Chapter 23: Worth 250 Million

As Du Qiu turned around, he saw a middle-aged woman approaching from the direction of the workshop’s main gate, followed by a secretary-looking career beauty.

The woman was wearing delicate makeup and her hair, only reaching her shoulders and curled in small waves, made her appear relatively young.

Only the crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes betrayed the relentless passage of time.

“Director Xue?” Du Qiu was somewhat surprised but still went forward to greet her, “What a coincidence, meeting Director Xue here, truly my good fortune!”

Xue Ningmei extended her hand to shake Du Qiu’s and said, “Dr. Du, Tianqi Company is a subsidiary of Huading Group, which I acquired last year.”

Du Qiu suddenly realized why Wei Jianshe had been overly enthusiastic toward him before.

Before graduating, Dr. Du Qiu’s last project with his supervisor was for this woman’s Huading Group, developing an automatic tool magazine product.

By a stroke of fate, Xue Ningmei discovered that Du Qiu had provided help in developing control software for high-end machining centers and allowed Du Qiu unrestricted access to study all of Huading Group’s mid-to-high-end machining centers.

Moreover, when Du Qiu was about to graduate, she reached out with an olive branch and offered a high price to invite Du Qiu to join her company, but he declined.

At that time, although Du Qiu had completed a prototype of the control system, he was very dissatisfied, especially feeling a lack in the area of machine perception.

Thus, he opted to join Luxing Technology, a self-driving vehicle company, to continue his research in the field of machine perception.

“Director Xue’s business is truly flourishing, I am impressed.”

“I heard from Director Wei that you may be interested in joining Tianqi, so I immediately flew over from the capital to catch up with you properly.”

While speaking, Xue Ningmei made an inviting gesture, “It’s not convenient to talk here, let’s go to the office to chat.”

“Sure.”

Du Qiu and the others followed Xue Ningmei back to her office.

After they sat down, the secretary had already deftly brewed tea for Du Qiu and the others.

“Reporter Zhang, first of all, I want to thank you for the recommendation that allows me the opportunity to cooperate with Dr. Du again.”

Although Zhang Mingliu was somewhat surprised and confused, she knew that Du Qiu and Xue Ningmei were old acquaintances.

“Director Xue, you are too polite. It’s all due to a fortunate coincidence.”

Xue Ningmei smiled and said, “Reporter Zhang put it well. This is a meeting destined across a thousand miles.”

Her gaze turned to Du Qiu, “Dr. Du, the offer I made you back then still stands. My company’s doors are always open to you.

Initially, you wanted to develop in Magic City, and now Tianqi Company is located in Magic City. Don’t reject me again this time.”

Du Qiu hadn’t expected Xue Ningmei to be so direct, extending the invitation as soon as they sat down.

However, he still shook his head and said, “I really appreciate your kindness, Director Xue, but I’m afraid I might have to disappoint you once again.”

A flicker of displeasure crossed Xue Ningmei’s eyes, but her face still wore a warm smile as she said, “What is it, Dr. Du, do you not hold Tianqi Company in high regard?”

Without waiting for Du Qiu to answer, she continued, “Tianqi Company is an old player in the machine tool industry and has a good foundation. I acquired Tianqi Company last year.

After nearly a year of development, Tianqi Company’s annual turnover has more than doubled, and now holds a 10% market share in the domestic production line of unmanned factories.

Is such a company still not expansive enough for you to exhibit your talents, Dr. Du?”

Seeing that Xue Ningmei was sincere, Du Qiu also spoke, “Director Xue, if it had been before yesterday, had I known that Tianqi was your company, I may have agreed to join.

But yesterday, I made a decision, and unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to tell Mingliu, so she wasn’t aware of it and brought me here today to meet Director Wei.”

Xue Ningmei narrowed her eyebrows slightly and asked, “May I know what decision Dr. Du has made?”

“I’ve decided to work for myself. Today, I came to Tianqi to promote my control system software product.”

“Oh, Dr. Du is thinking of starting your own business?” A sense of relief flashed in Xue Ningmei’s eyes.

“Yes, exactly, in response to the national call for entrepreneurship. It’s just that I’m sorry to disappoint your good intentions, Director Xue.”

“It seems your software has indeed been successfully developed.”

Xue Ningmei nodded slightly but then proposed a new suggestion, “In fact, to sell your software, you don’t necessarily have to start from scratch with your company.”

Du Qiu looked at Xue Ningmei, waiting for her to continue.

“You could use the intellectual property of this software to take a stake in my company. With the strength of Huading Group, your software would have a broader market prospect.”

She had taken an interest in Du Qiu originally for two reasons: one for his outstanding performance in the tool magazine project, and the other because Du Qiu was developing a new numerical control system on his own.

It is known that Central Data had a development team of over a hundred people working in a 712 model, laboring seven days a week, twelve hours a day in a closed environment for years, to finally develop a high-end numerical control system that could basically replace imports.

Knowing this and still persisting in development on his own, Du Qiu had greatly impressed her by his performance on the tool magazine project and the evaluation of his supervisor, leading her to believe that Du Qiu’s system had tremendous competitive potential.

That’s why she had tried so hard to invite Du Qiu to Huading Group to bring real core technology with independent intellectual property rights.

There was no one more eager than her to fill Huading Group with real core technology, but that was extremely difficult in the field of numerical control machine tools.

Du Qiu was stunned momentarily but still shook his head, “Director Xue, I understand your intentions, but I have full confidence in the market prospects of my product.”

Without any change in expression, Xue Ningmei made another suggestion, “Since Dr. Du wishes to develop independently, I won’t force you.

However, I believe Dr. Du’s company will need strategic partners, and I can promise to switch all of Tianqi Company’s and Huading Group’s future numerical control machine tools to use Dr. Du’s software.”

Du Qiu didn’t expect Xue Ningmei to have such faith in him; without even seeing his software in action, she was offering a comprehensive replacement guarantee.

“Director Xue, do you… have any requirements?”

Xue Ningmei smiled and said, “If I were asking for nothing, I’m afraid you wouldn’t dare to accept this good will.

It’s quite simple, I hope to become an angel investor in your company and acquire no less than 30% of its shares.

They say investment is all about the people, and I believe in you, Dr. Du. I hope you’ll give me a chance.”

Du Qiu gave a wry smile and said, “Director Xue, 30% of the shares right off the bat—I’m afraid I can’t give you that opportunity.”

Xue Ningmei waved her hand dismissively, “Don’t rush to refuse. I’m willing to invest 75 million yuan for that 30% stake.”

Zhang Mingliu, who had been listening on the side, was already feeling dizzy. According to Director Xue, wasn’t Du Qiu’s company already worth 250 million before it even started?