With the Qingshan Lake Super Factory going into operation, Orange S1 also entered debt repayment mode.
Employees worked in two shifts, and production capacity ran at full throttle.
By mid-May, counting units already shipped and those ordered but not yet shipped, Orange S1's shipments reached 5 million units.
This didn't even include contract phones for China Telecom and China Mobile.
If counted, it would be just a stone's throw away from ten million.
Waiting times shortened, which consumers felt most deeply.
"What's going on? Didn't everyone online say before that we'd have to wait at least thirty days? Why did I receive mine in half a month?"
"Because you're handsome, alright?"
"Orange phones' own factory has started production, so capacity has increased."
"I don't care, I haven't gotten mine yet, it's been twenty days!"
"Everyone, don't rush. We're already working ten hours a day. Two shifts, with four hours left for inspection and cooling the machines."
"Holy cow, brother, why are you surfing the internet instead of honestly producing phones in the factory?"
"Damn, I've worked six days straight. Today is a rare day off, and I was dreaming about inspecting phones last night."
"Brother, are you from the Qingshan Lake Super Factory? I want to ask, what's the treatment like at the Orange factory?"
"The treatment is excellent. Last year, I spent eight hours a day screwing in bolts in Shenzhen and took home just over two thousand. Here at Orange, I work ten hours a day and take home over five thousand, after social security and taxes."
"Scary, is the treatment that good?"
Orange phones' salary and benefits are indeed good.
In 2010, the average salary in Dongjiang was only 3,800 yuan.
Note, this is calculated by putting sanitation workers and Chen Pingjiang together, but even ordinary assembly line workers at Orange factory get over 5,000, so you can imagine the value.
In comparison, the basic salary for general workers in other factories is only 2,500, with miscellaneous expenses bringing it to just over three thousand five.
However, ever since Orange phones moved into the Qingshan Lake base, Chen Pingjiang's car has also started consuming more fuel.
He had to commute between two places.
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at Twin Stars, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at Qingshan Lake.
Sundays were for spending time with family.
"Director Chen, I also plan to revive the tablet business. We'll hold a launch event for it together with Orange S2 later,"
Lin Bin and Zhou Guangping had already discussed.
"Have you decided on a name?"
"Not yet, do you have one in mind?"
Chen Pingjiang nodded,
"Let's call it Opad. It's easy to remember and sounds good. Are there any differences in the production process and procedures between tablets and phones?"
"Basically, they're largely similar. For tablets, you cut out the baseband chip and replace it with a larger battery and more speakers."
There are naturally differences between tablets and phones.
For example, phones need to consider portability and user experience, so the design and manufacturing difficulty itself is higher, while tablets require more battery life.
Tablets have a larger area, so the difficulty of motherboard design is much lower.
Even if both use the same components, the cost of manufacturing a tablet is significantly lower.
"Besides tablets, we should also develop other terminals like laptops and earphones. If we have a significant fan base, it's best to cover all the electronic products they use daily."
The grand ecosystem strategy is something Huawei, Xiaomi, and Apple are all playing.
This series of terminal devices is abbreviated as IOT.
Of course, usually an A is added in front, forming AIOT.
That is, intelligent terminals.
From large new energy vehicles to small smart earphones and smart speakers, all connected by a single operating system.
It is also known as the Internet of Everything.
Once such an ecosystem is formed, developers can access multiple terminals at once, reaching more user scenarios, leading to stronger user stickiness, and more convertible business opportunities.
Moreover, an ecosystem means cross-terminal collaboration, linkage, and resource sharing, which will continuously provide strong support for developers' subsequent business expansion and innovation.
......
Finally arriving at the University of Finance and Economics again, Chen Pingjiang couldn't remember when he last came here; it seemed to be last December?
When he found Ning Yongde's office, Kuang Minghong was also waiting.
"Knowing you were coming, we've been waiting for a long time. It's really not easy to see you these days,"
Ning Yongde joked with a smile.
Chen Pingjiang laughed heartily and sat down casually,
"Doesn't the principal just need to make a call if he wants to see me? Next time you miss me, you can find me at Qingshan Lake."
Kuang Minghong watched Chen Pingjiang with a beaming smile, his expression full of pride.
This kid has made a name for himself.
Having a student like Chen Pingjiang was his good fortune.
Even without Kuang Minghong, such a person would eventually shine like gold; in hindsight, he got a bargain.
Looking back, these four years felt like a dream.
In such a short time, Chen Pingjiang had stirred up such a big fuss, catching countless people off guard.
"I heard that Qingshan Lake is especially large, so much so that you can even get lost walking inside. Haha."
Ning Yongde said, laughing,
"The main reason I called you over this time is to ask about your future plans."
"?"
Chen Pingjiang was a bit puzzled,
"What plans?"
"Have you considered pursuing a postgraduate degree?"
When asking this, Kuang Minghong actually noticed that Ning Yongde was a little nervous.
He was really afraid Chen Pingjiang would refuse.
Then, Ning Yongde added,
"As long as you nod, you can go straight to a master's-doctoral program."
Although he used to joke about being recommended for postgraduate studies, now that the day came, Chen Pingjiang was unwilling.
"I'm really not cut out for that. To be honest, I even hired someone to write my graduation thesis. The school was sympathetic to me and even spared me the defense."
To this day, Chen Pingjiang no longer needed to add prefixes to his name.
There seemed to be a sense of returning to simplicity.
From having no titles before his name to becoming a big shot with a string of titles before his name.
Now, Chen Pingjiang's business card had nothing but a clean name.
But that didn't stop others from recognizing him.
After hearing Chen Pingjiang's words, Kuang Minghong's heart sank, and he blurted out,
"You haven't been poached by Dongda or Southeast, have you?"
"No, that's not the case. I'm too lazy to pursue postgraduate studies at my own alma mater, let alone at a unfamiliar place like Dongda. They did approach me a few times, but I declined them all."
Chen Pingjiang spread his hands,
"I simply don't want to bother and don't have that much time. Let's leave such a precious spot to other students."
Ning Yongde and Kuang Minghong exchanged glances, both seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes.
Some people start reviewing and preparing diligently from their junior year just to cross that single-plank bridge.
Others simply don't care.
"Don't worry, listen to me. The principal and I have discussed it. Because of your special status, you only need to come once at the start of the semester, and you don't have to come on other weekdays. You can just pick up your graduation certificate then. This counts as special treatment for special cases, and you, Chen Pingjiang, deserve this treatment."
The University of Finance and Economics' idea was simple: to tie Chen Pingjiang down for as long as possible.
As a renowned alumnus, Chen Pingjiang's fame and influence at the University of Finance and Economics were unprecedented.
The University of Finance and Economics could not lose Chen Pingjiang, just as the West could not lose Jerusalem.
This made Chen Pingjiang somewhat dumbfounded, and he was a bit embarrassed to refuse.
Chen Pingjiang heard Ning and Kuang's calculations all the way in Qingshan Lake.
He couldn't blame them; if he were the principal, he'd do the same.
This was a good opportunity to continuously raise the school's reputation.
"Alright, the principal has spoken to this extent. If I don't agree now, he'll probably get angry with me. But let's be clear first, don't not let me graduate later."
As his alma mater, the University of Finance and Economics helped him a lot in his early entrepreneurial days.
Anyway, he had nothing to lose; if it was a guaranteed postgraduate spot, then it was.
Seeing Chen Pingjiang finally nod, Ning Yongde and Kuang Minghong broke into smiles, their hearts finally at ease.
They, of course, knew that Chen Pingjiang was entirely giving them face; otherwise, he could go to any school he wished.
If this news got out today, Tsinghua and Peking would probably be scrambling to recruit him tomorrow.
"Great, you've agreed, and it fulfills one of my wishes. Now, I have no regrets about transferring."
"Oh, Principal, are you getting another promotion? Your speed of promotion is incredible."
Kuang Minghong smiled and said,
"The principal's achievements at the University of Finance and Economics are obvious to all. He will be transferred to the Education Department soon."
"Director-General?"
"Deputy Director-General, but retaining the rank of Director-General."
Chen Pingjiang nodded.
Although Ning Yongde was already a Director-General, going to the Education Department as a Deputy Director-General seemed like a demotion.
But that's not how the numbers are calculated.
The powers of the two positions are completely unequal.
A university principal manages one school, while a Director-General can manage not only universities but also primary and secondary schools and vocational education schools throughout the province.
Greater power, greater influence, greater responsibility, and greater prospects.
It could be said that from now on, the sky was the limit for him.
Moreover, Ning Yongde was only in his fifties, and this transfer was likely a prelude to taking over the top position.
"Congratulations, congratulations, Principal! When you go to your new unit, you mustn't forget our University of Finance and Economics. When it's time to exert influence, remember to do so. At the very least, you should help raise its profile, shouldn't you?"
Ning Yongde smiled,
"I don't have that much ability; that's managed by the Ministry of Education. However, I can tell you that the University of Finance and Economics meets all the qualifications and was already preparing to apply."
"So, Boss Kuang will take your place then?"
"Mm!"
"Tsk tsk, it's a double blessing. We definitely have to have a drink today."
It was a happy ending after all.
No wonder Kuang Minghong was so invested in Chen Pingjiang's guaranteed postgraduate spot.
Old Kuang was no simple man either.
In just four short years, he had been promoted like a rocket, from a mere vice dean of a secondary college to a dean, then a vice principal, and now a principal.
Although universities are different from government agencies, going straight from a deputy county-level position to a full department-level position is quite impressive.
Even if Kuang Minghong had served enough time in his vice dean position, four years would at most bring him to vice principal.
To become a principal, he would normally have to wait a few more years.
Generally, it takes two years from a deputy county-level position to a full county-level position, three years from a full county-level position to a deputy department-level position, and two years to a full department-level position.
Kuang Minghong's promotion was a clear exception.
Kuang Minghong didn't shy away from this:
"Thanks to Principal Ning's strong recommendation, and also thanks to you."
Chen Pingjiang signed a stack of names under Kuang Minghong's guidance.
Including application forms, self-recommendation letters, and so on.
After seeing Chen Pingjiang off, Kuang Minghong took the prepared recommendation letters from advisors, transcripts, letters of approval for recommended exemption from exams, copies of award certificates, and original English Level 4 exam certificates to complete the procedures.
Fortunately, Chen Pingjiang didn't see these, or he would have blushed!!!
The key were the transcript and the English exam scores.
The procedures were easy to handle, but when it came to choosing an advisor, Kuang Minghong encountered a problem.
The advisors qualified to supervise postgraduate students almost came to blows vying for the spot.
"Old Li, take a break when you should, don't push yourself so hard, you already have so many research projects. Let Chen Pingjiang be mine."
"Old Zhang, you should also be kind. I know you're thin-skinned, and dealing with a student like this would be very stressful. I'm different, I'm still relatively young and can handle the pressure."
"We're colleagues, give me some face, don't fight me for him. I'll host dinner tonight."
"Get out of here. You might be a bit more skilled than me, but that's for regular students. Can Chen Pingjiang be treated the same? What he needs is a service-oriented advisor. I am untalented, but I can take good care of student Chen Pingjiang."
(End of Chapter)