Jiang Cheng glanced at the caller ID on his phone screen; the caller was Wang Houliang.
He then pressed the answer button and said, "Hello, Old Wang."
Wang Houliang's voice came from the other end: "Young Master Jiang, good evening. I'm truly sorry to call you so late; I hope I'm not disturbing your rest."
Jiang Cheng asked bluntly, "Just say what's on your mind. Is there a problem with the progress of the lithography machine?"
Wang Houliang hurriedly explained, "No, Young Master Jiang, please don't worry. The progress of the lithography machine is completely normal. Although Jolins—oh, I mean, Professor Chen—couldn't completely design the lithography machine himself, the vast majority of the data and technology he possesses has been a qualitative leap for our R&D work, pushing our research progress forward by at least several years."
Jiang Cheng nodded and asked, "So, do you have some other reason for calling me now?"
Wang Houliang continued, "It's like this. The Huaxia Think Tank has always been studying and envisioning foreign exchange policies in advance. By collecting, analyzing, and researching various pieces of information, they try to predict actions and measures other countries might take. Based on inferences from recent measures, the Pretty Country might implement some sanctions regarding our chips. However, we don't know exactly how far these sanctions will go yet; it's currently just a prediction."
Hearing this, Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow. As expected of the Huaxia Think Tank.
In fact, not just Huaxia, but other countries have their own think tanks as well.
These specialized talents bury themselves every day in studying the various policies released by important nations.
Then, they use various methods and models to perform deductions and predictions.
They take into account various factors and variables to predict other countries' actions and their potential impacts as accurately as possible.
Finally, these think tanks formulate various countermeasures or preventive means for the country based on the results of these deductions.
To deal with potential challenges and threats.
Jiang Cheng replied, "And then??"
Jiang Cheng had known this news for a long time; otherwise, he wouldn't have been so excited when the system alerted him to Jolins's whereabouts.
Movements targeting the chip sector had actually begun as early as 2015.
At that time, it was only aimed at a certain component of computers.
After 2016, it targeted products like base stations and mobile phones from Xingzhong Technology.
This caused Xingzhong to lose its competitiveness overseas immediately, and the entire enterprise ceased operations due to its extreme dependence on foreign chips.
In the end, they were forced to pay nearly 900 million US dollars in fines as a matter of humiliation.
Calling it a fine was just an excuse; the real goal was to rob them of wealth while preventing them from competing in foreign markets, forcing them to withdraw voluntarily.
They wanted to both plunder wealth and drive Xingzhong Technology out of the foreign market to ensure their absolute dominance in the field.
Wang Houliang continued in a heavy tone, "After deep deduction and analysis by our Security Bureau and the think tank, we have received confirmed news that the new leader of the Pretty Country indeed intends to 'choke our necks' in terms of chips."
"In fact, at this critical moment, we are indeed helpless against such sanctions. Currently, the only feasible countermeasure is to vigorously develop domestic chips. Fortunately, thanks to you, we have made major progress with the lithography machine, but there's still no way in the short term..."
Just then, the sound of a password lock being disengaged suddenly came from outside the door.
Soon, Qiu Yihe opened the door and walked in.
The moment their eyes met, Qiu Yihe's eyes widened slightly.
Her gaze fell upon Jiang Cheng, who was standing at the door of her room, answering a phone call.
She tilted her head slightly, studying him curiously, as if she hadn't expected Jiang Cheng to be here.
Seeing that Qiu Yihe was carrying a plastic bag when she returned, it was clear at a glance that it contained medicine bought from a pharmacy.
Jiang Cheng's brow couldn't help but furrow slightly as his gaze rested on her somewhat flushed face.
Does she have a fever?
Soon, Wang Houliang's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Get to the point," Jiang Cheng responded expressionlessly.
Wang Houliang took a deep breath and then said slowly, "Actually, regarding modern chips, we've been conducting research and development since the 1980s. Currently, some large machines have adopted domestic chips that we researched and designed ourselves, but we've never been able to make a breakthrough in nanometer-level technology. Additionally, our lithography machines still have some design and technical deficiencies. Therefore, we are considering whether we can combine the two technologies—chips and lithography machines—to explore them together; perhaps we can find a new breakthrough point."
Hearing this, Jiang Cheng's face didn't show much expression.
"Just to ask that??"
Wang Houliang was unsure of Jiang Cheng's meaning.
After all, the profits from the successful development of a lithography machine were incalculable.
Now, sharing this technology with the specialized team from the Huaxia Academy of Sciences indeed required Jiang Cheng's consent.
Seeing that Jiang Cheng was on the phone, Qiu Yihe didn't make a sound.
She quietly took her plastic bag and sat down at the dining table.
Jiang Cheng's gaze followed, falling on her hands as she opened the plastic bag.
He glimpsed the medicine she took out; it was clearly some fever reducers.
He had guessed correctly; looking at her eyes, she was clearly suffering quite a bit from the fever.
Stepping behind Qiu Yihe, Jiang Cheng naturally reached out and gently felt her forehead.
In her daze, she suddenly felt a warm hand placed on her forehead. Qiu Yihe, who had been leaning tiredly against the table, instantly straightened up a bit.
From childhood to now, besides her grandmother and grandfather, no one else had ever touched her forehead so intimately.
In an instant, she felt her heartbeat involuntarily quicken.
Her already somewhat dry throat became even drier.
She hurriedly swallowed, trying to soothe her somewhat out-of-control heartbeat.
Just as Qiu Yihe was thinking of what to say, Jiang Cheng spoke to Wang Houliang while heading toward the kitchen.
After entering the kitchen, Jiang Cheng quickly and skillfully placed his phone on the counter and pressed the speakerphone button.
Next, he opened a cabinet and took out a clean cup.
Then, he unscrewed a bottle of mineral water and poured the clear water into an electric kettle.
Pressing the heat button, the kettle immediately emitted a low humming sound.
Only after finishing this did Jiang Cheng leisurely speak to the other end of the line.
"You should be very clear that if the lithography machine is successfully developed, the market share and annual profit it will bring will be a staggering figure. Moreover, if mass production can be achieved, it will not only break foreign monopolies but also save the country a vast amount of foreign exchange every year. More importantly, the upstream and downstream industrial chains of the lithography machine will drive numerous job opportunities and generate countless secondary benefits. You certainly know these numbers better than I do."
Hearing Jiang Cheng's words, Wang Houliang's throat moved slightly on the other end, appearing somewhat nervous.
His tone also became somewhat cramped, and he no longer spoke as fluently as before.
"Young Master Jiang, of course I know the value of this technology... but we are truly at our wit's end now! The Pretty Country's actions are getting bigger and bigger, and the pressure on us is increasing. If domestic chips can't make a breakthrough as soon as possible, I'm afraid the consequences will be unthinkable..."
Seeing Jiang Cheng boiling water for her, Qiu Yihe originally wanted to stand up and say she could do it herself.
However, when she heard the conversation between Jiang Cheng and Wang Houliang, her body seemed frozen, and her bottom slowly settled back onto the chair.
Her head was in a daze as she sat at the dining table, cupping her burning cheeks with both hands.
Her eyes followed Jiang Cheng's figure, while countless pieces of information swirled in her mind.
lithography machine?? Domestic chips??
When she followed Jiang Cheng to the Security Bureau last time, Qiu Yihe didn't know what business he was there to handle.
But now, she could infer that it might be this very matter.
Ignoring Qiu Yihe's gaze, Jiang Cheng walked over to her and took the fever medicine she had bought out of the bag.
After opening it, he began to read the instructions carefully.
Seeing that Jiang Cheng wasn't speaking, Wang Houliang didn't dare to open his mouth either.
Only after finishing reading did Jiang Cheng continue to speak.
However, he didn't address Wang Houliang's words; instead, he added:
"...According to our calculations, if we fully master the manufacturing process below 7nm independently, the annual profit will be at least in the hundreds of billions... Do you think I could agree to share it for that?..."
Wang Houliang clearly paused on the other end, his voice becoming cautious: "We know that. If you agree to share the technology, we can discuss relevant compensation policies. Although we can't subsidize you to the exact same level of profit, we will certainly do our best..."
Hearing this, while shocked, Qiu Yihe couldn't help but furrow her brow again.
She roughly knew what was going on now.
So, Jiang Cheng possesses some lithography machine technology??
This... if this were true, and if the annual profit Jiang Cheng mentioned was real...
Then wouldn't Jiang Cheng leap straight to becoming the richest man in Huaxia?
With such high profits, Wang Houliang's intention was to have him share the technology?
This was indeed a bit of a tall order.
But according to what Wang Houliang said, the current situation was so difficult that if it could be shared, our development would surely be even faster.
The kettle hadn't been filled to the brim, so the gurgling sound soon rang out.
Soon, Jiang Cheng walked back into the kitchen.
By then, the kettle had already emitted a "beep" notification sound.
Picking up the kettle, Jiang Cheng skillfully poured a cup of warm water.
After walking back to the dining table, he placed the water in front of Qiu Yihe.
Qiu Yihe stared blankly at the cup in front of her, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the side of the cup.
The slight "crack" as the aluminum foil packaging of the fever medicine was torn open by Jiang Cheng's slender fingers made her eyelashes tremble slightly.
She watched Jiang Cheng's well-defined hand place the white tablet in front of her and suddenly felt her throat tighten.
This action was so natural—so natural it felt as if they had lived together like this for many years.
Although she often found Jiang Cheng to be a very gentle and attentive person...
...most of the time, she still felt he was a scumbag.
Especially that time when he was video-calling his girlfriend while pinning her to the bed, and that other time in the bathroom when he forced something into her mouth.
Just as Qiu Yihe was spacing out, Jiang Cheng's deep and magnetic voice suddenly came: "Take the medicine."
This voice seemed to possess an invisible power, piercing through her thoughts and pulling her back to reality from her reverie.
Qiu Yihe looked up abruptly, her gaze meeting Jiang Cheng's deep eyes.
Under the warm light of the dining room, Jiang Cheng's sharp profile was outlined with soft shadows, making him appear both mysterious and gentle.
The sudden action not only caught Qiu Yihe off guard but also caught the attention of Wang Houliang on the other end of the phone.
"This... Young Master Jiang, if you're busy, I won't disturb you for now. However, I still hope you can consider it carefully." Wang Houliang's tone was clearly tinged with hesitation and unease.
To hide her flustered behavior, Qiu Yihe quickly swallowed the medicine and then turned her gaze back to Jiang Cheng.
She knew very well in her heart that the only reason Wang Houliang was so humble was because of Jiang Cheng's special status.
If it were any other ordinary entrepreneur, Wang Houliang probably wouldn't be so humble at all.
After all, cooperating with the state was a rare opportunity.
Anyone sensible would choose to accept.
Hearing this, Jiang Cheng changed the subject.
"Hey, hey, why are you in such a hurry to hang up? I haven't finished speaking yet."