Reborn in 2005, starting with repairing mobile phones

3. Information gap

The essence of this transaction is not buying and selling, but information.

Wu Ming wants a whole batch of goods.

Jamal only wants a portion of it.

Rossi wanted long-term business with the port.

Anderson just wants cash, and the sooner the better.

None of them knew what the other really wanted.

Wu Ming was unaware that Jamal was willing to pay such a high price for that 35%.

Jamal was unaware that the Rossi family wanted to launder their money and go bankrupt.

Rossi was unaware that Wu Ming was willing to pay for a stable channel in the long term.

Anderson knew nothing but that if things dragged on any longer, he would go bankrupt.

I did one thing:

Tell Jamal about Wu Ming's needs.

Tell Rossi about Jamal's security requirements.

Tell Wu Ming about Rossi's influence.

Tell everyone Anderson's bottom line.

Then sit together and tell them:

What you want doesn't conflict.

Keep them separate, each person takes their own.

This is more valuable than any technology.

He paused here.

The city outside the window had completely darkened, making the lights of the bay bridge even clearer.

He stared at the words and remained silent for a few seconds.

Then gently cross out "more valuable than any technology" and write next to it:

This is simply a technology.

He sat up straight and turned to the last page of his notebook.

Write down:

【Next step:】

1. Upon returning to China, we immediately launched the research and development of "strategic aluminum materials" applications.

Li Guohui and Zhang Mingyuan's team need to submit a precision machining feasibility report within three weeks.

[2. Zhou Chengyu's touch algorithm and Su Xiaowen's design scheme must complete the first round of prototype verification this year.]

[3. Uncle Cai needs to continue monitoring Anderson's channels and establish a regular intelligence mechanism; perhaps this could allow Weian to join the team.]

4. My Shenzhen University admission letter should arrive soon. After classes begin in September, I'll need to balance my research and development schedule with my coursework. I may apply for exemptions from some courses if necessary.

He stopped writing and looked at the four lines.

Then gently close the notebook.

Outside the window, San Francisco was ablaze with lights, and traffic on the Bay Bridge flowed like a golden river.

He stood up and walked to the window.

In the distance, the direction of the Pacific Ocean was pitch black.

He recalled what Wu Ming had said after signing the document in the conference room last night:

"Young man, if you need anything in Shenzhen, you can call me."

He recalled Jamal's slight nod as he left, and the words, "I hope this isn't the last time we work together."

He remembered Anderson shouting "Magic Lin".

magician.

A slight smile appeared on his lips.

This nickname sounds better than "Xiaolin".

He stood there for a long time.

It was so long that the lights on the bay bridge outside the window started to go out one by one—it was three in the morning.

I turned off the lights and lay down on that overly soft bed.

It's time to go back.

With these thoughts in mind, he drifted off to sleep in the stillness of San Francisco at three in the morning. The next morning, at the Peninsula Hotel in San Francisco.

Lin Dong woke up earlier than usual.

The lights of the bay bridge outside the window have been turned off, and the morning light has turned the sky a pale blue.

He lay on the bed, stared at the ceiling for three seconds, and then sat up.

Even in my dream, I was still reviewing those three contracts—Wu Ming's signature position, the audit clause that Jamal requested be modified, and the second that Michael Rossi paused when he signed his name.

They're all awake now.

After washing up and changing his clothes, he stood by the window for a while.

At 7:30, Chen Wei'an appeared in the hotel lobby on time.

She wore a light gray suit dress today, her hair tied in a neat low ponytail, and she was still carrying that leather folder full of documents. Her makeup was a little lighter than a few days ago, but she looked very energetic.

"Good morning, Mr. Lin."

"morning."

The two sat down in the coffee shop.

The waiter brought over black coffee and hot tea, and as usual, Lin Dong's iced water was placed beside him.

Chen Wei'an opened the folder and began reporting today's schedule: "At 10:00 AM, the final handover confirmation at the port. The Rossi family has made arrangements; Mr. Anderson will be present in person. At 3:00 PM, the lawyers need your signature on several documents..."

Lin Dong looked at her.

For those seven days, she followed him from Fisherman's Wharf to the port, from Wu Ming's tea table to Rossi's family study, often working until the early hours of the morning to coordinate reports, and then standing in the lobby, all made up, waiting for him the next morning.

He seemed to have never asked her, "Are you tired?"

He pushed the ice water aside.

"Vivian."

Lin Dong interrupted her.

Chen Wei'an stopped flipping through the documents and looked up at him.

"There's something I want to ask you." Lin Dong pushed the ice water aside and placed his hands, folded, on the table. "It's not about work."

Chen Wei'an paused for a moment, then closed the folder and sat up straight.

"Please speak."

"How have things been going with our collaboration these past few days?" Lin Dong paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, "?

Chen Wei'an was stunned for a moment.

She hadn't expected Lin Dong to ask that.

"It's great," she answered instinctively, then felt the answer was too perfunctory, and added, "The pace is fast, the pressure is high, but... working with you is very enjoyable. I know where I'm going with every step, and I can get there with every step."

She was telling the truth.

The seven days with Lin Dong were more tiring than all the cases she had handled in the past year, but also more enjoyable.

Lin Dong nodded.

"As you can see from my situation," he said, "Shenzhen is our headquarters, where R&D, manufacturing, and the core team are all located. But our business in North America will only continue to grow."

He paused.

"There's still room for cooperation with Wu Ming. We can't let the Gulf Capital connection fall by the wayside. The Rossi family's new company is just starting out and needs someone to follow up and coordinate. Anderson will also need someone here to help him manage the channels for any suppliers he finds in the future."

He looked at Chen Wei'an.

"I want you to stay here and help me."

Chen Wei'an's fingers tightened slightly at the edge of the folder.

"This isn't a temporary project collaboration," Lin Dong said slowly. "It means you're joining our company and officially taking charge of the North American business. Your compensation will be on par with senior executives at our Shenzhen headquarters, and you'll also receive equity incentives."

He paused.

"Are you willing?"

The coffee shop was quiet for a few seconds.

The sound of glasses and saucers clinking could be heard in the distance, and a waiter quietly asked the person next to him if they would like a refill.

Chen Wei'an lowered her head and looked at the untouched cup of black tea in front of her.

She did not answer immediately.

It's not hesitation.

She needed three seconds to suppress the surge of emotion welling up in her chest.

Join "Eastern Technology".

To officially become a member of this person's team.

No longer a temporary project assistant, nor an outsourced consultant, but someone he invited and was willing to entrust with an entire region's business.

She took a soft breath and looked up.

"Mr. Lin," her voice was steady, but a smile curved at the corner of her eyes, "when you signed Michael Rossi yesterday, I thought that was your best achievement."

She paused.

"So that's not it after all."

Lin Dong didn't reply, he just looked at her.