Chapter 104 Enemies on a Narrow Road

"First step, you should go look for some senior electronic engineers. They need to understand DSP, embedded systems, and signal processing—the higher their technical proficiency, the better. Then, establish a laboratory and begin researching MP3 players, aiming to design a music player capable of playing MP3s within half a year."

"Second step, go to the coast and acquire an electronics factory with a suitable technical foundation. In the initial phase, we will just manufacture some small electronic products like electronic watches. Once our MP3 player research yields results, we will try producing some and observe the market response."

"Third step, next year, I will specifically build a music website where MP3s can be downloaded for free. Then by the year 2000, once our technology has matured, we will start designing and finalizing our first MP3 player. The exterior design will be handled by me. At that time, we'll go into mass production and push it to the market. I believe it will definitely be welcomed by everyone."

After finishing his preliminary thoughts, Zhou Xuan asked, "How much capital do you have on your side?"

"If I sell my current half-dead factory over here, I should have a few million," Mai Zhuo said, feeling a bit embarrassed when he thought of his factory.

"That should be enough for the starting phase. How about this? I'll pitch in to make your total a cool ten million, and we split the equity fifty-fifty. How does that sound?" Since he was going to contribute effort, Zhou Xuan naturally wanted a share of the equity. Otherwise, all his hard work would be for nothing, and with him holding a stake, Mai Zhuo would probably feel much more at ease.

As Zhou Xuan anticipated, upon hearing that Zhou Xuan wanted a fifty percent stake, Mai Zhuo not only didn't object, but was extremely delighted. He had developed a bit of a fear of doing business lately; having Zhou Xuan's stake in the new venture meant that Zhou Xuan would definitely be invested in it heart and soul, guaranteeing that the project would be a steady moneymaker with zero risk of loss.

"No problem at all. There are many universities here in the capital, so the talent you mentioned should be quite easy to find. As long as the pay is sufficient, I can even hire people straight from the research institutes for you," Mai Zhuo promised with a solemn vow in the end.

Zhou Xuan also trusted Mai Zhuo's connections in the capital; finding a few technical talents should be a breeze.

"Once you find them, arrange for them to move to Rongcheng. That's where our laboratory will be located. As for the office location of the company, I'll rent it out as soon as I get back. Regarding the company's name, how about we call it Excellence Technology?"

"Alright, setting up the laboratory in Rongcheng is fine. But doesn't that mean I'll have to constantly run back and forth between the capital, Rongcheng, and Yue Province?" Mai Zhuo thought about having to travel across three different regions and imagined he would be exhausted to death.

Zhou Xuan laughed out loud. "Then do you still want to make one billion?"

"Of course I do, but may I ask roughly how long it will take for us to make one billion?" Mai Zhuo asked with curiosity.

Thinking of the explosive market for MP3 players in the near future, Zhou Xuan gave a rough figure: "Five years."

"Five years it is then. From now on, I'm following your lead, Zhou Xuan. My life and limb are in your hands," Mai Zhuo said, patting Zhou Xuan on the shoulder. "Zhou Xuan, should we find a bar to celebrate?"

"A bar?" Zhou Xuan asked.

"Yeah! Zhou Xuan, you haven't been to a bar yet, have you? How can that do? You're so talented, and your wealth will only grow larger in the future, meaning you'll face all sorts of temptations. You should go experience bars now so that later on, you'll be able to handle various temptations with ease," Mai Zhuo said, looking at Zhou Xuan with a somewhat persuasive tone.

Zhou Xuan had never set foot in a bar from childhood to adulthood, though he had always heard that Sanlitun was the capital's most famous nightlife district. However, he had never actually been there. Since Mai Zhuo was extending such a warm invitation, Zhou Xuan agreed.

Mai Zhuo paid the bill and then drove Zhou Xuan toward the Sanlitun bar district.

A little over half an hour later, the two arrived in Sanlitun. They saw crowds of people coming and going, accompanied by waves of music, lively shouting, and various screams echoing from the bars.

"Damn, it really lives up to its reputation as the Sanlitun bar district. There are beauties everywhere, and they're dressed so revealingly—it's almost comparable to the openness of ten years into the future," Zhou Xuan thought to himself as he looked at the attractive women on the street.

Mai Zhuo pulled Zhou Xuan along for over ten minutes through Sanlitun before finding a bar and walking inside.

As soon as they stepped inside, waves of music and screams washed over them, making their ears feel as if they were about to be deafened. Men and women were drinking and dancing everywhere, crowding the bar counter and the dance floor. One by one, they thrashed their hair, swayed their waists, and frantically rocked along with the music to vent their energy.

"How is it? Pretty energetic, right?" Mai Zhuo ordered two beers, sat down with Zhou Xuan, and said as he looked at the surrounding crowd.

Zhou Xuan took a sip of his drink and smiled. "Heh, this is a place suitable for indulgence, and young people love coming here to vent. Here, emotions are easily infected, and after drinking a bit of alcohol, everything else just naturally follows."

Hearing this insight, Mai Zhuo couldn't help but look at Zhou Xuan with a new level of respect. "Zhou Xuan, I never imagined you'd understand this place so well and still be able to talk about it with such calmness. Are geniuses really this rational, locking away all their sentimentality? I truly can't tell that you're just a high school student about to enter the tenth grade. I finally understand one saying: geniuses are truly unfathomable."

"Heh, and previously I couldn't tell that you were a nightclub-frequenting playboy either," Zhou Xuan said with a smile.

"When you're misunderstood and in a bad mood, it's easy to find release here. You're the one who just said it," Mai Zhuo said, glancing at a nearby beauty and shaking his head.

Seeing Mai Zhuo decline an approach from a nearby beauty, Zhou Xuan asked, "Why didn't you go up? You don't have to mind me."

"Even though I've been to nightclubs many times, I've never gone to a room with any woman. I just come to experience the atmosphere here because it's easy to forget troubles in this place," Mai Zhuo said with the resolute certainty of an innocent youth.

Zhou Xuan put down his wine glass and smiled with a hint of amusement. "Pity, this is also a place where it's very easy to stir up trouble. Look, our trouble is arriving right now."

"It seems one really shouldn't get too close to Sister Yu, or trouble immediately follows," Mai Zhuo also noticed several muscular men pushing their way through the crowd and surrounding the two of them.

Mai Zhuo tugged at Zhou Xuan and said anxiously, "Zhou Xuan, at a time like this, shouldn't we run away first and talk later?"

"Run? What is there to run from? With you, the great Young Master Mai, sitting right here, do we need to run?" Zhou Xuan said with a look of disdain.

Mai Zhuo wore an awkward expression. How could he ever dare to let his family know about this kind of thing? If his dad found out, his legs wouldn't just be broken by these muscle-bound men; his old man would finish the job himself.

"Zhou Xuan, can't we just dodge out of the way for now?" Mai Zhuo had no idea that Zhou Xuan could actually fight, so he was filled with terror at the sight of the five muscle-bound men facing them.

Although Young Master Mai possessed a noble status, those people didn't know who he was.

Zhou Xuan looked at Mai Zhuo, remaining completely seated, and chuckled softly. "Don't worry, Sister Yu will come to save us."

"Ah! Really? Zhou Xuan, did you call Sister Yu?" Mai Zhuo asked in pleasant surprise.

Zhou Xuan gave Mai Zhuo a speechless look at his clumsy performance and retorted ungraciously, "Alright, Brother Mai. If you wanted to tip off Sister Yu, there was no need to go through such a massive roundabout."

"Zhou Xuan, what are you talking about? I didn't do anything of the sort!" Mai Zhuo protested.

Just at that moment, the five muscle-bound men completely encircled the two of them, their faces revealing fierce and malicious expressions.