school's enrollment quota is allocated to students admitted to Double First-Class universities.
The acceptance rate for top-tier C9 universities in China is 20%.
Multilingual and multi-empowerment curriculum system
International exchange student program.
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Jiang's expression changed: "Mr. Wang, don't worry, I'll send him to your company right away!"

After Jiang Yu finished his interview at Orange Technology, he's been being dragged around by Shen Yiwei to check out Blue Factory these past few days!
Then, he received a call from his wife.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Shen! I've found another job!"

Shen Yiwei was dumbfounded. How come Jiang Yu suddenly found another job when we were having a good chat?

As Wang Kai walked out of the residential area, that thin figure lurked furtively behind the green belt, seemingly hiding from more than just him.

He pretended not to see her and went straight to a five-star hotel, hoping the security guards would stop her.

As a result, Xiao Quan resorted to the same trick again, staging a tearful scene in the street, saying, "Dad, don't leave me."

Amidst the condemning gazes of passersby, Wang Kai awkwardly carried her into the suite.

"Trying to cling to me now, huh?" Wang Kai flung the door open and threw her onto the sofa. "Playing the victim won't work on me!"

Afterwards, Wang Kai went back to his bedroom, angrily locked the door, and went to sleep.

The next day, news came from General Manager Chen.

"Jiang Yu has agreed to join the company. Mission accomplished! You can return from Chongqing now. Your city investigation team deserves a major commendation for this!"

Wang Kai tiptoed out of the bedroom and saw the little girl curled up asleep on the sofa.

He hesitated for a moment, then went to the front desk to pay and asked for breakfast to be delivered in ten minutes.

Then, just as Wang Kai got into the taxi, Xiao Quan, who seemed to appear out of nowhere, also slipped in like an eel.

Wang Kai clutched his head, speechless, and then unleashed a series of chicken claw punches at the air.

The driver asked nervously and cautiously, "Sir?"

"It's nothing, just a cramp!" Wang Kai replied irritably.

Then, he asked Xiao Quan for his ID card. When he saw the thin card with "An Xiao Quan" written on it, showing that he was only 16 years old, a soft spot in his heart softened.

"Yes! An Xiaoquan, An means safe, Xiao means careful, and Quan means complete!"

When Wang Kai made the call, he gave An Xiaoquan's name and ID number to book the plane ticket.

Hearing the reply "It's booked," Xiao Quan's eyes reddened, but she held back her tears.

In the check-in hall of Chongqing Airport, Wang Kai pressed his hand on her shoulder and said seriously, "Listen, I'm not married yet. From now on, I'm your cousin! Understand?"

Xiao Quan finally grinned: "Okay, cousin!"

On the plane, Wang Kai reluctantly exchanged his reimbursed first-class ticket for an economy class seat next to Xiao Quan.

Looking out at the sea of ​​clouds, Xiao Quan innocently asked, "Cousin, how does such a big piece of iron fly?"

Wang Kai closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep, refusing to answer this childish question.

When the flight attendant served meals, Xiao Quan's stomach growled, and he blushed as he waved his hand at the flight attendant, saying that he wasn't hungry.

Wang Kai said helplessly, "It's free."

Xiao Quan's eyes lit up immediately: "Then I want three servings!"

Wang Kai chuckled.

Finally, he offered her his meal as well.

One week later, at Shenzhen Experimental Middle School, Grade 1 (1) class.

The homeroom teacher introduced the new student to everyone: "This is An Xiaoquan. Please take good care of her. Xiaoyu, you are the class monitor, and Xiaowei, you are the academic representative. Please help the new student integrate into our class family."

The righteous Xiaoyu patted her burgeoning chest and declared confidently, "No problem!"

The quiet Xiao Wei smiled gently and nodded.

On Saturday after school, Xiaoyu's mother drove to pick her up.

Xiaoyu saw An Xiaoquan, who lived at school, looking around at the school gate: "Xiaoquan, want a ride?"

Xiao Quan smiled and shook his head: "Thank you, Xiao Yu, but my cousin will come to pick me up!"

After a long while, Wang Kai finally arrived in a hurry.

"Sorry, something came up at the company!"

He took Xiao Quan to the mall to buy a new schoolbag and stationery.

Passing by the cosmetics counter in the mall, Xiao Quan saw girls her age trying on lipsticks in front of the mirror, and her eyes were full of envy.

Wang Kai suddenly remembered something: "Is today your birthday?"

He took her to the cosmetics counter, picked out a lipstick for 99 yuan, and handed it to her, saying, "Well, you young people should focus on your studies!"

Xiao Quan gripped the lipstick tightly and nodded vigorously.

"Cousin! I will definitely study hard and get into police academy to repay you!"

"Police academy?" Wang Kai was taken aback.

“Yes! I see you’re always doing investigations, cousin. I’ll go to police academy to learn some investigative techniques so I can help you!” Xiao Quan’s eyes were firm.

Looking at her serious expression, Wang Kai suddenly smiled and ruffled her dry, yellow hair.

"Alright! Then study hard and try to get into police academy!"

New hope was rekindled in the eyes of this once-abandoned 16-year-old girl.

(End of this chapter)