Tech giants start by disassembling systems

Chapter 60 The Moat

In mid-October, Wu Qun found Zhang Lei.

Not in Hongyuan's office—but in a Japanese restaurant in Longhua District.

Wu Qun's opening remarks were direct: "Mr. Zhang, I'm here on behalf of Tianying Technology. We are willing to offer you an annual salary three times your current salary, plus Tianying stock options. We hope you can join Tianying and lead our flight control team."

Zhang Lei put down his chopsticks and looked at Wu Qun.

"Mr. Wu, may I ask what triple salary means?"

Wu Qun reported a number.

Zhang Lei nodded.

"This figure is very generous. But I want to tell you something."

"Please speak."

"Based on the current growth trend, the Hongyuan options I hold will be worth approximately four times the figure you quoted when they are exercised next year."

Wu Qun's expression changed slightly.

"And this is only the first phase. If Hongyuan's plant protection ecology and industrial applications proceed as planned, the value of the second phase of options will be even higher."

Zhang Lei picked up his chopsticks and continued eating.

"Mr. Wu, I didn't stay at Hongyuan because of the money. But money is definitely a factor. So I'll be frank with you—three times the salary isn't enough. Four times isn't enough either. Because you can't give me what I can get at Hongyuan."

"What is that?"

"A flight controller I wrote from scratch. Every line of code was written by me and my team. It runs on F2, on F3, on the agricultural SDK, and next year it might run on industrial inspection. This flight controller is the most important work of my career. I will not abandon it."

Wu Qun did not speak again.

Zhang Lei put the last piece of salmon into his mouth.

"Mr. Wu, this meal is on me. Thank you for your sincerity. But my answer is no."

Wu Qun nodded and stood up.

"Mr. Zhang, if you change your mind, please contact me anytime."

Zhang Lei did not answer. He simply nodded slightly.

That evening, Zhang Lei found Su Chen.

"President Su, Wu Qun from Tianying invited me to dinner today."

Su Chen was not surprised.

"How many were opened?"

Zhang Lei gave a number.

Su Chen smiled.

"That's alright. At least it shows they think you're valuable."

Zhang Lei looked at Su Chen.

"Mr. Su, I declined."

"I know."

How did you know?

"Because you're telling me this here instead of signing a contract in Skyhawk's office."

Zhang Lei didn't say anything more. But Su Chen could see something new in his eyes—not gratitude, but confirmation.

Confirm that your choice is correct.

Su Chen leaned back in his chair after Zhang Lei left.

For the first time, the moat of options has been truly tested.

The result is clear.

In late October, Fang Xu placed a document on Su Chen's desk.

"A formal letter of intent from Thailand's AgriWing. They intend to purchase Hongyuan's agricultural flight control SDK for use on their own aircraft. The initial order is for thirty sets, with subsequent orders depending on market response."

Su Chen opened the document and read it through.

AgriWing is Thailand's largest agricultural drone company. It has operations in Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia. If this collaboration goes through, it will mean that Hongyuan's flight controllers will be installed on a product from an overseas company for the first time.

Thirty sets may not seem like much, but they are of great significance.

"Fang Xu, does the contract include a technology licensing clause?"

"No. I've already checked. It's just a standard SDK procurement agreement. They're buying the usage rights, not the source code."

"Okay. How about the technical support?"

"This is what I wanted to discuss with you. The hardware environment in Thailand is different from that in China. They use different motor models, different power supply specifications, and even different GPS signal quality. An adaptation process is needed."

Su Chen thought for a moment.

"Have Zhang Lei send someone to Thailand for a week of on-site adaptation. Meanwhile, I'll run through their hardware parameters in the virtual lab tonight and send the preliminary adaptation plan to Zhang Lei tomorrow morning. This way, the on-site adaptation time can be reduced by half."

Fang Xu looked at Su Chen.

"President Su, how could you develop an adaptation solution in just one night? You've never even seen their machines before."

"I have a way."

Su Chen didn't explain further. Fang Xu didn't ask any more questions either. He was already used to Su Chen's "I have a way" style.

That evening, Su Chen accessed the hardware specifications of AgriWing's latest agricultural drone in the virtual disassembly lab—Fang Xu had already obtained the technical documents provided by the company.

Two hours later, Su Chen sent the first draft of the adaptation plan to Zhang Lei.

Postscript: "Have Xiao Chen take this plan to Thailand tomorrow. Complete the on-site verification within five days."

After reviewing the proposal, Zhang Lei replied, "President Su, when did you create this? The motor compensation parameters are completely different from our existing models."

Su Chen did not answer.

A week later, Xiao Chen returned from Thailand. The adaptation was successful. After being fitted with the Hongyuan flight controller, the AgriWing drone flew stably for two hours in the rice paddies of Chiang Mai. AgriWing's technical director said in Thai, which translates to: "This is the most stable agricultural flight controller I've ever seen."

The first batch of thirty SDK orders was confirmed on the same day.

For the first time, Hongyuan's flight control system has ventured beyond national borders.