Chapter Fifty: Made in China

Larson raised his glass and clinked it several times with Li Dongling. This time, he had received half of the compensation—an impressive nine million US dollars.

This was an era when the US dollar was at its strongest, regarded globally as absolute hard currency. In countries like Russia, facing fiscal collapse, and many chaotic regions, the circulating currency was the US dollar—locals recognized no other currency.

Even now, an average American middle-class family earned just over twenty thousand dollars a year. Larson’s single windfall equated to the after-tax income of such a family for three hundred seventy-five years without spending a penny.

As a vulture lawyer, Larson could make a good living from big lawsuits. But winning tens of millions or even hundreds of millions from giant corporations was a rare event. Otherwise, why would these massive companies invest huge sums in assembling legal teams and lobbying Congress and state legislators every year?

This time, Larson had spent barely two months fighting for Dongling High-Tech and earned a solid nine million dollars, surpassing his entire income from the previous year. In this day and age, even top-tier American lawyers rarely earned tens of millions annually.

Moreover, this victory was against Microsoft. Dongling High-Tech’s reputation was primarily rooted in Mainland China, Harbor City, and Southeast Asia, and Larson’s prestige had risen alongside. With this high-profile win, Larson would never lack cases again. Small companies facing corporate giants would think of him first. He had truly struck gold and couldn’t help but feel exhilarated.

After several drinks, Larson was visibly tipsy. Li Dongling, reflecting on the gains from this trip to America, realized the greatest benefit was winning the lawsuit, clearing Dongling High-Tech’s name, and gaining invaluable prestige.

Reputation is intangible, yet it often translates into greater profits.

Beyond fame, Dongling High-Tech had secured a patent licensing agreement with Logitech, earning $1.5 million annually. Add Microsoft’s $3 million licensing fee, and the mechanical silver mink mouse patent brought in $4.5 million this time.

Additionally, the settlement payout from Microsoft, split evenly with Larson, added another $9 million. Altogether, the total revenue reached $13.5 million. Of course, Larson would handle the tax matters before transferring the funds to Dongling High-Tech’s account.

These were foreign exchange earnings. Given the severe shortage of foreign currency domestically, any company earning foreign exchange was treated as a key enterprise in its province. Some companies even sold products at a loss abroad, relying on export subsidies to profit.

“Li, why not stay in America? Together, we could make heaps of dollars!” Larson suddenly approached, draping his arm around Li Dongling’s shoulder.

Looking at Larson’s flushed face, unsure if it was genuine or feigned drunkenness, Li Dongling slowly shook his head.

Nowadays, many people rushed to America—not just from China, but worldwide. Countless individuals sought the high salaries and modern lifestyle here, dreaming of villas, cars, and blond-haired, blue-eyed beauties—treating this place like paradise.

But with Li Dongling’s current physique and that hefty sum in hand, staying here would be like a child carrying gold in a bustling marketplace.

Without this fortune, working as a dishwasher or a wage slave in a big corporation might actually be better.

If one had skills and luck to join a large American company, even the average salary—disregarding local living costs—was tens or hundreds of times higher than wages back home.

Yet after a decade or more, the best outcome was often just becoming part of an American middle-class family, if fortune favored you.

Those less fortunate never obtained green cards or work permits, lived in basements working illegally, survived on charity food, and cried out, “Time to eat again, brothers…”

Li Dongling was unlike newcomers to America; he truly had ten million dollars in his grasp. Seeing how oligarchs from Russia were drained by America and old Europe, staying here meant all kinds of demons and local tyrants would find ways to squeeze every cent from him.

“That would be such a pity!” Larson sighed. He perhaps didn’t intend to trick Li Dongling but hoped he would stay, maybe for another big payday in the future.

“If you ever have lawsuits in America again, come to me. Larson will always be at your service!” Larson added.

Hearing this, Li Dongling nodded. Dongling High-Tech might have more legal battles in America ahead. If it wanted to avoid domestic cutthroat competition and enter overseas markets, clashes with foreign giants were inevitable, promising plenty of cases to come.

After wrapping up the business, Li Dongling and Yao Luoying began their journey back home without lingering in New York.

At Yangcheng International Airport, Gao Peng glanced at his watch once more, then looked at the growing crowd of media and reporters beside him. He asked Gao Zhiyuan uncertainly, “This should be the flight, right?”

Gao Peng and Gao Zhiyuan had come to pick someone up, but a group of reporters—some who had caught wind of the news—also arrived, including media from Harbor City eager to interview Li Dongling, the “King of Computer Mice.”

The lawsuit’s news had faded somewhat in Harbor City, but local media remained curious about Li Dongling, hoping to uncover more stories.

It wasn’t just about Li Dongling’s wealth; major figures from all fields in Harbor City had been reported on for decades, leading to fatigue. Li Dongling, a newly crowned mouse king from the mainland, naturally attracted the media’s attention.

This wave of coverage would keep Harbor City’s media busy for a while: digging into Dongling High-Tech’s secrets, fabricating stories, and even stirring rumors about Li Dongling and some Harbor City celebrity. Harbor City media were known for pushing boundaries and were skilled at these tactics.

Gao Zhiyuan glanced at Gao Peng, thinking about the upcoming meeting with Li Dongling. He hadn’t expected the most unpredictable member of the Gao family to cause such a stir.

Whether Gao Peng was lucky or truly capable, if Dongling High-Tech continued to grow into a company like Sitong or Giant, Gao Peng—an elder figure at Dongling High-Tech—would reap enormous rewards. Perhaps one day, the Gao family would proudly boast about him.

Even Gao Baifeng, father of Gao Peng and Gao Zhiyuan, had called to urge Gao Zhiyuan to maintain good relations with Li Dongling. The city of Pingyang and the municipal government of Hanxi Province were paying close attention to Dongling High-Tech.

As Gao Zhiyuan pondered these matters, the reporters suddenly grew restless and surged toward one direction.

Just outside the arrivals hall, Li Dongling saw a crowd rushing toward them, carrying microphones and cameras. Yang Zhigao, pushing a suitcase, immediately changed expression and quickly stepped in front of Li Dongling to shield him.

Fortunately, the reporters stopped short upon reaching Li Dongling, raising their microphones to ask questions.

“I’m a reporter from Yangcheng Evening News. Mr. Li Dongling, how does it feel to have won the lawsuit?”

“Did Microsoft really pay $18 million in settlement?”

“Yue Province Television wants to interview you!”

The reporters introduced themselves, eager to interview Li Dongling or invite him for special features.

There were serious questions, but also provocative and frivolous ones. One small media outlet from Harbor City even asked, “Will Dongling High-Tech develop computer operating systems to compete with Microsoft?”

“An actress from Harbor City told our station she’d like to meet you. Are you interested?”

Li Dongling simply smiled in response. If he answered all questions today, he might never leave the airport. As for the Harbor City media, he pretended not to hear. If he replied, they would likely twist his words, possibly fabricating that Dongling High-Tech aimed to challenge Microsoft in operating systems.

Gao Peng and Gao Zhiyuan quickly arrived to assist Yang Zhigao in escorting Li Dongling and Yao Luoying out.

“Mr. Li Dongling, do you have any message for domestic tech companies and the people about this lawsuit?” a reporter from Yanjing asked, prompting Li Dongling to pause.

Facing a line of microphones and cameras, Li Dongling thought for a few seconds before saying, “I hope the hardships Dongling High-Tech faced will never happen again. I believe more domestic brands will rise, allowing more people to shed arrogance and prejudice. In the future, countless products worldwide will proudly bear the words ‘Made in China’ where they are made.”