Chapter 107: Family Banquet

Golden autumn in October is a month of harvest for Dream Technology.

The new product, Tian Gong Model 1 ultra-high precision CNC machining center, was a hit right from the exhibition, securing 20 orders.

Thanks to the successful research and development of Tian Gong, Du Qiu won the wager agreement, and Xingguang Precision became a subsidiary holding of Dream Technology.

The production task of the CNC machining center was also transferred to Xingguang Precision. Ning Yuzhe’s report to the ministry was approved, granting not only the first batch of 50 orders but also a substantial reward for Ning Yuzhe.

“Little Du, Shuangshuang, come on, don’t be shy. There’s just me at home. These dishes were cooked by the housekeeper. Try them and see if they are to your taste.”

On the weekend, Ning Yuzhe organized a family banquet at home to treat Du Qiu and Ning Shuangshuang to a meal.

Before entering the door, Du Qiu had learned from Ning Shuangshuang that Ning Yuzhe had a daughter studying fashion in Italy, in Europe.

Ning Yuzhe’s wife, concerned about their daughter studying alone abroad, went to accompany her.

Thus, Ning Yuzhe was home alone.

“Uncle, I heard from Shuangshuang that you were commended by the higher-ups. This cup is to honor your soaring career!”

Ning Yuzhe cheerfully clinked glasses and then drank it all in one go.

“Speaking of which, I owe my success to your help. Had you not possessed incredible talent and created the Tian Gong Model 1, I wouldn’t have had the chance to climb higher.”

“Oh, Uncle, does this mean you’re going to be promoted?”

“Not so fast,” Ning Yuzhe said as he ate some dishes before explaining in detail, “There’s a big reorganization of state-owned enterprises these two years, with previously separated companies merging again.

First, there was the merger of the train manufacturers to form CRRC, and this year the shipbuilders merged to form CSSC, and there is going to be action in the aerospace field with a plan to reorganize into a big group.

Currently, I am one of the candidates for the position of group chairman. Whether or not I can secure that position might still need your strong support.”

Du Qiu smiled and said, “Uncle, if there’s anything I can support, I will not hesitate. But I’m afraid I can’t have much of an influence on such large corporate reorganizations of state enterprises.”

Ning Yuzhe waved his hand and said, “Maybe in the past you couldn’t be involved, but now they are advocating for mixed ownership reform and hoping to introduce private capital.

Someone like you, with great technical talent, could take a position in the newly reorganized big group, which would increase the certainty of me taking that chairman’s position.”

“A stake in a state-owned group? Uncle, you must be joking. I don’t have that much capital.”

“Science and technology are the primary productive forces! You, a doctor who masters science and technology, can naturally invest with your technology. Don’t think that the authorities don’t have such courage.”

“Uncle, a few days ago, Deputy Director Yu from the Magic City state-owned assets came to visit, intending to broker a cross-shareholding deal between my Dream Technology and the listed company Xingyu Electromechanical…”

“What did you say?” Ning Yuzhe interrupted Du Qiu before he could finish, “Fu Guochen wants to exchange shares with your Dream Technology? Did you agree?”

Du Qiu shook his head and said, “How could I? My Dream Technology does not accept other investors. Huading Group once offered equity valued at 27.2 billion to exchange shares, and I didn’t agree.

Xingyu Electromechanical is only worth a total of 7 billion in market value, mere pocket change. I’d be foolish to agree.”

“Good, you did well to refuse! Fu Guochen, that old fox, actually wanted to undermine you. Haha, he must be terribly uncomfortable after receiving your rejection.”

“Uncle, do you know Fu Guochen?” asked Du Qiu.

“Of course, I do. Didn’t you know Xingyu Electromechanical’s largest shareholder is also from the aerospace sector? He’s technically from the same system as I am, and during this selection for the group chairman, he was originally highly considered.”
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【Damn, without realizing it, I’ve ended up in the middle of a battlefield for their competition.】 Du Qiu couldn’t be more frustrated internally.

“Little Du, right now, you are my biggest help. Now that I am gaining momentum, he specifically targeted you for his move, which is very cunning.”

Du Qiu looked at Ning Shuangshuang, who was nearby. Since he already stood with Ning Yuzhe, there was no need to second guess himself. Supporting Ning Yuzhe to defeat Fu Guochen was the real deal.

So he asked, “Uncle, some of the patents for the CNC machine tools have already been licensed to Xingguang Precision. Although it’s not an exclusive license, licensing it to this big group you mentioned would mean creating a competitor for us, wouldn’t it?”

Ning Yuzhe smiled and explained, “Feiyu Technology will be integrated into this big group, oh, and Xingyu Electromechanical as well.

That means the shares that Feiyu Technology holds in Xingguang Precision will be transferred to the big group.

Your patent technology will be exchanged for shares in the big group, and when Xingguang Precision uses it, it will be paying patent fees to the big group.”

“What portion of the shares can I get through this technology investment?” Du Qiu stroked his chin, thoughtfully, and asked the question in his mind.

Ning Yuzhe shook his head and said, “It’s hard to say. You know, big groups sometimes involve hundreds of billions in capital. While they value your CNC machine tool technology, it might not be so easy to determine the final valuation.”

Du Qiu thought about his newly started R&D center. Directly exchanging patent rights for shares in a state-owned big group, he didn’t know if the deal was worth it.

For a moment, Du Qiu did not immediately respond.

Ning Yuzhe frowned, realizing indeed that it was a difficult problem.

Ning Shuangshuang, who had been quiet, peeled several shrimps and put them in Du Qiu’s bowl.

Du Qiu looked up at Ning Shuangshuang and felt a rush of sweetness, happily eating the shrimps.

Ning Yuzhe, deep in thought, unconsciously poured himself a drink, “Little Du, how many shares would you be willing to accept for your technology?”

Du Qiu gave a wry smile and said, “Uncle, this is difficult for me to say. If I ask for too much, it would seem like I’m taking advantage of the state; if I ask for too little, I’d be at a loss.”

“That’s true. The problem is that the appraisers also find it hard to make a precise valuation. If they appraise too high, it could be accused of causing state asset loss; too low, and you might refuse to take a stake.”

“Uncle, how about you set the figure, and I will invest based on what you decide. Would that then help you secure the big group’s chairman position?”

Du Qiu suddenly remembered what Ning Yuzhe initially mentioned. To stand out among the candidates, Ning Yuzhe really might need his support.

“Haha, do you truly trust me that much? Aren’t you afraid that I’ll set a very low share for you?”

Ning Yuzhe was pleased with Du Qiu’s understanding and thought highly of his niece’s boyfriend.

“Uncle, we’re family. Would you really let me suffer a big loss?”

“Heh, you’re using your words to trap me. I am the most impartial person. You just wait to contribute to the nation.”

After Ning Yuzhe finished speaking, he lifted his glass. Seeing this, Du Qiu quickly raised his own and lightly tapped it, saying, “Nowadays the country is not short of money, at least not to the point of chilling the hearts of us technicians.”

“You! You really are a sly one, seems like you understand national policies pretty well.”

“Uncle, I’ve established a R&D center. Patent authorization and shareholding are the only sources of income for this institution. It’s only if the technology patents are profitable that we can have even greater inventions in the future.”

“Don’t worry, since you trust me, the share I’ll offer you in the end will certainly make you satisfied.”

Leaving Ning Yuzhe’s house, the sober Ning Shuangshuang drove Du Qiu home.

“Shuangshuang, does this count as meeting your parents? Can the ‘prospective’ in ‘prospective boyfriend’ be dropped now?” Du Qiu asked Ning Shuangshuang.

“My mom and dad, you haven’t met them yet.”

“Shuangshuang, if I met your parents, wouldn’t that make me a fiancé?”

Unnoticed, the two had known each other and been in a relationship for five months. Although their demanding jobs meant they hadn’t seen each other very often, their relationship had gradually grown through daily WeChat messages and phone calls.

“What are you talking about? We haven’t gotten to that step yet.”

Du Qiu laughed, moved closer to Ning Shuangshuang, and asked, “So, what does it take to reach that step?”

Ning Shuangshuang tilted her head away to maintain some distance, “Don’t lean over so close; it interferes with my driving.”

Du Qiu took a deep breath and said, “You seem to be wearing perfume and light makeup today.”

Ning Shuangshuang’s complexion turned slightly red. She had made a special effort to put on makeup and perfume today to take Du Qiu to her uncle’s house, a departure from her usual no-makeup routine.

Seeing Ning Shuangshuang slightly embarrassed, Du Qiu decided not to tease her further and changed the topic by asking, “Can you tell me about your parents? What do they do?”

Ning Shuangshuang relaxed instantly, “My dad is a diplomat, and my mom is a doctor.”

Du Qiu sighed in appreciation, “Those are very respectable professions. Since they both work in the capital, how did you end up coming to Magic City?”

Ning Shuangshuang had once told him her family was from the capital.

“I never said they work in the capital.” Ning Shuangshuang said with surprise, then explained, “My dad works at the North African Embassy, and my mom is part of a medical group in Nanshudan.”

Du Qiu was suddenly taken aback; this family’s occupations were truly dedicated to serving the country.

“So seeing them wouldn’t be easy.”

Du Qiu quickly responded, “Who says it isn’t easy? Nowadays, transportation is convenient; I could take a flight to visit your folks too.”

Ning Shuangshuang smiled and replied, “My dad is a very serious person, different from my uncle. Aren’t you afraid that if you go, he’ll turn you away?”

“I could visit your mother first. They say a mother-in-law grows to like her son-in-law more and more. Surely, after passing that test, visiting your father wouldn’t be a problem.”

Ning Shuangshuang couldn’t help but laugh, “You’ve got it all nicely planned out, with mother-in-laws and son-in-laws. I haven’t even officialized you yet.”