3: My father's technological legacy

"Little CEO Chen is here, quite the rare guest."

Dr. Zhou greeted Chen Chen expressionlessly.

Chen Chen thought to himself, was the original owner of this body really that disliked?

This Dr. Zhou was a big shot in the R&D department, whom the old man had gone through great lengths to invite back from the USA.

Since joining Red Star, Dr. Zhou had been conscientious and diligent, living up to Old Mr. Chen's expectations; the several models he developed consecutively were all popular in the market.

"Uncle Zhou, don't joke. I was immature before, but from now on, I promise to learn from the old man and come to the company on time every day."

Dr. Zhou circled around him curiously and said:

"Oh? Is the sun rising from the west? You can actually come to work every day?"

"Well, Uncle Zhou, I'm here to visit the R&D department and see if there are any difficulties."

After Chen Chen finished speaking, Dr. Zhou sighed.

Actually, the R&D department didn't have many difficulties, but there was a feeling of lacking a backbone. When the former CEO Chen was around, everyone was full of energy and passion.

Since the former CEO Chen passed away, although CEO Lu also paid attention to the R&D department, he was overwhelmed by other company matters. Currently, the R&D department was still developing according to the former CEO Chen's original policies.

"There are no difficulties, it's just that we don't have a direction right now."

"After the former CEO Chen passed away, our entire department didn't know what to do."

"No direction? How can there be no direction?"

Chen Chen was very curious; with so much technology, how could there be no R&D direction?

"We said we wanted to develop new charging technology, but the higher-ups said it was useless. We wanted to develop new screens, but they said there were no new models to use them on, so the costs couldn't be recovered."

"CEO Lu is so busy every day, so we are still following the former CEO Chen's plan, developing a new camera module."

"A new camera module? What stage has development reached?"

Dr. Zhou took out a lens and said, "This is our latest technology. It uses a stacked structure with 7 lenses. Compared to Japan Sony's V439 camera module, it's still slightly lacking, but it's already at an international first-class level."

Chen Chen took the small camera module. Hey, it really was quite exquisite.

He didn't quite understand the parameters, but being in the international first-class echelon, it couldn't be bad.

"Our flagship phone this year didn't use this lens, supposedly due to cost considerations. Dammit, I really don't know how they can call it a flagship phone if they aren't even willing to use a flagship lens!"

"It's already 2011! They actually came up with a side-sliding full-keyboard phone. These people are just pig-brained!"

Seeing Dr. Zhou getting more and more excited, Chen Chen quickly changed the subject. "Don't get upset, don't get upset. We will develop another new flagship model this year and use this lens."

"You mentioned charging technology just now. Has there been a breakthrough there too?"

"No, it's just theoretical. Our researchers tried dual-path charge pump charging, but it failed. The headquarters didn't approve the project or funding, so we didn't study it further."

"What about the chip department?" Chen Chen was most concerned about chips. He never expected the old man to start laying out the chip industry years in advance. What a rich legacy.

"I heard from Old Lu that they completed the simulation testing for the 28nm chip last month, but the company didn't approve the funds for tape-out. I reckon Old Lu is also full of anger right now."

Hearing Dr. Zhou say this, Chen Chen finally understood what Lu Weibing meant by the company being in chaos.

The chip was researched and designed, yet it wasn't sent for tape-out.

The camera module was developed, but the new flagship phone didn't use it at all.

Future fast-charging technology had no approved project or funding.

No wonder Lu Weibing said several heads of the chip research institutes wanted to leave Red Star.

Dammit, if I couldn't see any hope of the company getting back on track, I'd leave too!

"Don't worry, Dr. Zhou. I'll return to the company tomorrow and start by learning how to manage the company from CEO Lu. As for the projects and funding you need, get ready; I'll give you the approval after tomorrow's high-level meeting."

Chen Chen quickly reassured Dr. Zhou. Everyone in the research department was a talent; he couldn't afford to let even one go.

Hearing him say this, Dr. Zhou's tone softened, and he said to Chen Chen earnestly:

"Little Chen, back then your father went to the USA to invite me several times. Just as there was the 'Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage' in ancient times, I was moved by the former CEO Chen's sincerity and emphasis on R&D, so I decided to return to China. After coming to Red Star, the former CEO Chen didn't break his word. Red Star might not be the mobile phone manufacturer with the strongest scientific research strength in the country, but it's definitely in the top three."

"In the year since the former CEO Chen passed away, sigh..."

"I also know our market share has been swallowed up by several companies this year, but that's all due to the chaos at the top. Little Chen, learn well from your Uncle Lu. I really hope you can revitalize Red Star just like your father did."

After Dr. Zhou finished speaking, he waved his hand at Chen Chen, signaling him to leave.

Seeing Dr. Zhou was in low spirits, Chen Chen didn't say more and turned to leave the company.

On the way home, reflecting on what he had seen and heard at the company that afternoon, the thing that reassured Chen Chen the most was that the scientific research strength hadn't been lost. Other things weren't very important for now.

Looking at the car's dashboard and center console and thinking of Lei Juns nickname's electric car, Chen Chen couldn't help but sigh. This maybach was good, but it felt a bit lacking in technology, being entirely business-oriented.

Lei Juns nickname's new energy car allowed one to call a voice assistant to control the car's functions directly, and even control home appliances and such.

Just thinking about it was exciting.

Wasn't this better than a cool-looking sports car that struggled even to climb a curb?

In his room, Chen Chen kept checking the current technological situation on the internet.

The mobile voice assistant from Fruit hadn't been launched yet?

Everyone's batteries were around 1500mAh?

The highest pixel count was 26 million from another Chinese company, Huawei Technology, and it was still a 5-lens camera?

The highest charging speed was 5V 1.2A?

Foreign mobile phones occupied 79% of the Chinese market?

The 4G network was expected to be put into use within ten years?

You've got to be kidding; the technological level of this world was basically the same as the original Earth's 2011.

He checked and found there was no company called Xiaomi, only one called Xiaomi, and its founder was Lei Juns nickname. However, this company was a software company, and its Feiliao was fiercely competing for market share with Penguin.

There was also a company called Huawei Technology, which mainly produced communication base stations and made mobile phones as a side business. Like Red Star, it shipped through operator channels.

However, looking at the news online, Huawei had changed the head of its mobile phone department this year, someone called Yu Chengbei.