87: Panda movement

In a temporary meeting room in Greater Donghai, there were more than thirty researchers.

Li Xiuwu's expression was a bit grim as he looked at the funds in his hands, feeling it was utterly ridiculous.

"Everyone, if your salaries were increased by another level, would you be willing to leave Donghai?"

Li Xiuwu had come to Donghai with 1.5 billion, intending to establish a chip research laboratory, but after looking into several districts, he hadn't found a satisfactory location.

A few districts on the outskirts of Shanghai were willing to grant him land.

But if he used the money to acquire land and build facilities, he wouldn't have a damn cent left. How would he buy equipment or materials? It was absurd.

Other high-tech zones had existing office buildings, but the rent, utilities, and taxes were all high. No wonder the tech companies here were all moving west to cut costs; the operating expenses were just too high.

"Donghai wants to become an international metropolis, and its current policy is to attract investment from large overseas corporations. There are various incentives for foreign enterprises, and state-owned enterprises are manageable, but for private companies, the operating costs are ridiculously high."

Some district leaders were practicing 'Sickle Economics.' Li Xiuwu felt that coming here would just make him another harvest for their blades.

Everyone looked at each other; some had only agreed to stay because Li Xiuwu promised to establish the company in Donghai.

Seeing their expressions, Li Xiuwu spoke with a look of helplessness, "It's not that I'm breaking my promise, but the operating costs are truly too high. Staying here means at least a third of our funding would be spent on local operations. I'd rather use that money for your salaries than waste it on these miscellaneous expenses."

"President Li, where do you intend to go?" Long Xiangdong stepped forward to ask about Li Xiuwu's plans.

"Guang, Jin, Jing, and Xi," Li Xiuwu spoke the names of these four cities.

"I've looked into it from several angles. The development policies in Guangzhou, Tianjin, and Xian are all quite good. Technology is more concentrated in Beijing."

"Each place has its advantages and disadvantages. Guangzhou and Tianjin have good policies and coastal advantages, but their technology isn't concentrated enough; they're still in the starting phase."

"Beijing has concentrated technology, but the operating costs are high, though the policies are still better than Donghai's."

"Xian has the best policies. With this current wave of moving west to cut costs, many high-tech industries have relocated there, but Xian is inland."

The location for the R&D company was giving Li Xiuwu a headache. He had originally planned to move into Donghai without a second thought, but he hadn't expected the policies in Donghai during this era to be so terrible. No wonder everyone was leaving.

They discussed it among themselves. In reality, only a small number of people cared about the company's location; most just wanted a higher salary.

"President Li, which one are you leaning toward? We need something to compare against." Long Xiangdong stepped forward again; he was in his thirties and had an air of righteousness about him.

"I'm leaning toward Xian," Li Xiuwu said, causing another stir among the crowd.

Ignoring the reaction, he continued, "Xian's policies offer incentives. The High-Tech Park can be leased for free for three years to newly settled companies. Additionally, I hope to establish a strategic partnership with Xian Jiaotong University."

Li Xiuwu elaborated on Xian's advantages and the prospects for long-term development.

"As long as President Li is truly investing, I'm willing to go to Xian," Long Xiangdong agreed decisively.

Many were still hesitant. Seeing this, Li Xiuwu thought for a moment and said, "Everyone, how about this? The contracts we signed didn't specify a company location. If you leave now, it would be a breach of contract."

"But if I force you to go to Xian, it would mean I have no integrity. Let's both take a step back. Come with me to Xian first and work for one month. If you're not satisfied, I'll release you from your contracts amicably."

Li Xiuwu came up with a compromise. The crowd whispered among themselves. The eyes of a few who didn't want to leave Shanghai lit up; if that was the case, going for just a month wouldn't be a big deal.

"We believe President Li will keep his word." With Li Xiuwu's guarantee, everyone began to respond positively.

A smile played on Li Xiuwu's face. Once the company was up and running and the Workhorse Aura was activated, plus a few benefits, he wouldn't have to worry about these people leaving.

Having gained their approval, Li Xiuwu took immediate action. After communicating with the Xian High-Tech Park and demonstrating his capital and sincerity, he received approval to establish Panda Core Technology Company, or Xiongxin for short.

"President Li, isn't it a bit hasty to open for business now?" Long Xiangdong said, looking at the company's current state.

Not even a fifth of the equipment had arrived; R&D couldn't possibly begin.

Many felt Li Xiuwu's move was nonsense. Even the local official in charge came over in person to inquire.

"Director Lü, Team Leader Long, in three days is an auspicious day. Once this day passes, the next good day won't be until October," Li Xiuwu said very solemnly.

Long Xiangdong stared at Li Xiuwu, dumbfounded. He was investing 1.5 billion to develop chips, and now he was saying the opening depended on an auspicious day.

"That makes sense." Director Lü nodded. He oversaw investment attraction and had seen a lot; the vast majority of wealthy people placed great importance on auspicious days.

"Since it's an auspicious day, let's open first. Other work can be rolled out gradually." The reason of an 'auspicious day' was very reasonable; hearing this, Director Lü felt that Li Xiuwu wasn't just messing around.

Long Xiangdong was helpless. We're researching high technology, and you're talking to me about auspicious days?

"Team Leader Long, the opening is just a formality. We'll invite the leaders for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and set off some firecrackers. Everything else in the company will proceed as planned," Li Xiuwu consoled Long Xiangdong.

"Alright." Long Xiangdong agreed. Thinking about it that way, it didn't really matter when they officially 'opened.'

On the auspicious day, Director Lü, Li Xiuwu, and Team Leader Long performed the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Amidst the crackling of firecrackers, the system's voice appeared.

"[Host has been detected establishing a new faction. Faction Aura is being activated.]"

"[Loyalty, Comprehension, Serenity, and Physique Auras are now continuously active.]"

All the R&D personnel on-site felt a lightness in their bodies and minds, and their thoughts became a bit clearer.

"Director Lü, please come inside and have a seat," Li Xiuwu invited Director Lü.

"That won't be necessary. Your company has so much to do; I won't add to the trouble." Director Lü took his leave. He had many things to attend to; with this wave of moving west to cut costs, Xian had received many enterprises.

Inside the company, everyone's mental state had transformed. Although work hadn't officially begun, everyone was full of energy. Since there wasn't enough equipment, they put their effort into setting up the company.

Originally, only Li Xiuwu, Long Xiangdong, and the people seconded from Qiu Wanjun were busy, while some R&D personnel watched coldly, waiting for the month to end so they could terminate their contracts.

After the Faction Aura was activated, everyone threw themselves into their work.

"Not bad, not bad." Li Xiuwu smiled as he watched everyone's enthusiasm for work soar.

He left the work here to Long Xiangdong and headed back to Shanghai once again.

"Elder Zhang, we meet again." Li Xiuwu met Zhang Nanjing at the Garden Hotel.

"I really don't want to see you," Zhang Nanjing sighed.

During this time, Zhongxin had encountered too many issues. Many of Zhongxin's R&D staff had been poached; overseas companies took nearly twenty percent, while Li Xiuwu took forty percent.

His proposal to improve the treatment of R&D personnel had been suppressed and not passed.

On the other hand, just one month after Motorola became a shareholder, the board of directors suddenly demanded an audit of the transaction funds for a set of equipment he was purchasing, causing the nearly completed deal to fail due to breach of contract.

One must understand how difficult it was for Huaxia to purchase a set of world-class equipment. Even if it was second-hand, it had to pass through layers of audits from various overseas countries. Zhang Nanjing had put in an enormous amount of effort for this equipment.

If he could have acquired this equipment, he was confident he could have pushed chip technology one step further. But because of a board audit, the deal failed.

"Elder Zhang, you've eaten more salt than I've eaten rice; you should understand that once there's a first time, there will be countless more. The local government support you rely on is likely just a pipe dream now," Li Xiuwu said while eating, as if just chatting with Zhang Nanjing.