Chapter 15: Facing Head-On
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“The quality is even better than Lidon’s, yet the price is lower. Now that’s what I call a developed-country crusher!”
“Western worshippers, take a good look. This is the technological strength of the Dragon Nation you’ve always looked down on!”
“Clearly, humanity’s hope of conquering the stars and the sea lies in the East!”
“I burst into tears after watching the press conference. The Dragon Nation is amazing! Supernova Special Materials is amazing!”
Many people began searching for information about Supernova Special Materials Co., Ltd., only to find almost nothing.
There was not a trace of information about its legal representative, Jiang Jin, online either. The man was shrouded in mystery.
In the end, the hashtag “Who Is Jiang Jin?” actually climbed to fourth place on Weibo’s trending list!
The shock this caused throughout the materials industry was even greater—no less than that of a magnitude-nine earthquake!
At a time when even T1000-grade carbon fiber had yet to enter mass production in the Dragon Nation, Supernova Special Materials had already managed to mass-produce T1100-grade carbon fiber.
If not for the endorsement of the academicians from the Dragon Academy of Sciences, people would have assumed it was a scam company!
Industry heavyweights began digging into Supernova’s background. Eventually, they discovered that the company’s executives and employees were still the same people from East City Special Materials. The only change was the legal representative.
Naturally, this made them even more curious about Jiang Jin.
Jiang Jin had become famous!
Companies across the Dragon Nation involved in carbon fiber production began sending people to East City as if possessed, all hoping to sign orders with Supernova before their competitors could.
Manufacturers of badminton rackets, golf clubs, bicycles, fishing rods, and similar products had been unable to obtain high-grade carbon fiber. As a result, they were utterly unable to compete with foreign rivals in the global market.
Now that the Dragon Nation had its own T1100-grade carbon fiber, an annual production capacity of 360 tons was certainly no small amount—but it still would not be enough to satisfy all those manufacturers.
How could they not rush to secure their share?
Once they obtained an order, the price advantage would allow them to crush their foreign competitors in the global market!
The mass production of a new material would drive the development of a whole host of companies!
The Dragon Nation haters who had previously strutted about and made sneering remarks all fell silent.
They were already being humiliated beyond belief. Wouldn’t jumping out now simply be asking for trouble?
One influencer known as “Spicy Ball,” however, could not resist stepping forward.
“Actually, T1100-grade carbon fiber technology is nothing special. Lidon has already begun researching T2000-grade carbon fiber, and it’s reportedly close to entering production. In the field of carbon fiber, there’s still a considerable gap between us and Japan.”
The Dragon Nation haters seemed to have found their backbone and began leaving comments beneath the post.
“My God, really? I hear T2000-grade carbon fiber is more than ten times stronger than T1100-grade! Lidon is absolutely incredible!”
“Spicy Ball, the little pinks won’t be able to accept something like that.”
“I just don’t understand. Is it really so difficult to acknowledge the gap between the Dragon Nation and the developed countries?”
“They’ve merely developed a technology that developed countries mastered long ago. I really don’t understand what those people are so happy about.”
Lidon also posted on Twitter:
“We have taken note of the news that the Dragon Nation has begun mass-producing T1100-grade carbon fiber, and we would like to make a clarification.
“At present, Lidon’s annual production capacity for T1100-grade carbon fiber is 3,000 tons, far exceeding the Dragon Nation’s 360 tons. The threat posed by the Dragon Nation to Lidon can therefore be disregarded.”
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“Furthermore, as stated by a Dragon Nation internet user named Spicy Ball, the T2000-grade carbon fiber being developed by Lidon is expected to enter production within two years. The emergence of this technology will consolidate Lidon’s dominant position in the carbon fiber industry.”
As soon as the tweet was published, Lidon’s stock price surged by 3%!
Screenshots of the announcement soon spread like wildfire across Weibo.
“See? What did I tell you? Lidon’s T2000-grade carbon fiber really is about to enter production!”
“That’s Japan’s technological strength for you. You have to respect it!”
The influencer Spicy Ball was ecstatic, as if he had just received a reward from his master.
“Holy crap! This is the best news I’ve heard all year!”
“Facts have proven that Lidon is the true high-tech company!”
“Huh? Why have all the little pinks gone quiet? Is the gap so enormous that you’ve despaired?”
Ordinary users were practically furious.
Yet everything those people said was, technically, true. That left them at a disadvantage, and they repeatedly retreated during the arguments, feeling utterly aggrieved.
“As everyone knows, any technology the Dragon Nation has already mastered is backward technology—for example, nuclear weapons, hydrogen bombs, aircraft carriers, fifth-generation fighters…”
“Editor, I saw a user named @SpicyBall say that Lidon’s T2000-grade carbon fiber is about to enter production?”
“Then how do you know that this technology won’t soon become backward technology?”
“Here, we would like to remind everyone that if anyone has purchased Lidon stock, they should sell it as soon as possible.”
Supernova Special Materials’ official Weibo account already had more than a million followers, and they were all active users.
As soon as this post was published, it caused an uproar online!
“Don’t tell me your company is about to mass-produce T2000-grade carbon fiber. I’m afraid I’ll be so excited that I’ll faint!”
“Wow, is this editor going head-to-head with Spicy Ball? I love it!”
“Editor, do your bosses know how savage you are?”
“Holy crap, you’re telling people to sell Lidon stock? Are you trying to bring the company down?”
“I like your posts. Don’t forget to disable your private messages.”
The ordinary users felt as though they had finally found their organization and flooded the comments section.
The Dragon Nation haters also caught wind of it and gathered beneath the post to unleash a barrage of abuse.
“Even Lidon hasn’t put the stuff into production yet. You’re telling me a Dragon Nation company has it? I absolutely don’t believe you!”
“Tsk, tsk. Here we go again, fleecing the little pinks’ wallets, are we?”
“He’s panicking! He’s panicking! He’s panicking! Spicy Ball must have really gotten under his skin!”
For a while, the internet was filled with the smoke of battle!
Jiang Jin glanced at the comments a few times before leaving Weibo. It was the same principle as always: a thousand explanations could never compare to a single compelling piece of evidence.
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The more fiercely these Dragon Nation haters barked now, the harder they would be slapped in the face later!
“Boss, Director Liu is here.”
Just then, Liu Sisi’s voice came from outside.
Jiang Jin hurried to the door, opened it, and welcomed Liu Zhi inside.
The previous day, Jiang Jin had told Liu Zhi over the phone that the T1100-grade carbon fiber production line had been fully installed. He had also asked the Dragon Academy of Sciences to send a team of experts to assist with the acceptance inspection.
Liu Zhi had agreed without hesitation and had even personally led the team here.
Jiang Jin would certainly remember such a favor.
“Jiang Jin, you’ve surprised me once again!”
The moment he entered, Liu Zhi seized Jiang Jin’s hands and shook them enthusiastically.
Jiang Jin smiled.
“Director Liu, please don’t say that. If everything I do counts as a surprise, then when I create something new in the future, won’t you eventually run out of things to say?”
Liu Zhi muttered inwardly, What the hell… That was such an outrageous humblebrag!
Outwardly, however, he replied, “I saw the latest announcement posted by your company’s official Weibo account. What’s this? Have you already made progress on T2000-grade carbon fiber?”
Jiang Jin smiled mysteriously.
“That… is temporarily confidential.”
He knew very well that, judging by the system’s usual habits, a mission related to T2000-grade carbon fiber would certainly appear in the future. Exactly when it would appear, however, was impossible to say.
He therefore could not afford to make any definitive claims.
Liu Zhi nodded helplessly, indicating that he understood.
“Commercial secret? Fine. I won’t ask.”
He then said seriously, “Jiang Jin, I’d like to place an order with you for one hundred tons of T1100-grade carbon fiber. We can pay a thirty-percent deposit in advance.”
Jiang Jin immediately drew in a sharp breath.
One hundred tons of T1100-grade carbon fiber would cost a total of 150 million. A thirty-percent deposit would come to 45 million!
As expected of the Dragon Academy of Sciences—they certainly knew how to spend!
“Of course. Since you’ve asked, Director Liu, I have to agree. When would you like to transfer the deposit?”
Jiang Jin asked with a beaming smile.
Wu Qingya could not help rolling her eyes.
Countless people dreamed of becoming suppliers to the Dragon Academy of Sciences and never even got the chance. Jiang Jin, on the other hand, was acting as if he were afraid the academy might refuse to pay.
Liu Zhi did not read anything into it. Business was business, and being direct was perfectly fine.
“Once the contract is signed, the deposit will be transferred immediately!”
Jiang Jin’s smile grew even wider.
“Great. Then we’ll sign the contract tomorrow. As it happens, X-Alloy will have finished producing one hundred kilograms by then, so you can pay the balance while you’re here.”
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