Rebirth 08: Can a mobile game company also build a tech empire?

The third day of the Lunar New Year is still full of festive spirit.

The doorbell at Lu Chen's house had been ringing non-stop since nine in the morning.

According to custom, today is a day for visiting relatives and friends to strengthen relationships.

Lu Jianguo had five siblings.

Li Xiulan also has quite a few relatives on her maternal side.

In addition, there were several old colleagues from the factory who had worked together for decades.

Relatives came in one after another.

Carrying gifts, they poured into the spacious living room.

The living room quickly filled with people.

The adults sat around the large sofa.

Holding a cup of tea that Lu Jianguo had just brewed, and cracking sunflower seeds, they chatted about everything from pre-Lunar New Year prices to this year's Spring Festival Gala.

The children were chasing and playing inside the house.

The TV was replaying a skit from the Spring Festival Gala.

It occasionally elicited bursts of laughter.

"Sister, your house is so grand!"

Aunt Li Xiufang linked arms with Li Xiulan.

I walked around the house, my eyes filled with undisguised envy.

"This must be over 200 square meters, right?"

"Two hundred and sixty."

Li Xiulan said with a smile on her face.

"When I bought it, the unit price seemed quite daunting, and it put a lot of pressure on me."

Looking back now, I feel it was worth it.

"It's not just worth it, it's downright insightful!"

An old colleague from the factory gave a thumbs up.

"Housing prices are skyrocketing right now, like they've been propelled by a rocket."

Large apartments in prime locations and desirable neighborhoods are especially rare.

I think it will continue to rise!

"That's right, I think Xiulan's family was really wise to buy it so early."

Another relative chimed in, drawing a chorus of agreement.

Li Xiulan smiled and waved her hand, repeatedly saying it was all luck.

Lu Jianguo sat on the main sofa.

He smoked a cigarette, listening to his wife and relatives' conversation, not saying much, but just a slight smile on his lips.

In this scenario,

This has happened every Spring Festival since we moved into this upscale community.

Comparisons and rivalries among relatives and neighbors are almost a normal occurrence.

Lu Chen's family is the best in terms of finances among his relatives.

Nature often becomes the center of envy and discussion.

It's common knowledge that adults will compare themselves to children when they can't compete with each other.

Sure enough, after a few cups of hot tea, the next topic turned to Lu Chen.

"Chenchen, are you currently working in Hangzhou?"

What exactly is the job?

The person asking the questions was Lu Chen's uncle, Lu Jianjun.

He was wearing a dark blue jacket and holding a teacup.

They adopted the standard posture of an elder caring for a younger generation.

For a time,

All eyes in the living room were on Lu Chen.

Lu Chen felt those gazes.

He put down his phone, sat up straighter, and answered politely:

Yes, Uncle.

I started my own small company in Hangzhou.

"Start a company? What kind of company?"

Aunt Zhang Lijuan interjected.

She was Lu Jianguo's sister-in-law and always liked to inquire about other people's affairs.

"Making games and electronic products."

Lu Chen said simply.

"game?"

Zhang Lijuan's brows immediately furrowed.

"You mean those fighting and killing games on the computer?"

Her tone was filled with undisguised doubt and rejection.

"Not entirely. We make mobile games and consumer electronics like MP4 players."

Lu Chen tried to explain.

However, the word "game" touched a nerve with many of the elders present.

"Oh dear, games are no good."

Lu Jianjun shook his head.

My colleague's child got hurt because of playing games.

His grades plummeted, and he eventually failed to get into university.

"Yes, yes, kids these days are being ruined by video games."

Another relative chimed in.

"Chenchen, why did you decide to do this?"

Zhang Lijuan's tone was filled with obvious regret.

"Your dad's washing machine factory is so successful, it would be great if you came back and helped out;"

"Games are something that doesn't sound good to talk about."

Lu Jianguo was smoking nearby, and his expression was not good.

Li Xiulan then busied herself trying to smooth things over:

"Children have their own ideas, and we don't understand these new things."

"What new stuff? It's just harmful stuff!"

Lu Jianjun put it even more bluntly.

I've heard that game companies don't last long.

Chenchen, you should change careers as soon as possible!

Do you want your uncle to help you find a job?

I have a few acquaintances at work.

The atmosphere in the living room became subtle.

Although the relatives expressed their concern verbally.

But the look in his eyes clearly showed that this child was not doing anything productive.

"Yes, listen to your uncle and find a proper job as soon as possible."

"That's right, why make games?"

It's a harmful thing!

"Sigh, Chenchen, I used to think you were a good child."

I never imagined it would turn out like this.

A group of relatives, like sharks smelling fish, swarmed forward.

They seemed to have found the only breakthrough in Lu Chen's family.

In an instant, all sorts of sarcastic accusations and lectures came rushing in.

He wished he could drown Lu Chen in his saliva.

"well……"

Lu Chen sighed, feeling somewhat helpless.

It's not just about lamenting the limited understanding of these elders.

They were also lamenting how easily someone could change their mind so quickly.

Indeed, the game did not receive good reviews in China in 2009.

The notion of electronic drugs is rampant.

Parents view video games as a scourge.

Game companies have naturally been labeled as harmful.

Lu Chen was about to say something.

My phone vibrated in my pocket.

Lu Chen took out his phone and glanced at it.

It was a text message sent by Chen Xin, a reporter from Zhejiang TV:

"Happy New Year, Mr. Lu!"

Our interview program is currently airing on Zhejiang Satellite TV, and we'll be talking about ZhengTu Technology in a few minutes.

The program was very well received, and the station's leadership took it very seriously.

Lu Chen's eyes lit up.

I looked up at the LCD TV hanging on the living room wall.

"Dad, where's the remote?"

Lu Chen suddenly asked.

"Huh? You want to watch TV?"

Lu Jianguo was stunned for a moment.

"Okay, let's switch to Zhejiang TV."

Lu Chen took the remote control.

Amidst the puzzled looks of the crowd, the channel was switched to Zhejiang TV.

On the television screen, the opening sequence of the "Today's Zhejiang Businessmen" program was playing.

To the accompaniment of powerful background music, landmark buildings and famous enterprises in Zhejiang Province flash by one by one.

"Why are you watching this? What's so interesting about this show?"

Zhang Lijuan couldn't help but mutter to herself.

They felt that Lu Chen was deliberately changing the subject.

"Wait a moment."

Lu Chen didn't explain further, his eyes fixed on the screen.

After the opening credits, host Chen Xin appeared on screen.

She stood in the studio of Zhejiang TV, with a huge wallpaper of Zhejiang's landmark buildings in the background.

The title bar below reads "Interview with a New Generation of Entrepreneurs".

Hello, everyone!

Welcome to "Today's Zhejiang Businessmen";

Today we're going to visit a technology company that originated and grew up in Hangzhou – ZhengTu Technology.

Just at the end of 2008,

One of this company's products sparked a nationwide buying frenzy.

Long queues formed at many stores!

Even more surprisingly,

The founder of this company is a young man who is only 23 years old...

As Chen Xin introduced the scene, the camera switched to a short video.

Exquisite close-ups of the Z1 in different scenarios.

Long queues formed outside the store.

Consumers excitedly showcased the new devices.

The photos on Cheng Lin's QQ space have an astonishing number of likes.

"What... what is this?"

Lu Jianjun's eyes widened.