King of Technology: A Fresh Start in 1983

That day, Chen Jianghe brought the first batch of ten four-layer board [Pangu Card] sample cards, processed by Hongxing Components Factory, back to Tiangong Technical Service Department.

I just connected the Kikusui oscilloscope and am preparing to perform the first power-on and functional tests.

The tiny flame of solder on the soldering station suddenly shot up, accompanied by a burnt smell.

"groove!"

Chen Jianghe immediately cut off the power.

Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the top of the +5V main filter capacitor, which supplies power to the logic chip, had bulged and burst open.

The scalding hot electrolyte splashed out!

Even a valuable EPROM pin is burnt black!

Chen Jianghe immediately investigated the cause!

The sample itself had no wiring issues, and the +5V output voltage regulation of the test platform was also normal.

Finally, under the microscope, an extremely fine, almost invisible, metallic burr, resembling a hair, was discovered at the power input on the edge of the sample!

This was clearly left over from processing and cutting the edges of the PCB board!

This seemingly insignificant burr caused a short circuit during high-load operation, leading to a disaster!

"Damn it! Hongxing Factory! It's another process problem!!"

Chen Jianghe slammed his fist on the table, burning with rage!

There are very few companies in China that can make four-story versions, and even fewer near Beijing...

Finding a product with acceptable craftsmanship is like finding a needle in a haystack!

Chen Jianghe immediately mounted his secondhand bicycle and, braving the cold wind, sped all the way to the Hongxing Components Factory on the outskirts of Beijing.

"Director Liu! How could this burr problem occur?! Do you even know how much this four-layer board costs?! It's delaying my mass production schedule..."

Pointing to the wreckage of the sample, Chen Jianghe suppressed his anger and questioned the production manager in charge of their order.

Director Liu, a slick middle-aged man, glanced at it slowly, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

"Oh dear, Mr. Chen, that's how four-layer boards are supposed to be! It's impossible to get the edge treatment 100% perfect!"

"A few minor flaws can be fixed by adding more wafers for burn-in and aging!"

"Besides, your order is small but your requirements are high, it's difficult for us to handle. If it weren't for your prompt payment..."

Balancing efficiency and quality is an unsolvable problem in the current low-end manufacturing environment in China!

"I demand this batch be reworked immediately! A thorough polishing is required! You must provide me with ten new, qualified pieces within three days!"

Chen Jianghe practically spat out those words through gritted teeth.

"Three days? No way! With your quantity, it's difficult to even arrange for you to cut in line..."

Director Liu rubbed his hands, his face full of shrewd embarrassment.

Chen Jianghe knew that this was a disguised way of asking for a price.

Just as he was preparing to confront Director Liu head-on, a worker from the Red Star Factory rushed in.

"Director Liu! The joint inspection team from the Industry and Commerce Bureau is here! They say... they're going to conduct a surprise inspection!"

Director Liu's expression changed drastically: "Inspection? Inspect what?!"

"Someone reported that our factory... used inferior waste materials to impersonate imported boards... and, moreover, violated the 1979 provisions of the National Environmental Protection Law..." The worker's voice trembled.

Almost simultaneously, the Motorola Big Man Pager clipped to Chen Jianghe's waist vibrated!

He looked down and saw Chinese characters displayed on the screen:

"Brother Jianghe! There are some thugs blocking our stall! They say the [Xuanyuan Card] damaged their machines, and they're even smashing things! —Xiao Bo"

Chen Jianghe's head suddenly felt like it was going to explode!

This must be Chung Chiu-fai's doing again!

Chen Jianghe stood in the noisy and chaotic workshop, holding the burnt sample fragments in one hand and a pager in the other.

Cold eyes!

He pondered for a moment, then walked up to Director Liu and asked in a low voice, "Director Liu, tell me the truth, what exactly is going on with these industry and commerce bureau officials?"

"I'm completely baffled too. These boards are all legally imported..."

"If you want to find fault, you can always find a reason! Haven't you offended anyone?"

"I swear, absolutely not!"

Chen Jianghe understood a bit, and gritted his teeth!

He immediately pulled out several packs of Daqianmen cigarettes and handed them to the leader of the business association.

After much persuasion, the matter of the surprise inspection by the Industry and Commerce Bureau was temporarily suppressed.

Watching the departing figures of the business personnel, Director Liu gratefully grasped Chen Jianghe's hand.

"Boss Chen, thank you so much for helping me out! Just for that, the new sample will definitely be delivered on time in three days!"

"Okay! Remember your promise, keep your word!"

Chen Jianghe casually grabbed a large wrench from the workshop and tucked it into his waistband: "Can I borrow this for a bit?"

After saying that, he immediately mounted his bicycle and charged towards the Zhongguancun Electronics Market.

Before we even reached the stall of [Tiangong], we could hear the jarring arguments and the muffled sounds of things being smashed from afar!

"Give me my money back! You heartless, unscrupulous merchant! You're selling worthless credit cards and ripping people off!"

"Your [Tiangong] card burned out my hard drive as soon as I plugged it in! It was a brand new hard drive!"

"Don't even think about leaving until you pay up!"

Several thugs with a roguish air surrounded the stall, shoving and pushing Zhao Xiaobo, whose face was flushed red.

The wooden planks of the stall were overturned on the ground, and several [Xuanyuan Cards] that had not yet been put away were trampled into the mud and snow.

A thug was waving a brand-new hard drive with the label still on.

With his other hand, he was about to smash the Great Wall mobile phone used for demonstration in the stall!

The onlookers pointed and whispered, their expressions varied.

"stop!"

With a loud shout, Chen Jianghe pushed through the crowd and rushed in.

He grabbed the thug's wrist as he was about to smash the monitor, the force causing the man to stumble!

"Who the hell are you...?" the thug exclaimed in surprise.

"I'm the boss of [Tiangong]!"

Chen Jianghe's cold gaze swept over the scene and the thugs.

"You're saying my card burned out my hard drive? Where's the card? Where's the computer? Show me right now! If it really burned out, I'll compensate you tenfold!"

"If it really is my card that's the problem, I'll smash the [Tiangong] signboard right in front of you!"

"The card? The card was removed a long time ago! The machine is still here! Look for yourself..."

The thug pointed to a slightly worn-out compatible computer next to him.

The case was open, revealing the hard drive inside: an ST-225, 10MB capacity, brand new.

The power connector next to it looks fine, but the power cord is a bit loose.

Chen Jianghe saw through the trickery at a glance!

Chung Chiu-fai's tactics have been upgraded!

The goal is no longer just to stigmatize the product itself, but to create physical damage and intimidate distribution channels!

The other party never intended to actually demonstrate "burning the hard drive"; they just deliberately loosened the power cord...

Poor contact caused voltage instability, resulting in physical damage to the hard drive, which was then transferred to the card!

"Demonstration? Why should we listen to you? You'll just lose money!"

When the gang leader realized his plot had been exposed, he immediately changed to a rogue and stepped forward to shove Chen Jianghe.

Chen Jianghe sidestepped, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, and reached behind his back to pull out a huge wrench!

"Losing money? Sure!"

Chen Jianghe weighed the cold wrench in his hand. His voice wasn't loud, but it sent a chill down the spines of the thugs.

"But we need to get a medical examination before I pay compensation!"

"Whoever broke it has to pay for the same wound!"

"Come on! Will you offer your bodies or your hard drive as payment? Choose one!"