Chapter 506 - 249: Trying to Poach My People Again?

Chapter 506: Chapter 249: Trying to Poach My People Again?

Hearing this, Su Chen couldn’t help but sit up straighter. He could tell from the tone that this was about him.

Su Chen didn’t reply, simply watching Xiao Chen quietly and waiting for him to continue.

Xiao Chen didn’t beat around the bush and got straight to the point.

"You know that a while ago, ASML banned the sale of their photolithography machines to the country for certain reasons. Then yesterday, TSMC officially announced they would no longer sell a single chip to the mainland."

"I came today to ask when you plan on expanding your chip project. The photolithography machines and related technologies should be mature by now, right?"

"So TSMC is throwing a wrench in the works?" Su Chen’s brow furrowed instantly. He was already aware of the country’s chip situation. The vast majority were imported from TSMC, with only a handful of domestically produced ones, all of which were mid-to-low-end.

"Yes. The Bald Eagle is pulling the strings. They’ve started imposing material blockades on some of our domestic industries, and many companies have found their growth restricted." Xiao Chen laid it all out.

"Xiao Chen, you know the situation on Zheng Island. I don’t have a clear picture of how far the chip project has progressed. I’ll have to make a call and ask before I can make a decision."

Upon hearing this, a smile appeared on Xiao Chen’s face. "Yes, I know. The personnel stationed on Zheng Island were all withdrawn today. You should be able to get a call through now."

Hearing that, Su Chen picked up the phone on the table and called Professor Wu right in front of Xiao Chen.

Just as Xiao Chen had said, the call went through immediately. After a few rings, Professor Wu’s voice came on the line.

After a brief inquiry about the research base’s current situation, Su Chen changed the subject and got straight to the point.

Listening to Professor Wu’s updates from the other end of the line, the smile on Su Chen’s face grew even wider.

He hadn’t expected that in just two short months, Professor Wu and his team of researchers had not only completely mastered the 10nm chip technology, but had also achieved a yield rate as high as ninety-nine percent!

They had even nearly finished researching the 7nm chip technology Su Chen had given them. They could begin experiments as early as next month.

As for the photolithography machine production lines, they had been successfully developed. Each line could only produce five photolithography machines per month.

The research base had already successfully established a photolithography machine factory, and two production lines were already in operation.

The chip warehouse was already storing over three hundred thousand 10nm chips. Even if Su Chen hadn’t called today, Professor Wu had been about to call him to report on the situation.

Storing so many chips wasn’t a long-term solution; they definitely needed to be sold.

After Professor Wu finished his report on the chip project’s progress, Su Chen fell into deep thought.

’Should I sell the photolithography machines, or the chips?’ This was the question Su Chen was now wrestling with.

Soon, Su Chen came to a decision. He would sell both the photolithography machines and the chips!

For the country’s many tech companies, both the photolithography machines and the 10nm chips were hot commodities.

As long as you dared to sell them, people would absolutely dare to buy them—they would even be fighting over them.

"Professor Wu, put everything else aside for now. Speed up the manufacturing of new photolithography production lines, increase the number of machines in the chip factory, and accelerate chip production. We need to seize the market share that TSMC has vacated as quickly as possible."

When Su Chen told Professor Wu about the situation with ASML and TSMC, the professor was absolutely furious. He even said he would make them taste their own bitter medicine.

After hanging up, Su Chen briefly explained the situation at the research base and the chip factory to Xiao Chen.

"Alright. When the time comes, I’ll make sure to notify the tech companies about your photolithography machines and chips. However, I suggest you establish a dedicated company. It would make things more convenient."

"After all, the Zheng Island facility still holds many secrets. If everyone starts going there, it will inevitably attract unwanted attention," Xiao Chen added.

Su Chen agreed with the suggestion. "Yes. I’ll have them establish a company."

After they finished discussing the chips and photolithography machines, Su Chen proactively asked about the rubidium ore. The answer was a bit disappointing; they had only managed to secure an order for ten tons.

However, the higher-ups had other plans for the remaining rubidium ore, intending to use it to trade for other benefits through certain channels. Xiao Chen didn’t give Su Chen the specific details.

Of course, Su Chen didn’t press for details. ’It’s better not to know about these things,’ he thought. ’My job is just to count the money.’

After they had lunch together, Xiao Chen left in a hurry.

Su Chen and his group also packed their luggage and headed straight for the airport.

...

For this trip to Singapore, Su Chen didn’t arrange for his private jet. Instead, he flew on a China Southern Airlines Boeing 787.

The reason was simple: his big brother, Chen Fan, was picking him up. If he flew private, he would have to use the business aviation terminal. To avoid arousing his brother’s suspicion, he had to make do with a commercial flight.

Of course, Su Chen wasn’t about to make himself too uncomfortable—he bought a first-class ticket. As for Chen Fei and the other five, they were booked in business class.

Su Chen had originally planned to buy first-class tickets for everyone, but Chen Fei and the others were dead set against it, insisting it wasn’t appropriate. Seeing how adamant they were, he had to settle for the next best thing.

Singapore Changi International Airport!

The flight was uneventful. There were no romantic encounters in first class or anything of the sort. The most excitement he got was a flight attendant having a minor wardrobe malfunction while serving him.

The plane landed smoothly. Once most of the other passengers had deplaned, Su Chen and his group finally got off, walked through the jet bridge, and headed straight for the arrivals hall.

As expected of a major tourist city, the arrivals hall was packed with people waiting to greet passengers, each holding a sign with a name on it.

Su Chen scanned the crowd but saw no sign of his brother, Chen Fan. He didn’t even spot a sign with his own name on it.

"Don’t tell me he hasn’t arrived yet," Su Chen muttered to himself before leading Chen Fei and the others toward the airport exit.

He planned to call his brother, Chen Fan, once they were outside.

"Sir, you don’t think your brother stood you up, do you?" Chen Fei whispered.

"Who knows? I’ll call him in a bit and see if he picks up. If not, we’ll find a place to settle in for now. Also..." Su Chen stopped and turned back to Chen Fei and the others. "Don’t call me ’Sir.’ Just call me Brother Cheen. We don’t want to blow our cover."

Neither Chen Fei nor the other five men on the team were very old; they all looked to be in their twenties. The eldest, Chen Fei, was actually a year younger than Su Chen, so calling him ’brother’ was perfectly fine.

The men exchanged glances and nodded silently. "Understood, Brother Cheen!"

Hearing them call him "Brother Cheen" felt strangely awkward to Su Chen. It reminded him of a certain someone far away in the Imperial Capital.

After exiting the airport, they found a quiet spot nearby. Su Chen took out his phone and called Chen Fan again.

The phone rang for a good ten seconds. Just as Su Chen thought no one was going to answer and was about to hang up, he heard Chen Fan’s voice.

"Little bro, you’re here? Wait for me a bit. My car had some trouble on the way. I’ll be there in ten minutes, tops!"

Hearing the slightly embarrassed tone in Chen Fan’s voice, a strange look flashed across Su Chen’s face.

"It’s alright, big brother. I’m already outside the terminal. I’m in an open area to the right of the airport, next to a sculpture that looks like a lion." After glancing at his surroundings, he gave Chen Fan his approximate location.

"Got it! I’ll be right there!" Without giving Su Chen a chance to respond, he hung up.

Su Chen stared at the disconnected call and shook his head helplessly. ’If I’d known this was going to happen, I would have just taken my private jet.’

’But then again, who could have predicted that his ride would have car trouble on the way?’

Glancing at the six men standing ramrod straight behind him, Su Chen frowned slightly.

"Chen Fei, you guys don’t have to be so formal. Anyone can tell you’ve been soldiers with one look. You’re all young, just relax a bit."

"If you want to take pictures, take pictures. If you want to smoke, go smoke. Don’t be so uptight!"

At his words, the men exchanged glances, and their stiff postures immediately relaxed. A few more smiles appeared on their faces as they pulled out their phones and started taking pictures. They had to make some memories on a trip like this to make it all worthwhile.

Su Chen smiled in satisfaction at the sight. He walked to the side, phone in hand, and made another call.

He only exchanged a few pleasantries with the person on the other end. After scanning his surroundings, he nodded slightly and hung up.