75: Mr. Xiao entered, and Manager Xiao left.

Chen Chen nodded occasionally while listening to Xiao Yuan's introduction, realizing that this sensor was quite good.

It could basically achieve the level required for scanning codes.

“What about the price?”

Seeing that Chen Chen had finally asked the most critical question, Xiao Yuan, who was still sweating profusely despite the air conditioning, could only state the price that had been rejected many times before.

“72 yuan.”

After speaking, he looked at Chen Chen nervously.

For domestic sensors, his price was very expensive.

Other manufacturers, even if their performance wasn't as strong as his, were definitely cheaper.

Even the quoted price for his company's previous generation sensor hadn't exceeded 40 yuan.

He handed the sensor data to Shen Rou, signaling her to check the quotes for sensors with similar performance from other optical companies.

Chen Chen knew that the sensor used in his Kunpeng mobile phone had a procurement price of about 210 yuan from Sony, and that was for a purchase order of several million units.

Anyway, if you wanted to use good stuff, there was only one word: expensive!

Soon, Shen Rou found the information and whispered it to Chen Chen.

When Chen Chen looked at Xiao Yuan again, he had a different feeling.

Their comparable quote was only 50 yuan, but yours was directly 72 yuan—that’s 1.5 times the price!

Was he treating Chen Chen like a sucker?

“President Xiao, this price of yours is very inappropriate.”

No longer looking at Xiao Yuan, Chen Chen simply leaned back halfway in his chair.

The sweat on Xiao Yuan's head increased, and it was a long time before he spoke:

“President Chen, our sensor is definitely in the first tier of the domestic market in China. You also know that we invested a lot of capital into R&D. As long as Red Star is willing to purchase, we will absolutely supply Red Star at cost price.”

“Once production increases, our costs will decrease further.”

“But you can't come to me with a price so much higher than the market rate, can you?”

“President Chen, this... this is already our cost price. I also want the price to be lower, but we have already invested a large amount of capital into this sensor...”

Xiao Yuan's voice grew softer and softer, and he felt a bit guilty himself.

Why should Red Star have to pay for his costs?

Seeing Chen Chen remain silent for a long time, Xiao Yuan dejectedly began to tidy up the documents on the table.

Forget it. Since these major manufacturers were unwilling to purchase, he truly had no other options.

He had originally thought that Chen Chen's Red Star was a company that valued R&D and would pay for his development costs, allowing them to establish a good cooperative relationship.

But now it seemed he had been overthinking things.

“President Xiao, I am indeed dissatisfied with the price of this sensor, but that's because your Tianguang isn't a Red Star company.”

“What does President Chen mean by that?”

“What I mean is, I want to acquire your Tianguang. If Tianguang becomes our own Red Star company, then I'd be quite happy to pay for my own company's R&D.”

Acquire Tianguang?!

Xiao Yuan was filled with surprise upon hearing Chen Chen's words.

He never expected Chen Chen to propose acquiring Tianguang.

Xiao Yuan, whose head was ringing, asked Chen Chen, who had sat up straight:

“President Chen, are you serious?”

“That's right. Little Shen just made a rough valuation of your company. I propose investing 270 million yuan for a full acquisition. What do you think, President Xiao?”

In Chen Chen's view, this was definitely an opportunity. Some other sensor companies were operating well and weren't considering selling at all.

Others lacked R&D capability entirely, and if he acquired them, he would have to rebuild the R&D system from scratch.

It wasn't worth it.

Now, this Tianguang company both possessed R&D capability and faced operational difficulties—it was the perfect opportunity to strike.

Moreover, after the acquisition, there wouldn't be a need to invest too much effort.

This Xiao Yuan had both vision and technology; the only thing he lacked was capital.

With sufficient funds for them to develop, perhaps they would even give him a surprise later on.

“Is President Chen acquiring our Tianguang because he is interested in our Liquid Lens?”

“Liquid Lens? What Liquid Lens?”

Xiao Yuan's question stunned Chen Chen; he had no idea about any Liquid Lens.

Furthermore, it was only 2013. How dare a small domestic company try to develop a Liquid Lens?

No wonder they were facing bankruptcy.

Could they handle playing around with this stuff?

It was like asking Little Chili phones to develop mobile processors.

It wouldn't take long for the company to be completely dragged down.

Xiao Yuan also realized he had said the wrong thing, but since the words were already out, he had no choice but to talk about the Liquid Lens the company was developing.

By mentioning the Liquid Lens, Xiao Yuan had a little trick up his sleeve. The 270 million yuan offered by Chen Chen was not a low price; it was quite fair.

By bringing up the Liquid Lens, he could perhaps increase the company's valuation a little more.

Just as Xiao Yuan expected, Chen Chen was indeed surprised upon hearing about the Liquid Lens.

“As long as the Liquid Lens you mentioned is real, I can further increase the acquisition price, but I need to confirm that you truly possess this capability.”

“Don't worry, President Chen. I've basically poured all the company's savings into this lens. How would I dare deceive you?”

Xiao Yuan said bitterly.

Haha, I really struck gold.

Last time it was Shitou Technology, wanting to implement a Visual Solution on a sweeping robot.

This time, a small sensor company was actually developing a Liquid Lens.

Seriously, was this the feeling of a protagonist in other novels who could find treasures without even having to go out and gain experience?

Xiao Yuan calculated in his mind: Tianguang had been established for nearly 12 years, and the company's net assets were roughly 100 million yuan. Including the company's land ownership and other miscellaneous items, the total was about 140 million yuan. Chen Chen’s willingness to offer 270 million yuan was indeed a fair price.

Based on Tianguang's current development, if the order problem wasn't solved, the company would go bankrupt within a year.

In that case, being acquired was a very good option.

It was just that this company was his life's work for over a decade, and letting it go suddenly felt quite painful.

Finally, Xiao Yuan continued:

“President Chen, I agree to your acquisition in principle. You don't need to increase the price; I just hope you can allow the Liquid Lens R&D to continue. I believe this is definitely an excellent solution.”

“President Xiao, rest assured on that point. Among domestic phone manufacturers, besides Huawei, only our Red Star places the highest value on technology R&D. As for you, you can continue to work at Red Star. We can discuss the details further.”

Chen Chen saw the other party's interest, but the acquisition discussed now was merely verbal. If he offered 270 million yuan, fluctuations of several million either way were possible, so a contract definitely needed to be signed after specialized investigation and negotiation.

Only then would it count as a normal acquisition.

As for letting the other party continue working at Red Star, that was even simpler. Red Star lacked talent. Although Xiao Yuan's sales ability wasn't great, his technical vision was quite good.

“President Chen, I am the Chairman of the Board of Tianguang, but our company has several minor shareholders. I need to go back and discuss it with them.”

“Then I await good news from Manager Xiao.”

Hearing Chen Chen refer to him as 'Manager Xiao,' Xiao Yuan's mouth twitched.