36: Chapter 36: Breaking the Mold and Establishing Self-Reliance, A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire

The dark clouds of joint suppression by the US and Europe had not dissipated, but within Spark Technology, a completely different atmosphere was replacing the previous oppression.

It was a kind of determination born from being backed into a corner, abandoning all illusions, and burning bridges, which in turn sparked astonishing creativity and drive.

Su Chen did not waste any time on useless anger or lamentation; his response was thunderous action.

On September 15, 2016, a highly anticipated press conference was being held in the press conference hall of Spark Technology's headquarters.

Facing the barrage of cameras and flashing strobe lights, spokesperson Liang Zhen appeared calm, but his tone was resolute.

"Based on the current unfair international business environment and uncontrollable political risks, Spark Technology solemnly announces," Liang Zhen's voice echoed through the venue via the microphone, "that all consumer-grade products under our brand, including drones and cameras, will *temporarily withdraw completely from the North American and European Union markets*, effective immediately."

There was an uproar in the audience.

This was undoubtedly a direct admission of the current predicament, but Spark's attitude was not one of submission.

"At the same time, to maintain the continuity of our overseas business and reciprocate the trust of our global partners, Spark Technology will adjust its business model."

"During the transition period, we will focus on providing power battery solutions and customized core modules for optoelectronic products to international enterprises (such as automotive and industrial equipment manufacturers) that are not affected by political factors."

This meant that Spark would temporarily retreat from the front stage to behind the scenes, maintaining contact with the international industrial chain as a core technology supplier.

Speaking about the European Union's 1 billion euro fine, Liang Zhen's tone became extremely tough: "The European Union's decision is based on prejudice and false accusations. It is a typical act of protectionism that completely violates the principles of a market economy and fair competition. Spark Technology *refuses to acknowledge the rationality of this verdict and refuses to pay this illegal fine*!"

He scanned the European media reporters present with sharp eyes: "Our legal team has already filed an appeal in the courts of Brussels and Luxembourg, and we will use every legal means to defend our legitimate rights and interests. We have the confidence and the determination to fight this lawsuit to the end, even if it takes several years!"

This was a clear signal: Spark would not yield to extortion and would use the law as a weapon to conduct a protracted war of attrition.

At the same time as the press conference, in the ultra-clean laboratory of the Xinghuo Chip temporary R&D center in Guancheng, the atmosphere was so tense that heartbeats could almost be heard.

Luo Qinghe, Jiang Jing, and Anderson Li were gathered in front of a precision testing instrument, with complex code and data scrolling rapidly across the screen.

"Final functional test... passed!" a young engineer shouted excitedly, his voice trembling.

Luo Qinghe let out a long sigh of relief, an uncontrollable smile appearing on his usually serious face.

He turned around and said to Su Chen, who was standing in the back and connected via encrypted video link: "Mr. Su, *Spark's first 28-nanometer process SOC chip, optimized specifically for drones and high-end cameras, 'flint one', has successfully taped out! All preset functions have been achieved, and performance has reached 105% of the design specifications!*"

On the screen, Su Chen showed the most relieved expression he had worn in months.

"Hard work, Old Luo! Hard work, everyone!" He knew how significant this chip, which seemed to be only 28 nanometers, was.

It might not be the most advanced, but it was completely independently designed and had been successfully taped out relying on their own strength under such strict blockades!

It proved that the technical path of Xinghuo Chip was feasible and the team was reliable!

"This is just a beginning," Jiang Jing added, pointing to the architecture diagram next to her.

"The architecture of 'flint one' has excellent scalability, laying a solid foundation for our subsequent entry into 16-nanometer and even more advanced processes. Moreover, the hardware-level optimization we did for drone image processing and camera algorithms far exceeded expectations."

Anderson Li reported the progress on the manufacturing side: "Mr. Su, the renovation plan for the old wafer fab we acquired has been completed, and key equipment is arriving and being installed one after another."

"Relying on our own technology and parts obtained through some... 'special channels', we are confident in building a completely autonomous and controllable 28-nanometer pilot production line by the end of the year!"

The chip, this heart that had once been strangled, finally began to beat independently and powerfully!

The park of Spark Power was a scene of another kind of hustle and bustle.

Although the consumer electronics business had suffered a setback, the wave of new energy vehicles was unstoppable.

In front of a brand-new planning sand table, Wu Hao and Yang Yang were introducing the situation to several important client representatives.

Representatives from Tesla, the China region procurement heads of BBA, and executives from domestic car companies like Geely and Changan were gathered together.

"Everyone, despite the complex external environment, Spark Power's investment in product and technology R&D will never decrease." Wu Hao pointed to two newly demarcated areas on the sand table.

"To meet your growing demands, we have officially launched the construction project for two brand-new super battery factories."

"Once completed, Spark Power's total production capacity will increase threefold, ranking among the top three in the world!"

Yang Yang displayed the latest data: "Based on current orders and forecasts, in 2016 alone, our power battery sales are expected to exceed *70 billion rmb*! This fully proves the market's recognition of our 'spark super energy' battery series."

The Tesla representative nodded and said: "Yes, our next-generation flagship model will continue to use Spark's battery packs, and both performance and safety are satisfactory."

The BBA representative also indicated that they were actively pushing for deeper cooperation.

Strong cash flow became the thickest cotton-padded jacket for Spark Technology in the cold winter, supporting the continuous blood transfusion for long-cycle, high-investment projects like chips and machine tools.

The delivery ceremony for Xingchen Heavy Industry was held in the brand-new factory building of a partner—a large industrial robot manufacturing enterprise.

There was no flashy stage, only shiny machine tools and a group of expectant technical workers.

Lu Qiming, Chen Zhiyuan, and Zhao Qing arrived in person.

Chen Zhiyuan proudly announced to the client representatives and media present: "Today, we at Xingchen Heavy Industry are officially delivering the first batch of *10 four-axis linkage machining centers and 100 high-precision three-axis vertical machining centers* to our partners!"

Applause thundered.

The partner's chief engineer excitedly shook Zhao Qing's hand: "Engineer Zhao, thank you so much! Once this batch of machine tools arrived, the processing precision and efficiency of our robot core joints directly jumped to a higher level! And the costs even came down! This is true domestic substitution!"

Zhao Qing smiled and replied: "This is what we should do. Letting domestic enterprises use world-class machine tools is exactly the original intention of our Xingchen Heavy Industry."

Meanwhile, in a highly classified aerospace research institute, the second "Beichen II" five-axis linkage CNC machine tool, which had been optimized and had more stable performance, had also completed installation and debugging and was about to be put into the production of key structural components for a new type of launch vehicle.

Lu Qiming reported this news to Su Chen via an encrypted phone, his tone filled with relief and pride for solving the "stranglehold" problem for the country.

Xingchen Heavy Industry, this deeply buried seed, finally began to break through the soil, quietly improving the overall level of China's high-end manufacturing with its solid manufacturing capabilities.

At Spark Technology's internal strategic meeting, Su Chen clarified the future direction.

"We are temporarily saying goodbye to the European and American markets, but it is not a permanent farewell. One day, we will go back with more powerful technology and products." Su Chen pointed to the updated world map.

"Our new focus is the vast domestic market, as well as 'non-American' overseas markets such as Russia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. These places also have huge demand and an environment friendly to our technology."

He emphasized: "Especially relying on our defense company in Saudi Arabia, we must deepen and thoroughly develop the Middle East market to become an important pillar of our overseas revenue."

Regarding the bans and fines from the US and Europe, Su Chen said to Liang Zhen: "The legal war must be fought, and it must be fought beautifully. Not only must we appeal, but we must also collect evidence and prepare to file counter-lawsuits in appropriate international forums, accusing them of abusing legal tools to conduct trade protectionism. We must transform from victims of the rules into challengers and users of the rules."

The night was deep. Su Chen and Lin Wan stood on the rooftop of the headquarters building again.

Unlike the previous gravity, both of them felt much more peaceful now.

Under their feet, the Xinghuo Technology Park was still brightly lit; the lights of the R&D building were like stars, symbolizing the countless figures still working late into the night.

In the distance, in the direction of Guancheng, the outline of the Xinghuo Chip base was faintly visible in the night, like a dormant giant beast; further away, the park of Xingchen Heavy Industry was also lit with its iconic lighting.

"A few months ago, this place was still full of sorrow and gloom." Lin Wan said softly, the night breeze blowing her long hair. "Now, it feels like everything has come alive, and... is even stronger."

Su Chen held the railing with both hands, looking deeply at the industrial map he had built with his own hands and reborn in the flames, and spoke calmly: "They blocked all the paths we seemed to have set, using every possible means. So, we had no path to walk."

He paused, his tone becoming incomparably firm and confident: "So, we created a path ourselves."

His voice was not loud, but it seemed to carry a thousand jun of power, echoing in the night sky.

"This path may be full of thorns at the beginning, and it may be rugged and difficult to walk. But this path leads to a future completely controlled by us, and leads to the peak of technology that is no longer controlled by others."

The camera slowly pulled up, rising from the rooftop, overlooking the entire city.

The lights of the Xinghuo Technology Park, the thousands of lights in the surrounding city, and the light strips on the construction sites further away gradually merged together, forming a brilliant ocean of light, reflecting the stars in the firmament.

This single spark had already started a prairie fire. Its momentum was unstoppable.