Chapter 63 Why don't you believe in us? Are we not successful enough yet?

Li Dongling led a group of high-ranking executives from Dongling High-Tech, including Yao Luoying, Hu Zixian, Zhang Ao, and Gao Peng, to the company entrance to welcome Li Wenjun.

"President Li!"

As Li Dongling and Li Wenjun shook hands, camera flashes flickered continuously, capturing this "historic" moment. On one side stood the current domestic technology giant, and on the other was the rising tech newcomer that had just won a lawsuit against an overseas technology titan. Such a meeting between the two sides naturally sparked endless imagination.

Following Li Dongling into Dongling High-Tech, Li Wenjun observed the interior decoration of the offices, which drew a nod of approval from him; it felt like what a proper technology company should look like.

The facade of Dongling High-Tech's offices was quite impressive. Regardless of its actual strength, anyone visiting the company for the first time would immediately feel that this was the correct way to run a high-tech enterprise. Clothes make the man, and a good facade makes the company—that was certainly no empty saying.

Uncertain of what Li Wenjun and the Stone Group were plotting this time, Li Dongling still led him on a tour of Dongling High-Tech's offices and laboratories.

Li Dongling could clearly sense that Li Wenjun held a deep interest in the Silver Marten mouse project.

"So, Dongling High-Tech is currently developing a new generation of computer mice?!"

Upon entering the mouse laboratory, Li Wenjun seemed to have roots grow on his soles. He stood right there in the lab, carefully scrutinizing everything visible on the surface, especially the numerous prototypes that clearly differed from the first-generation Silver Marten mouse. Though unable to figure out the exact details, he could not help but ask Li Dongling about it.

"Yes."

Li Dongling acknowledged that the Silver Marten mouse project team was developing a new generation of mice, but he did not reveal any superfluous information.

The current focus of the Silver Marten mouse project team was the optical mouse. While mechanical mice possessed excellent performance, their wear-and-tear and pricing issues always made them less than ideal for ordinary users. After prolonged use, their precision would noticeably decline, they were prone to breakdowns, and their costs made them expensive.

Optical mice had emerged many years ago, but due to technological and other constraints, they had not yet become mainstream in the mouse market. Li Dongling was prepared to let the Silver Marten mouse be the first to taste the crab when it came to optical mice!

Optical mice required the development of a dedicated mouse engine. If the refresh rate and tracking speed could catch up with mechanical mice, then optical mice replacing mechanical ones was practically a foregone conclusion.

After all, the manufacturing cost of optical mice was far lower than that of mechanical mice. Furthermore, optical mice avoided the shortcomings of mechanical mice, such as difficult movement, the scroll ball easily accumulating debris, lagging after prolonged use, and vulnerability to drops or misalignments. As long as the technology caught up, optical mice would be far easier to popularize than mechanical ones, and retail sales would undoubtedly be much more popular among users!

Hearing that Li Dongling was unwilling to share more about the new-generation Silver Marten mouse, Li Wenjun, despite wanting to probe further, had no choice but to follow Li Dongling back to the administrative building.

"Everyone at the Stone Group has long heard of President Li's reputation. That lawsuit with Microsoft truly gave a massive boost to domestic brands, letting those foreign companies know that our domestic brands possess R-and-D capabilities as well.

Our President Duan also holds President Li in the highest regard. If his schedule weren't too busy—having just been entrusted by the Beijing Municipal Government to take on the heavy responsibility of general manager of Zhongguancun Technology Company—he definitely would have come in person to meet President Li today!"

Li Wenjun first showered Dongling High-Tech with flattery, then seamlessly brought up the current status and standing of Duan Yongji within the Stone Group. The Stone Group was practically the facade of domestic private enterprises today, and Duan Yongji's position in the industry was in a league of its own.

"The Stone Group is the banner and leader of domestic private enterprises, and President Duan is a godfather-figure in the technology industry—a role model for the younger generation to emulate!"

Li Dongling reciprocated with praise for Duan Yongji and the Stone Group before pivoting the conversation to ask Li Wenjun, "I wonder, what brings President Li here this time?!"

***

"My visit today is at the behest of President Duan. He hopes President Li can make a trip to Beijing to give a speech to our peers in Zhongguancun, sharing your insights so that we can all progress together!" Li Wenjun said.

It sounded like Duan Yongji intended to promote and elevate Li Dongling by inviting him to Beijing to speak and enhance his standing among industry peers, but Li Dongling never believed that anything in this world happened without reason.

"Visiting President Duan is only proper, but going to Beijing surely entails other matters, doesn't it?" Li Dongling asked, looking at Li Wenjun.

Chuckling softly, Li Wenjun clapped his hands a few times. "President Li truly lives up to your reputation—direct and straightforward. To be honest with you, inviting President Li to Beijing indeed involves some matters we wish to discuss with you!"

"The Silver Marten is truly a fine brand and has already become a banner for our domestic technology industry. Precisely because of that, we must value and protect it, ensuring it doesn't end up like Xuehua, Narcissus, Maxim, or Tianfu Cola—domestic brands destroyed by foreign capital!

President Duan places great importance on Dongling High-Tech and the Silver Marten brand, and he is willing to let the Stone Group contribute its modest efforts toward domestic brands!"

Listening to Li Wenjun ramble on at length, only the final sentence carried any real weight. Li Dongling caught the subtext in his words, yet still asked, "So the Stone Group wishes to..."

"That's right!"

"Stone wants to acquire—or perhaps a strategic alliance is a more fitting description. Cooperation between Dongling High-Tech and the Stone Group will certainly make Silver Marten the finest brand in the domestic tech industry. Silver Marten should not be confined to this place!"

Li Wenjun adopted an earnest and persuasive posture as he tried to convince Li Dongling, appearing heartbroken at the prospect of Dongling High-Tech holding back the potential of the Silver Marten mouse.

Hearing this, Li Dongling took a sip of water, paused for a moment, and said, "I appreciate President Duan's kind intentions, but Dongling High-Tech already has its own plans for Silver Marten. In the future—"

"Perhaps President Li might care to hear Stone's terms first!"

"Three hundred million RMB. As long as President Li is willing, the Stone Group is prepared to use a combination of Stone Group stock and cash, totaling three hundred million RMB, to achieve a complete acquisition of Dongling High-Tech. Once the acquisition is finalized, President Li may continue to serve as the president of Dongling High-Tech!"

Li Wenjun appeared brimming with confidence, casually floating a figure of three hundred million RMB. This was three hundred million in the year 1994! In an era where the average monthly wage did not exceed six hundred yuan, this was absolute astronomical wealth.

"Of course, if President Li is reluctant to part with Dongling High-Tech, the Stone Group is also willing to consider an alternative form of cooperation. Stone will invest seventy-five million RMB in exchange for a 30% equity stake in Dongling High-Tech. Dongling High-Tech's personnel and financial authority will remain independent. And most importantly..."

With an imposing and victorious demeanor, Li Wenjun continued, "Stone Securities can assist Dongling High-Tech in completing a listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange!"

Having laid out these two conditions, Li Wenjun fell silent, confidently awaiting Li Dongling's choice. He did not believe anyone could refuse such terms. Whether choosing the money or the listing, who in the entire domestic tech industry wouldn't be dazzled by this? Even President Shi had become somewhat obsessed in his quest to get Giant Group listed.

The conditions proposed by the Stone Group were indeed alluring. Anyone else in this era would likely have cracked under the pressure. Yet, as Li Dongling looked at Li Wenjun, his expression showed neither fanaticism nor excitement; his gaze remained calm and steady. This caused Li Wenjun to briefly wonder whether Li Dongling had even processed what he had just said.

Li Dongling was trying to deduce why the Stone Group had suddenly sought out Dongling High-Tech. It was certainly not out of charity; talking about the "tomorrow of domestic tech brands" was even more absurd.

In reality, Duan Yongji's decision to send Li Wenjun to negotiate the acquisition or investment in Dongling High-Tech was primarily driven by the need to quell internal issues within the Stone Group. Furthermore, there was another matter—or rather, the issue the Stone Group's board of directors cared about the most: Stone's stock price!

Stone was currently mired in internal troubles. Duan Yongji had already realized that the internal problems within the company were too severe. The real estate investments in places like Yazhou had become a game of passing the hot potato that could no longer be sustained. Stone's ventures into the pharmaceutical industry were an utter mess, and the securities sector had saddled the company with massive debt. Over the years, the Stone Group had invested in a multitude of industries, yet fundamentally failed to turn a profit, losing money across the board.

Coupled with the declining sales momentum of Stone's printer business—while revenue was still growing, profit margins were continuously shrinking—the situation looked grim.

Meanwhile, the stock price of Stone, listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, had been sliding all the way down since the previous year. Duan Yongji, who held a massive volume of Stone stock, along with members of the board of directors, was burning with anxiety.

The emergence of Dongling High-Tech gave Duan Yongji and his faction an opportunity. He did not care how much profit acquiring Dongling High-Tech might generate; as long as the acquisition or investment was completed, the Stone Group could leverage this favorable news to boost its stock price. That way, he could provide an explanation to the board of directors and the investment institutions in Hong Kong. His position as president would remain as secure as Mount Tai, and he would even be able to cash out his shares for a massive profit!

"I am very sorry, but Dongling High-Tech has no intention of selling its equity at this time. I am deeply grateful for President Duan's support of Dongling High-Tech, but truly, I must decline!"

Li Wenjun, who had been waiting for Li Dongling to choose between the first and second option, wondered if his ears were playing tricks on him when he heard those words. He couldn't help but ask, "What did you say?!"

"Dongling High-Tech rejects the Stone Group's investment!"

Li Wenjun's previously beaming expression of absolute certainty darkened visibly, the change apparent to the naked eye. "Won't President Li reconsider?!"

Seeing that Li Dongling's mind was made up, Li Wenjun stood up and offered a cold, angry laugh. "I hope President Li doesn't live to regret this!"

What enraged Li Wenjun wasn't merely the rejection of the cooperation, which left him with no way to save face when reporting back to Duan Yongji. More importantly, it was Li Dongling's attitude toward the Stone Group. There was none of the awe or even fear that others in the tech industry showed when facing Stone. It was as if the Stone Group was treated as nothing more than an ordinary company here, and turning down its investment carried no sense of regret whatsoever. This pricked at the pride of Li Wenjun, who had always taken immense pride in the Stone Group, making him feel as though his most prized possession had been spurned with disdain—a reality he found utterly unacceptable.

With that, Li Wenjun swept his sleeves and stormed out. Seeing him emerge in a fury, the reporters stationed outside immediately sensed that a major news story had broken.

"President Li, has Stone failed to reach a cooperation agreement with Dongling High-Tech?!"

"May I ask what kind of project the two sides were intending to collaborate on?"

Faced with the horde of media reporters, Li Wenjun suppressed his rising anger and declared, "The Stone Group showed the utmost sincerity in seeking cooperation with Dongling High-Tech and was willing to offer generous terms, but... Mr. Li Dongling has rejected a partnership that he may well regret for the rest of his life!"

A reporter from the local *Pingyang Urban Daily*, leaning favorably toward Dongling High-Tech since the company had placed numerous advertisements in their newspaper, stepped forward to ask, "Could there be some misunderstanding? Perhaps Dongling High-Tech has new plans in place!"

Unable to hold back any longer, Li Wenjun glared angrily at the *Pingyang Urban Daily* reporter. "Do you think Dongling High-Tech is always right?

Why would you assume that the already-listed Stone Group is inferior to Dongling High-Tech? Why are you unwilling to place your trust in those who have already achieved success?

Could it be that we are simply not successful enough?"