Starting From the Chip in 1991

Chapter 46 Pure Little Boy

But since the leader dared to ask, he dared to answer. As a "Miracle Kid" whose name had reached Silicon Valley, he only needed to provide suggestions from a technical and industry perspective. Moreover, most people would likely assume these were his father's views, simply expressed through him.

 Perhaps to promote frugality, the conference room still used enamel tea mugs. After taking a sip of the lukewarm tea, Su Yuanshan cleared his throat.

"The current state of the domestic semiconductor industry isn't just about outdated facilities and technology; it's also about backward planning and layout. Here, layout refers both to the industry chain layout and forward-looking strategic layout."

"Semiconductors are a highly concentrated technology industry. As the newspapers we brought back show, just across the highway from Silicon Valley's main avenue lies a stretch of wafer fabs. Chips designed here can be immediately manufactured there.

Chip designers, fab engineers, EDA engineers—they can all work in the same area, pushing industry upgrades together."

"As for forward-looking planning, years ago, the West forced Japan to sign the Semiconductor Agreements twice, raising tariffs and stealing patents. Why? To nurture their domestic semiconductor industries. They even established the Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology Alliance (Sematech), using administrative power to unite their domestic semiconductor forces. Remember, Japan is their ally. They even station troops there! To put it bluntly, they're practically Japan's parent. Yet they still steal from their 'child.' Why?" Su Yuanshan swept his gaze around the room. Everyone was watching him, waiting for him to reveal the answer. "

The reason is simple. They know the semiconductor industry represents the future—it is the basic carrier for computers and the emerging Internet and information technology. Even if their 'son' has it, if they don't, it's unacceptable." Su Yuanshan closed his eyes briefly and then reopened them. "But we lack this kind of forward-looking vision.

Maybe everyone is aware, but they think there's no rush." Su Yuanshan smiled bitterly. "In June, my senior brother and I stayed at Huajing for half a month. Our original intent was to build a relationship to make future chip tape-outs easier. But Director Zhou spent every day complaining to us like a broken record." The leaders shook their heads and laughed, though a little awkwardly—they knew that half a month was when Huajing's top executives had been stalling in Beijing.

 Su Yuanshan paused, then continued. "As for the software industry, China's computer market is still in its infancy. Software companies mostly develop industry-specific applications—especially those procured collectively. From Yuanxin's perspective, such an environment produces companies that can't survive in a free market, much less compete internationally." "Moreover, there's isolation from the outside world. Before leaving Silicon Valley, Dr. Xi Xiaoding and I set up the Yuanxin Forum, allowing the entire Western world to share and exchange technical knowledge. Meanwhile, back home, UESTC is preparing to start computer networking courses. I couldn't help but think—without actual Internet access, isn't this just drawing a keyboard on paper to learn typing? At least those learning typing might eventually touch a real keyboard."

Riding the momentum of youth, Su Yuanshan spoke passionately in the conference room—everything he said was right, and no one could challenge him. One bespectacled leader shook his head and smiled. "Don't worry, CERNET (China's Education and Research Network) is under construction."

"It's too slow—painfully slow..." Su Yuanshan sighed, unsure if he meant the construction speed or the network speed.

One day later, Su Yuanshan returned to the provincial capital. Despite trying to keep a low profile, he couldn't help but bring back a mountain of gifts from Silicon Valley, thanks to Yang Yiwen and Qin Si's shopping spree.

Among them were souvenirs, trinkets, chocolates, and more. However, Su Yuanshan had personally selected the gifts for his parents: a Cartier watch for each.

For his uncle, he bought a leather belt. His mother turned the watch over and over in her hands, skeptical that it was really worth $3,000 but smiling from ear to ear. His father, more experienced, calmly strapped it on and immediately asked about the reaction in Beijing. Su Yuanshan recounted everything about the report meeting in detail.

After analyzing it together, father and son agreed: the ministries had definitely been stirred, but real progress would still be difficult. They then chatted about the microcontroller project. Talking about this made Su Xinghe beam with pride. If all went well, in two months their microcontroller would be ready for tape-out. Simulation results showed that UESTC's 8-bit microcontroller was not inferior to existing products—in fact, its architecture was even superior. "Good. Once it passes validation, Yuanxin will buy it!" Su Yuanshan declared boldly. "We'll offer $300,000, all cash, for all rights."

 Su Xinghe blinked. "That much? UESTC's entire research budget last year was only $500,000." "We need to set a high bar, Dad," Su Yuanshan said softly, narrowing his eyes. "If research results can't fetch a good price, who will keep doing real research?" Since Yuanxin wanted to set the standard for industry-academia cooperation, they had to lead by example.

He couldn't just watch promising researchers gradually degenerate into grant-chasing bureaucrats. Even if he could save only one, it would be worth it.

The next morning, Su Yuanshan went to the company. On one hand, he needed to reorganize the software development department after Xi Xiaoding's departure. On the other hand, he had to meet the newly hired legal counsel—Yu Yuru. Yu Yuru, a classmate and dormmate of Yang Yiwen, had originally been assigned to a county court as a judge.

But after Yang decided to stay in Silicon Valley, she had immediately called Yu Yuru and convinced her to join Yuanxin. Compared to Yang Yiwen's commanding presence, Yu Yuru was much more gentle. With her hair tied in a ponytail and a clean, confident face, she still looked a little nervous. Su Yuanshan handed her a folder and smiled. "From now on, we'll rely on you for all our legal matters, Sister Yu." "It's my duty," Yu Yuru replied with a polite smile, a tiny dimple flashing at the corner of her mouth.

"Alright, I won't bother you anymore. I need to check on the software team—they're like headless chickens right now. If I wait a few more minutes, the office might turn into a war zone." As Su Yuanshan left, Yu Yuru instinctively stood up to see him off. But Sun Xihui, busy filling out forms, casually tugged her back down without even looking up.

"Don't be so formal with Little President Su. Once you work with him a while, you'll see—he hates formalities." Yu Yuru blinked in surprise. "Really?" "Absolutely," Sun Xihui said, smiling.

"Back when Yiwen and I used to sneak into his office to nap on his sofa, he never said a word. Don't be fooled by how mature and brilliant he seems—deep down, he's still just a pure little seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy. If you act too formal, he won't know how to respond."

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