Chapter 576: Chapter 574: Facing Disbandment

Han Xiaorui nodded. "Take care!"

She personally walked Kuno Hiroo out, watching him leave.

Han Xiaorui scratched her head, a look of confusion in her eyes.

’Did Kuno Hiroo really want her to hurry up and introduce new varieties of ornamental fish? It didn’t seem like it.’

Seeing her sister’s brow furrowed, Han Xiaoqing leaned in and whispered, "Sis, what Kuno Hiroo said just now obviously wasn’t really to you. It seems like he was using the ornamental fish as an example to hint at something else."

"This business has a high technical barrier, which doesn’t seem to describe any of your businesses. It was probably meant for my brother-in-law. But since he isn’t home, and he couldn’t say it directly, he was being deliberately vague."

Han Xiaorui thought carefully. ’What industries under Ye Feng’s name have high technical barriers?’

After a moment, Han Xiaorui’s eyes lit up. "If we’re talking about the highest technical barrier, it must be semiconductors, and the lithography machine project we’re collaborating on with the government."

"You could say your brother-in-law’s entire private fund is probably invested in this. But it’s going well; the semiconductors we’re producing are selling well. They can be used in toys and some small home appliances."

Han Xiaoqing thought for a moment, then said, "That’s most likely it. It’s such a money pit. You should tell him when he gets back."

"Okay!" Han Xiaorui agreed.

But she couldn’t rest easy, so she decided to visit Xinghua Semiconductor Company, which was under Ye Feng’s name.

"Manager Li, how has the company been lately? Is everything running smoothly?" Han Xiaorui asked with a smile when she saw Manager Li.

Manager Li nodded. "The factory is doing fine. Although the chips we produce aren’t the highest grade, the yield rate is steadily increasing, which is building a solid foundation for improving the grade."

Han Xiaorui breathed a sigh of relief, then asked, "So, is there any news in your industry?"

Manager Li was taken aback. "President Han, what do you mean by that? Have you heard some rumors?"

Han Xiaorui smiled and waved her hand dismissively. "I haven’t heard anything, I’m just curious. After all, before Ye Feng went abroad, he told me to keep an eye on industry trends, including the upstream and downstream sectors."

"Since I’m free today and I’m already here, if you have a moment, Manager Li, why don’t you fill me in? It’ll help me get up to speed so I’m not clueless when Ye Feng gets back."

Manager Li smiled. "Our factory is doing okay. The products we make are selling. They’re comparable to the low-end foreign chips, but our prices are much lower, so they sell very well domestically."

"It’s just that our upstream partners are having a tough time. I’ve heard some rumors recently... some people who advocate for the ’it’s better to buy than to build’ philosophy are saying that R&D for lithography machines costs too much money. They also say the quality of the machines isn’t as good as the foreign ones. What’s more, foreign lithography machines have recently dropped their prices, so many domestic companies that originally planned to buy our domestic machines are now buying foreign ones instead."

Hearing this, Han Xiaorui had a moment of realization.

’This must be it!’

’This is what Kuno Hiroo wanted to talk about, but he couldn’t say it outright. After all, Japan is also a country that produces lithography machines and manufactures semiconductors.’

’In many of these technologies, Japan and the West are indeed currently ahead.’

"Does the government have a counter-strategy?" Han Xiaorui asked. "If everyone buys from foreign suppliers, then no one will want domestic lithography machines in the future! Right now, they’re basically dumping them at a relatively cheap price, but once we don’t have our own, they’ll be able to jack up the prices."

Manager Li nodded repeatedly. "Exactly. For anything China can’t produce domestically, the price is exorbitant. Once we can make it ourselves, the price comes down, and that’s what truly benefits the country."

"But the country is poor right now, and money is needed everywhere. The R&D and production of lithography machines is a massive undertaking. If we can’t sell some machines to recoup our investment, the costs are too high, and it’ll be difficult to gather the related support industries."

"Sigh... Anyway, the ’buy-over-build’ faction is gradually gaining the upper hand. Even though there’s a gap between us and foreign tech, it’s not actually that big—a generation at most, maybe half a generation. If we get domestic support and can commercialize it, with our country’s R&D capabilities, we can definitely catch up."

"Actually, I’ve already sent a telegram to Mr. Ye. I hope he receives it and comes back soon. After all, we’ve invested a lot of money. If this can’t be stopped, our investment will most likely go down the drain."

Han Xiaorui nodded. "I’ll try to contact him too. Don’t worry for now."

"I’m not that worried about our factory, since it hasn’t been affected yet. But I’m afraid that if this drags on for too long, the lithography R&D team will be disbanded. It’s easy to disband a team, but getting them back together won’t be."

Hearing this, Han Xiaorui paused. "Do you have the phone number of the leader of the lithography R&D team?"

Manager Li nodded. "I do. It’s Professor Xu Duanyi from Tsinghua University."

Han Xiaorui took it and immediately called Professor Xu on the spot.

However, Professor Xu wasn’t there; his assistant answered.

He said that Professor Xu has been constantly petitioning the higher-ups, insisting that the lithography R&D team must not be disbanded.

Han Xiaorui identified herself. "I’m Ye Feng’s wife, Han Xiaorui. Ye Feng is abroad and can’t return right away. I will represent him and travel to Beijing immediately to discuss this matter with you all."

The assistant nodded. "Alright, Mr. Han, we’ll wait for your arrival."

After leaving the semiconductor factory, Han Xiaorui went to the Xu family’s home.

"Grandpa, the New Year is in three days, but the lithography R&D team is in danger of being disbanded. Ye Feng isn’t here, so I have to be there. No matter the cost, I have to save this project and the team."

"I’ll take the kids with me and we’ll celebrate the New Year in Beijing. Once things are settled over there, I’ll bring the kids back."

Hearing this, Old Master Xu nodded. "Alright. This is a matter of great importance, so you should go. But if it’s impossible, don’t force it."

Han Xiaorui’s tone was resolute. "Some things just have to be done. I’m sorry I can’t be here with you and Grandma for the New Year. Auntie, I’ll have to leave things at home to you."

"If you have something important to do, go take care of it," Old Master Xu said with a smile. "You all visit so often, we don’t need to wait for New Year’s Eve to have a reunion. Besides, it’s also a good chance to spend the New Year with your father-in-law."

Now that Ye Zheng had been promoted, Old Master Xu held this son-in-law in even higher regard.

Old Madam Xu had also come to terms with things; Wang Liwen was a very decent person too. "I’ll have Uncle Xu prepare some things tonight and have them delivered to you for the flight."

"Thank you, Grandma, Grandpa," Han Xiaorui said gratefully.

Back home, Han Xiaorui told Han Xiaoqing that she was going to Beijing on business and it might take a while, so she was taking the kids with her to celebrate the New Year there.

"Xiao Jing, how are you feeling? Would you be able to fly with me?"

Han Xiaoqing quickly waved her hands. "No way I’m going. I’m on vacation, so I’m staying home. Xia Lian is here with me, and Wu Jiao and Wu Yao will come over during the day. You don’t have to worry about me."

Han Xiaorui didn’t insist. "I’ll talk to Godmother later and you can all celebrate the New Year together."

"Okay!" Han Xiaoqing said with a smile. "Sis, where there’s a will, there’s a way. You and Brother-in-law will definitely succeed."

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