Chapter 47#

Taking off the glasses on the bridge of his nose, Yan Qiaosen rubbed his somewhat sore eyes. For chip engineers, complex circuit design diagrams are always the enemy of eyesight, not to mention the destruction of the eyes by the flickering fluorescent screen. Sometimes drawing by the old method is more worry-free.

However, personal computers are indeed a good thing. Under the joint action of several giants, Silicon Valley has finally got rid of the continuous decline since the 1980s. The decline of Fairchild Semiconductor is now a thing of the past, and the impact of the terrible stock market crash two years ago on NASDAQ is also fading. Although it has not yet reached the glory of its heyday, Silicon Valley in the past two years is indeed more dynamic than in the last decade.

Compared with the MPEG chip he developed, various computer-related hardware and software are the hottest things now. Just like the Windows 3.0 system just launched by Microsoft, although it looks stupid and is suspected of copying Macintosh, it became popular all over the world overnight. For those non-professionals, the operation of Windows is undoubtedly simpler and faster, and it has also opened the door for the promotion of personal computers.

Now two years have passed, and Microsoft seems to be marching towards becoming the next IBM empire with full confidence. The small box of personal computers is also increasingly showing the style of the future king. Looking back at his own company, it has not even been listed yet, lacking the direction of actual production, and his MPEG chip has never been able to exert its due strength. However, compared to the anxiety a few months ago, Yan Qiaosen feels much calmer recently. The VCD disc format has been patented in the United States, and the development of the VCD player has also entered the final stage. With the support of the new investor, everything is going much smoother than expected.

Thinking of that young partner, Yan Qiaosen supported his forehead with the hand holding the glasses and couldn’t help but be distracted. Since applying for a visa three months ago, Chen Yuanming has never shown up around him. The only few phone calls were also to inquire about the progress of VCD or consult some questions about Silicon Valley. This new rich man who grew up in the Chinese stock market seems to only stay at the profit level for technology, and his knowledge of Silicon Valley is blank. Compared to this small valley, he is obviously more obsessed with the “Golden East Coast”.

It’s just that the recent phone calls made him a little unsure of the meaning. It seemed that overnight, Chen Yuanming began to be familiar with the operation mode of Silicon Valley. From the original crude and brainless stupid questions, they became very targeted. This huge change is amazing for a person who had never touched a computer before.

But after these questions, where is the teenager’s real intention? Since hearing his partner Meng Lisheng talk about the two machines, Professor Yan has had a unique perception of Chen Yuanming. This is not a person who only sees what is under his feet. Like a cunning and changeable chess master, the step he takes may not show its intention in the short term, but it may not become a killer move in the future. The VCD player may just be his starting point.

Therefore, Yan Qiaosen was particularly concerned about the questions Chen Yuanming asked recently. Through his network in Silicon Valley, he really spent a lot of effort trying to find the small companies and technical personnel the other party needed. It’s just that the things he asked were inevitably a bit strange, such as universal interfaces for personal computers, software developers with outstanding compatibility, all of which are unpopular among the unpopular at present. Is it too advanced to look for these in an era where computer models belong to various companies and operating systems are basically incompatible?

Thinking about it for a long time, Yan Qiaosen still couldn’t get a reasonable answer. Sighing, he put on his glasses again and prepared to return to the design drawing. After all, he is just a chip engineer. This kind of wrestling between big companies is really not his forte. It’s better to leave it to professionals to consider.

Who knew that just as he wanted to continue the next experiment, the door of the workshop was suddenly knocked, and his golden curly-haired little assistant ran in recklessly.

“Professor, a young man is looking for you, saying he is your important partner, an Asian.”

Young man? Partner? Yan Qiaosen jumped up from his chair and almost knocked over the soldering iron on the side. Could it be Chen Yuanming! No, wasn’t he still in Manhattan two days ago?

“Where is he? Take me there!”

Walking quickly out of the workshop, Yan Qiaosen ran to the reception room. The visitor was too sudden. Could something have happened? However, when he hurried to the door, he saw the person in the room walking slowly towards him, with a very relaxed smile on his young face. This smile instantly calmed Professor Yan down. His steps paused slightly, he composed himself, and also smiled to greet him.

“Long time no see, Yuanming.” Holding the other’s right hand, Yan Qiaosen shook it vigorously, “Why aren’t you making a fortune on Wall Street, but ran to the West Coast instead?”

“Finished the business on Wall Street, so came over to have a look.” Smiling and shaking back, Chen Yuanming’s expression showed no reluctance.

Finished? Just gave up that Wall Street where money never sleeps so easily? But looking at his expression, it doesn’t look like he lost money…

Noticing the puzzled look on Professor Yan’s face, Chen Yuanming smiled and let go of his hand first, “Currently, my assets have been handed over to a hedge fund for management, so I don’t have to worry about things there for a short time.”

This time Yan Qiaosen was even more surprised. In just a few months, he could join a hedge fund mainly based on private placement? Last year, Soros’s deal was almost known to everyone, and there were countless rich people who wanted to make money by speculation. But reliable and famous hedge funds are really limited, and not everyone can get in. How could he get in so easily? However, surprise is surprise. In a blink of an eye, Professor Yan recovered. Where the other party invested his money and how much he earned actually has nothing to do with him. Partnering in the VCD business is the most important thing between them.

Thinking of this, Yan Qiaosen also laughed heartily, “That couldn’t be better. How can you come to the United States without seeing the scenery of Silicon Valley? Since you are also interested in this place, you should actually investigate it.”

This was indeed Chen Yuanming’s intention. He smiled and nodded, “That’s right. Hearing is false, seeing is believing.”

In fact, compared to Wall Street, the Silicon Valley in front of him is stranger to Chen Yuanming. All his knowledge about computers comes from his experience of selling computers in Zhongguancun in his previous life. Apart from knowing some big-name memory manufacturers, motherboard models, and the most basic pirated tool disks, he is almost completely unfamiliar with the development history of the entire electronics industry. However, from another channel, he cannot be called completely ignorant, because he witnessed the era when the personal computer industry moved towards maturity. From nationwide DOS to Win95 pirated disks flying all over the world, from floppy disk data storage to 16x DVD-ROM, those things that people in later generations take for granted are either just appearing or not yet born now. From this perspective, he indeed cannot be said to know nothing.

However, with such an idea, coming to the United States really surprised him. In those numerous journals and newspapers, the Silicon Valley he saw was another look. The prototype of handheld portable computers has appeared, optical drives have begun to slowly encroach on the territory of floppy drives. Although the classic Win95 has not yet appeared in the Windows system, version 3.0 is already very similar to the common Windows in later generations. The C language has established standards and is moving towards popularization. Even Cisco, which he once coveted, has now openly established the world’s first network connected by thousands of routers. The prototype of the Internet has been quietly established.

This is only 1993!! Today’s Silicon Valley is completely different from that wild land in China. Except for a very few things he knows that have not yet appeared, the electronics industry in this era already has the potential to soar into the sky. Almost half of the performance darlings on NASDAQ in the later market now already have the posture of giants. And those ideas he once speculated, such as buying a large number of Cisco shares, getting involved in Sun Microsystems before Java was born, or relying on VCD to seize the optical drive market, are all ridiculous delusions. Sun Microsystems has already ranked among the world’s top 500 this year. Even if the Java language has not yet appeared, can his meager financial resources leverage such a behemoth?

After recognizing his stupidity and arrogance, Chen Yuanming calmed down instead and began to seriously study everything related to Silicon Valley. Computer publications such as “Computer Weekly” and “InfoWorld” became his desk essentials. Combined with financial comprehensive newspapers such as “New York Daily” and “Wall Street Journal”, a more real Silicon Valley appeared in front of him. This is a treasure land that has not yet entered the heyday of venture capital. Although giants stand in great numbers and malicious mergers and acquisitions are everywhere, fresh ideas burst out every day and every time point. Just like that MPEG chip, before anyone discovered it, it was just a booth worth only 2 square meters. But what if someone finds it and develops it? This is a huge gold mine worth hundreds of billions.

For this world, the deeper the contact, the more one can feel the hidden charm beneath it. Especially since this is Silicon Valley, a pure land where Chinese power is enough to lead a side. If it can be used as a technological outpost to transport advanced blood to the country, what interesting changes will happen?

With this idea, Chen Yuanming stepped into this land. In his opinion, the importance of Silicon Valley is far greater than Wall Street. As long as there is enough money, he can get everything he really wants. And now, all he needs is a stepping stone.

Facing Chen Yuanming’s slightly self-satisfied smile, Yan Qiaosen was somewhat dazed. Just not seeing him for three months, this teenager seems to have undergone some kind of transformation. It’s not just that his body has started to become strong enough to support a formal suit, nor is it just that he has got rid of the simple dressing style in China and started to trim his hair and dress up carefully, revealing a full Wall Street style, nor is it the silent oppression brought by the bodyguard behind him. But a change from the inside out. It seems that he has a clearer path in his heart and is moving forward steadily with an indescribable pace.

This change is subtle and also amazing, making Yan Qiaosen, as a partner, slowly have a feeling similar to certainty. As an ally on the same front, nothing is more wonderful than this.

Feeling this wonderful psychological reaction, Yan Qiaosen shook his head with emotion, “So after seeing it? Do you have any plans in Silicon Valley?”

“Of course.” Facing his partner, Chen Yuanming had no intention of hiding anything, “This place may be my base camp in the future. Compared to traditional brokerages and investment banks, I am still more interested in those emerging things, such as private equity funds, such as Sand Hill Road in Silicon Valley…”

“Sand Hill Road?” Yan Qiaosen asked back in surprise, “Do you really plan to enter the venture capital industry?”

“Since there was a successful first time, why not continue it?” Chen Yuanming smiled slightly and asked back.

Author’s Note:

Fairchild Semiconductor was once the world’s largest, most innovative and exciting semiconductor manufacturer, laying a solid foundation for the growth of Silicon Valley and nurturing thousands of technical and management talents for Silicon Valley. Acquired by French capital in 1979.

Macintosh computer, Macintosh, referred to as Mac, commonly known as Mac machine in Hong Kong, also known as Apple machine or Macintosh computer in the mainland.

Windows, Windows system, no need to explain this, right? Windows version 3.0 appeared in 1990, but the most famous one in China is probably Win95 =w=

Cisco Systems, Inc., referred to as Cisco Company or Cisco, was formally established in December 1984. It is a leading provider of Internet solutions. Its equipment and software products are mainly used to connect computer network systems. Its headquarters is located in San Jose, California, USA.

Sun Microsystems was founded in 1982. Its main products are workstations and servers. In 1992, it launched the first multi-processor desktop SPARCstation 10 system on the market and entered the Fortune 500 the following year. Java is the general term for the Java object-oriented programming language (hereinafter referred to as Java language) and the Java platform launched by Sun Microsystems in May 1995.

Sand Hill Road, a common place name in Silicon Valley. However, this VC street named “Sand Hill Road” has become a global symbol, known as the “Wall Street of the West Coast”. Hundreds of famous venture capital firms gather here. It is not an exaggeration to say that gold is everywhere and land is expensive.

Just as Wall Street in the United States is synonymous with the financial industry, Sand Hill Road in Silicon Valley is synonymous with venture capital firms (referred to as VC); but unlike investment banks on Wall Street, investment banks on Wall Street mostly invest in finance and traditional industries, while VC firms mostly invest in high-tech enterprises. Therefore, it has become a holy land for entrepreneurs.

Look at the annotation bar and you will know why I updated so late today QAQ

No proofreading, come back tomorrow, I’ll go to sleep first QAQ crying and running away