98: Chapter 98 Collaborating with Douyin

Gao Yuan called Zhang Baiyi back first.

"Old Zhang, what's up?"

Zhang Baiyi's virtual image appeared in front of Gao Yuan, looking anxious. "Grandpa, you finally appeared. You went missing after the press conference. If you didn't show up again, I would have called the police!"

"Get to the point! I went to the laboratory, and that place has all signals blocked!"

"We already have so many black technologies, and you're still doing R&D? What the hell are you researching? Start selling! Black Fish Technology needs to grow big and strong!"

Gao Yuan chuckled. Black Fish Technology had more money than it could possibly spend now.

"Get to the point!"

"Oh, right, right. Xu Lin called me. America has started investigating the Constant Temperature Clothing and the wrist machine, claiming they contain devices that steal information, and they've summoned Xu Lin to a congressional hearing!"

Gao Yuan was stunned. Was the matter with the President of America settled?

It's only been a few days, and they're already pulling stunts?

It seems he was still too soft.

"Anything else?"

"Yes, the Western Alliance has launched an anti-dumping investigation into our chips and announced a 100% tariff!"

"Alright, I got it!"

Gao Yuan hung up the wrist machine. There was no need to return Xu Lin and Zhou Lei's calls; they were probably about America investigating him as well.

America is not behaving.

What's wrong with him dumping products?

Wasn't it for their own good?

Letting them use black technology products!

He needed to think of a permanent solution; otherwise, if this happened every few days, it would be incredibly annoying.

Gao Yuan didn't know this was the aftereffect of him toying with Nine Stars earlier.

After the press conference, Li Bingxi was so angry his blood pressure spiked. However, Nine Stars had a wide range of businesses, and the wrist machine couldn't possibly cover the whole world in a few days. So, although Nine Stars suffered losses, it was far from being a fatal blow.

After Li Bingxi went back, he contacted the Morgan Family.

The Morgan Family immediately lobbied Congress and began to target Black Fish Technology's products.

After the previous farce with the President, the Vice President of the USA was now forced to take power. She didn't have a legitimate claim to the position to begin with, so she needed the support of capital.

Although Xu Lin had taken many preventive measures and cooperated with local conglomerates, the time was too short, and the interests were shallow. After the Morgan Family promised to compensate them, Black Fish Technology was abandoned.

The capitalists reached a consensus.

The newly ascended President immediately jumped on the bandwagon. Soon, major media outlets began to propagate that Black Fish Technology's products had malicious intent.

For example, the wrist machine not only stole private information but also caused radiation damage to health.

The Constant Temperature Clothing was comfortable to wear, but it also stole private information, and all those internal circuits must be harmful to the body.

As for the chips...

It had nothing to do with ordinary people anyway.

Within a few days, Black Fish Technology's reputation in the West reversed, turning into a model of heinous evil.

And for the chips, if a 100% tariff was imposed, Black Fish chips would no longer have a price advantage. Western-made chips were slightly inferior in performance, but current electronic products didn't need such high performance anyway; using Western ones was enough.

Gao Yuan began to calculate.

He didn't care about the bans, and he didn't care about tariffs; after all, his costs were almost zero. But after the Western media's propaganda, his products weren't selling well.

Walking on the streets of Qinjing, Gao Yuan began to think of countermeasures.

Gao Yuan had ways to deal with the American government, but regarding the war of public opinion, Black Fish Technology currently lacked the channels.

Just as he was worrying, Gao Yuan saw someone on the road filming for Douyin!

Gao Yuan's eyes lit up.

He didn't run a media company, but he could cooperate with existing media.

He couldn't do anything about those Western media outlets, but what if it was a social media company from Xia?

Thinking of this, Gao Yuan immediately contacted Zhang Baiyi.

"Old Zhang, help me contact the President of Zitia, let's have dinner tonight!"

"Huh? Old Gao, you aren't planning to enter the social media space, are you?"

"Don't ask so many questions, just do it!"

At the headquarters of Zitia Company in Qinjing, the founder, Li Ming, was holding a meeting in the conference room.

"You've all watched Black Fish Technology's press conference a few days ago, right? What are your thoughts? Feel free to speak!"

"President Li, I have a premonition that the wrist machine will inevitably sweep the globe within two years. The popularity of the wrist machine will surely trigger the rise of new social and entertainment applications. The popularity of PCs created the rise of Taobei and QQ! In the mobile internet era, we took advantage of the trend to create the streaming media era! Now, in the virtual 3D era of the wrist machine, there will inevitably be new forms of entertainment. We must lay the groundwork early, or we will be abandoned by the times!"

"Black Fish Technology was able to rise in such a short time relying on unparalleled R&D capabilities, which no company in the world can imitate! Now Xiawei has hopped on Black Fish Technology's bandwagon, like a tiger with wings! Our domestic market has actually entered a bottleneck period, and the international division has been having a tough time these past few years! We must find new growth points..."

"Let's grasp both hands: expand new users and consolidate the existing landscape on one hand, and develop new products on the other!"

Li Ming nodded; this made sense.

However, the difficulties encountered by the Douyin International Version were much greater than those in the domestic market, especially in America. Over the past few years, they had participated in several hearings. The American government had tried to force the divestiture of the International Version several times, and recently, they even set a timeline. Once the time was up, if it wasn't divested, it would be completely banned.

Li Ming had been a bit anxious lately.

"The user growth curve of the International Version is pleasing, but... everyone knows we have significant difficulties..."

"President Li, should we contact Black Fish Technology? They have also been treated unfairly. If our two companies unite, maybe we can find a way to contend with America's media groups!"

"Black Fish Technology is just a technology company. Can they really make the American government back down? We are in software, and they are considered industry. Even if we cooperate, the effect will be limited!"

Li Ming felt irritable. Just then, his secretary walked in and whispered a few words in his ear.

Li Ming was a bit surprised. They had just been talking about Black Fish Technology, and now Black Fish Technology was contacting him.

Although he didn't think he had any connection with Black Fish Technology, since Gao Yuan had invited him, he also happened to want to meet that legendary entrepreneur.

Someone who could go bankrupt and rise again was no ordinary person.

Thinking of this, Li Ming stood up. "Everyone, write down your thoughts; maybe there's a way out! Alright, that's it for today. Meeting adjourned!"

In the evening, Gao Yuan and Li Ming were sitting in a restaurant on the top floor of MKP in Qinjing.

"President Li, let's cooperate!"

"What kind of cooperation is President Gao referring to?"

"You have also been treated unfairly, and the same goes for our Black Fish Technology. If we want to break the deadlock, we must unite!"

Li Ming didn't believe Gao Yuan had any way to do it.

"How does President Gao intend to break the deadlock?"

"The Douyin International Version has nearly two hundred million users in America. You can help me promote the Constant Temperature Clothing and the wrist machine on Douyin, and I... will be responsible for getting the American government to lift the ban!"