King of Technology: A Fresh Start in 1983

The afternoon after the [Xuanyuan Card] sample was completed...

Chen Jianghe went to a newly opened Xinhua Bookstore near Xizhimen, wanting to buy some new electronic journals.

Just as I reached the bookstore entrance, a slightly hurried voice with a southern accent sounded behind me:

"Excuse me, are you Mr. Chen Jianghe? Please wait a moment!"

Chen Jianghe turned around warily.

Before me stood a sharp-looking man, about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, wearing a gray suit.

He wore gold-rimmed glasses, his hair was neatly combed, and he carried a black briefcase.

His temperament is calm and reserved, completely different from the rough and unruly nature of people like Chung Chiu-fai.

"Who are you…?"

"My surname is Lin, Lin Jianye. I have been asked by someone to discuss a business deal with Mr. Chen."

The man spoke politely but got straight to the point, handing over an elegant business card: "Manager of Gangcheng Xingchen Technology Investment Co., Ltd."

Hong Kong investment background?!

Chen Jianghe was startled, but his face remained impassive: "Manager Lin... what kind of deal do you want to discuss? How do you know me?"

Lin Jianye smiled slightly: "Mr. Chen is young and promising, and has a good reputation. He has unique insights into bus drive control and timing logic optimization."

"Our company, StarCenter, is very optimistic about the booming personal computer peripheral hardware market in mainland China."

"The market potential for key accessories like Chinese character cards that improve user experience is enormous."

"I heard Mr. Chen is developing a brand new Chinese character card? Would it be convenient for us to discuss the possibility of cooperation?"

"Our Gangcheng Xingchen Company can provide ample funding, mature production channels, and access to domestic and international markets."

Wow, the news came so fast!

Chen Jianghe was taken aback!

Tiangong Technical Service Department has only been established for a little over two months…

The Xuanyuan Card has only just been released as a sample, yet it has already attracted the attention of a Hong Kong investment company with such a keen sense of smell.

This is no coincidence!

Was it Chung Chiu-fai's test?

Or is there another type of eyeliner?

"Manager Lin is very well-informed! However, the product is still under testing, so it's not convenient to demonstrate it yet. As for cooperation..."

Chen Jianghe smiled slightly, "I'm just starting out, and I don't want to take too big a step. Thank you for your kind offer."

After saying that, he turned around and prepared to walk into the bookstore.

"Mr. Chen, please wait a moment!"

Lin Jianye didn't take it seriously and took out a thick English document with a table of contents and some summary pages from his briefcase.

The cover prominently displays the words: 【IBM PCjr Technical Reference Manual】

"This is just a small gift, Mr. Chen, please accept it!"

Lin Jianye maintained his smile, "This is the technical manual for IBM's next-generation quasi-desktop product, PCjr, and it's an internally copied summary."

"It contains some very inspiring ideas for bus design."

"Mr. Chen's skills are superb; he must be able to apply what he has learned to other situations."

Indeed! This gift is quite valuable!

It's also extremely tempting!

IBM's internal technical documents were extremely rare during that period!

Clearly, Lin Jianye's move was not only to curry favor with Chen Jianghe, but also to reveal the profound influence he possesses.

"Also, I heard that the Industry and Commerce Bureau had some misunderstandings about Mr. Chen before..."

Lin Jianye pushed up his glasses, speaking in a relaxed tone as if he were discussing the weather.

"It's not easy for young people to start their own businesses, and our Xingchen Company also has some connections in the local area."

"If needed, we can help clear the blockage..."

This is a blatant combination of pressure and persuasion!

They use cutting-edge technology as bait, and the previous "trouble" as a hint that they can offer refuge!

This is a far more dangerous and cunning opponent than Chung Chiu-fai!

"Thank you for your concern, Manager Lin."

Chen Jianghe calmly accepted the handbook.

Everything else is optional!

But why not take advantage of this wonderful opportunity that's offered to us?

"Don't bother with such trivial matters as business registration, Manager Lin. My card is still on its way; we can discuss cooperation once it's fully operational."

Chen Jianghe remained ambiguous, neither refusing nor agreeing.

"Okay! Then I'll wait for Mr. Chen's good news!"

Lin Jianye didn't press the matter and took his leave with a smile.

With clean and swift movements, he turned and merged into the crowd, disappearing from sight.

Chen Jianghe held the IBM technical manual in his hand, feeling a heavy weight in his heart.

Hong Kong-funded investment company?

What is her relationship with Chung Chiu-fai?

Or is there another picture?

Does Su Wanqing know all this?

He looked up in the direction of the 106th Research Institute; the winter sun was a bit too bright.

Before Tiangong's market doors even opened, eyes were already peering through the cracks like a pack of wolves!

The Xuanyuan Card must be launched to the market as soon as possible to build its own competitive advantage!

Only by becoming strong in the sunlight can you make the jackals in the shadows wary!

He walked briskly toward Tiangong Technical Service Department.

Mold making! Find a factory! Prototype making! Mass production!

Before the Spring Festival, we must ensure that the signboard of [Tiangong Xuanyuan] is erected in the Zhongguancun Electronics Market!

...

The next day, in a printed circuit board factory on a street in the eastern suburbs of Beijing.

In the smoke-filled office, Chen Jianghe was arguing and bargaining with the bald factory manager, Wang, over the details of the first batch of production orders for the [Xuanyuan Card]...

"Director Wang, this is a four-layer board designed according to American standards!"

"The trace accuracy needs to be 0.3 mm! The copper plating thickness cannot be less than 2 ounces! Is your equipment up to the task?"

Chen Jianghe pointed to a manually adjusted engineering template on the table, his tone forceful.

This was a factory he finally found that could produce multi-layer boards after visiting several workshops in the suburbs.

The factory was rudimentary and the technology was limited.

Chen Jianghe was worried, but time was of the essence.

"Hey, Boss Chen! You can rest assured!"

Factory Director Wang touched his receding hairline, patted his chest, and spoke with spittle flying...

"Take a look at my imported wet film exposure machine; its precision is absolutely guaranteed!"

"It's just the price... your quantity is small, so the cost is high..."

"The price will remain as agreed! Delivery within three days! Quality must be up to standard!"

"I can give you an advance payment; here's three thousand yuan!"

Chen Jianghe slammed three thick stacks of "Great Unity" bills onto the table!

This money is part of Chung Chiu-fai's 20,000 yuan!

Upon seeing the advance payment, a glint flashed in Factory Manager Wang's eyes: "No problem! I guarantee you the first batch of one hundred sets of boards within three days!"

Three days later, the first batch of bare PCB boards bearing the "Tiangong" logo, labeled "Xuanyuan Card", arrived at the warehouse.

Chen Jianghe recruited several students from an electronics vocational high school who were on winter break and began intensive manual soldering and assembly.

He is extremely strict about quality control!

Each chip must be personally inspected for markings, batch number, and pins.

Every critical solder joint must be personally inspected!

Finally, a self-made simple logic testing platform was used to perform functional continuity tests on all pin interfaces.

"The scrap rate must be strictly controlled below 3%!"

Chen Jianghe said to the students with unwavering conviction.

"If any welding defects are found, don't blame me for deducting your wages!"

"This is the life-or-death line for firing the first shot of the [Xuanyuan Card]!"

"There is no room for even the slightest slackening!"