Volume 1 [077] The Believer
Because someone came to buy a computer, Ma Xiaohua took tea to Zhao Qiang in the repair room and went outside to greet the customer. Wu Hongguang stayed by his side to "serve" him. He said to Zhao Qiang with some envy, "Mr. Zhao, you repair computers so easily, but I feel like it's so difficult. Do you have any tips to teach me?"
Zhao Qiang thought for a moment: "The secret? Actually, computer repair is probably the simplest type of repair."
Wu Hongguang said in surprise, "Ah, but I thought it was the most complicated of all the repairs. There are many terms and terms that I don't understand at all."
Zhao Qiang gave an analogy: "Let's compare repairing a computer to repairing a car. How many screws are in a computer? Suppose the CPU is broken, how many steps and tools do you need to replace it?"
Wu Hongguang thought for a moment: "All you need is a Phillips screwdriver. First, remove the case, then the CPU cooler, remove the CPU, then install the new CPU, then install the cooler and tighten the case cover screws."
Zhao Qiang then asked, "What about repairing car engines?"
Wu Hongguang said, "I don't quite understand, but it should involve removing the car's trunk lid, taking off the engine, removing the engine cover, replacing the new parts, reinstalling the cover, and then reinstalling the engine back onto the chassis. As for tools, it would probably require a lot."
Zhao Qiang asked, "Which one is easier?"
Wu Hongguang laughed and said, "Of course it's computer repair. It's clean, hygienic, and not tiring, but it's so hard for me to learn."
Zhao Qiang said, "Okay, let's analyze it. Computer malfunctions are nothing more than software and hardware issues."
Wu Hongguang said, "Yes, but there are some malfunctions that I simply cannot determine whether they are caused by software or hardware issues."
Zhao Qiang said, "The most common way to repair computers is through elimination. If the computer can be turned on but you can't determine the cause of the problem, the simplest method is to reinstall the system, and try to install a stable version. If the problem disappears after reinstalling the system, then it's a system crash or a virus interference issue. Although reinstalling the operating system to fix software problems is troublesome, it is the most effective method."
Wu Hongguang said, "If the problem doesn't disappear after reinstalling the system, then it's a hardware failure?"
Zhao Qiang said, "That's right. The key components of a computer host are nothing more than the motherboard, CPU, memory, hard drive, and graphics card. Nowadays, many models still have integrated graphics cards on the motherboard, and sound cards are almost 100% integrated. That means there are at most five components. We use the replacement method to find out which component is faulty and then replace it."
After catching his breath, Zhao Qiang continued, "Actually, when repairing computers, it's not a problem if the customer's computer can't even turn on. That's the easiest situation to fix. If the motherboard is broken, replace the motherboard; if the memory is broken, replace the memory. The most troublesome situation is when the fault is not obvious, and it only happens once or twice, or sometimes it doesn't appear for an hour or two, or even a day or two. That's when it's very difficult to repair."
Wu Hongguang praised, "That's right, Engineer Zhao, your analysis is spot on and has been very enlightening for me."
Zhao Qiang continued, "As for the remaining minor faults, including software debugging issues, we need to accumulate experience. We should read computer magazines regularly, as there are many case studies that we can learn from. Of course, this is a very general statement. The specific repair depends on the situation. For example, if the system time is inaccurate or BIOS settings are always lost, although this is a motherboard fault, we don't need to replace the motherboard. We just need to replace the battery on the motherboard."
Zhao Qiang was now quite knowledgeable about the subject, so he spoke fluently and knowledgeably. The two were chatting enthusiastically in the repair room, while Luo Xiaowei and Hu Qian were also having a lively conversation elsewhere. Meanwhile, online discussions about the 'super optimization software' were also very heated. The regular download version was released precisely at 8:00 PM, and the download volume was soaring. Within ten minutes, comments from netizens began to appear.
"Cousin, how is it?"
Hu Qian said, "Of course it's excellent. However, some new users have commented that the effect is just average. This is because their machines are already fast enough. Even if there is an improvement after optimization, it is not noticeable in normal operation. What's gratifying is that most users say that it is easy to operate, safe and worry-free, and will not affect personal settings."
Luo Xiaowei said, "High-end users can completely give up. You've already made a fortune by bringing back those who bought the phone two years ago. Besides, the mid-range and high-end versions might even attract them back."
Hu Qian said aggrievedly, "Even if I attract them all back, how much will I earn? Only 20%! It's all your fault for not winning over Zhao Qiang. Otherwise, wouldn't he listen to you in everything? Giving us the software might not have been difficult."
Luo Xiaowei said, "Cousin, don't think of people as so simple, okay? Besides, I would never sell myself out for personal gain."
Hu Qian laughed and said, "I was just kidding. You think I would do that? But Xiao Wei, is Uncle's situation not good?"
Luo Xiaowei hesitated for a moment, "Yes, my uncle has been targeting my dad. His business has been in complete chaos lately, and he and my mom haven't been home for several days. I'm very worried about them."
Hu Qian said, "Let them leave Haifeng Group. He's just a manager of a lousy refrigerator department. With my aunt and uncle's talents, they can start their own business and make a name for themselves in just a few years."
Luo Xiaowei gave a helpless bitter smile: "Quitting is not that simple. Besides, even if I start from scratch, will my uncles stop making things difficult for my parents? Moreover, my parents have no intention of quitting the family business. They always want to gain my grandfather's approval through their own efforts, but in reality, I see through it. That old man has no intention of acknowledging this adopted son!"
Luo Xiaowei's family situation is very simple. When her grandfather Luo Xin married her grandmother Ye He, Luo Xiaowei's father Luo Wanfeng was already more than six months pregnant with Ye He's child. Ye He was a posthumous child. Ye He remarried into the Luo family. Later, Ye He gave birth to two sons and two daughters for Luo Xin. The second son, Luo Wanjiang, is forty years old this year. The third son, Luo Wanhai, is twenty-eight years old this year. The eldest daughter, Luo Pingping, is thirty-eight years old this year. The second daughter, Luo Juanjuan, is twenty-seven years old this year.
Because Luo Wanfeng is not a blood relative of the Luo family, Luo Xin has never had a good impression of him. Luo Wanfeng's appointment as the manager of the refrigerator department of Haifeng Group was Ye He's only request before her death. As the influence of his mother's death on Luo Xin gradually disappeared, Luo Wanfeng's position became more and more unstable.
Hu Qian naturally understood the hidden story behind this. Her tone was somewhat low: "Xiao Wei, don't worry, everything will be alright. By the way, do you and Lei Xiaohai still have contact?"
Luo Xiaowei said, "He just borrowed money from me. That was my only savings. I originally planned to buy my dad a birthday present and give him a proper birthday celebration this year."
Hu Qian said angrily, "Why are you giving in to him? I told you that person is completely unreliable!"
Luo Xiaowei sighed: "Cousin, what can I do? His father is the mayor. If it weren't for his father's continued support for my dad, you should know that my dad would have disappeared from the Luo family long ago. For my dad's sake, I have to give in to him."
Hu Qian sneered: "Xiao Wei, you can't keep tolerating like this. Sooner or later you'll ruin yourself, just like you said earlier, selling yourself out for profit."
Volume 1 [078] Preparation
Luo Xiaowei remained silent for a long time. Although Hu Qian had some influence, she couldn't get involved in the Luo family's affairs. In the end, Luo Xiaowei broke the silence and changed the subject, "I've noticed that Zhao Qiang is short of money. You should pay him a portion of his earnings first. This is the best way to improve your relationship."
Hu Qian said, "I really hadn't considered that. Thank you for reminding me. Money is not a problem. I'll transfer the money to his account right away. But Xiao Wei, I still need to ask you for a favor. The evaluation team's results came out last night, and they were shocked. Although they couldn't see into the software's core, the encryption method alone excited those experts! Some people tried to crack the medium and high-level encrypted online versions, but they couldn't find a clue even after trying all night. Now those experts highly praise the super-optimized software."
Luo Xiaowei smiled faintly, and Zhao Qiang's image appeared in her mind. What kind of luck did this guy have to meet such a powerful person online? However, he was very calm when he met people, unlike the arrogant nouveau riche.
Hu Qian continued, "Besides the fact that the encryption shell cannot be cracked, experts are even more amazed by the antivirus function. Some people have specifically tested it and found that it can detect and kill 100% of all known viruses. One expert even obtained a virus that has not yet been 'released' to the outside world. Although the antivirus function could not kill it, it actively isolated it. The isolation effect is 100%, which is better than any antivirus software on the market."
Hu Qian became more and more excited as she spoke, seemingly still not fully recovered from the grand event of the previous night. "Microsoft has always considered the operating system source code top secret and refused to disclose it to us. However, the kernel bug fixes in the advanced function area bypassed Microsoft's source code restrictions and directly modified the system source code, compressing thousands of lines of source code and merging several functions to streamline resources. These operations could not have been done without absolute mastery of Microsoft's system!"
Luo Xiaowei said, "Since it's so amazing, cousin, you've finally gotten what you wanted. It'll be hard for the 'black' website not to become famous now."
Hu Qian said proudly, "Yes, but I'm also very worried."
Luo Xiaowei asked, "What are you worried about?"
Hu Qian said, "Don't you understand? For now, this software is on top of our team and website, but you know the contents of the contract I signed with Zhao Qiang. He has the right to take back this software and terminate the cooperation. If he does this suddenly during the peak of my development, even if he doesn't take it back, as long as he claims to the outside world that this software was not actually developed by my team, then I'm completely finished."
Luo Xiaowei said, "I don't think he would do that. Just make sure your people don't leak the news."
Hu Qian said, "You can know a person's face but not their heart. You shouldn't have the heart to harm others, but you can't be without the heart to guard against them. However, I don't think that kid will fall for intimidation or threats. Instead, it will backfire. So, Xiao Wei, I need you."
Luo Xiaowei said, "I will help you get along with him."
Hu Qian said, "It's not just about building a good relationship. You also need to help me prevent him from being bewitched by that girl Xu Xiaoya. Otherwise, even if Zhao Qiang doesn't withdraw his idea of going it alone with the software, we'll be in a very passive position if that little brat sabotages us behind our backs!"
Luo Xiaowei hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'll do my best."
Saturday arrived quickly, and tomorrow was the auspicious day for Shunfeng Technology's opening. Zhao Qiang got up in the morning and first wiped down the sample machines in the sales office, then swept the yard until it was spotless. He then went to the lounge to make himself a cup of tea, slowly sipping it while considering what else needed to be paid attention to tomorrow. Xu Xiaoya had already notified everyone who needed to be notified. At ten o'clock in the morning, they would set off firecrackers, unveil the signboard, and then everyone would go to a restaurant for a meal. It should be relatively simple.
While Zhao Qiang was making preparations for the opening, Qian Gang, the boss of Xinhua Computer Company, was also 'preparing' on the other side.
"...Alright, alright, I wouldn't blame you for being so frank, Section Chief Li. This was an accident. As for the money, Section Chief Li, don't be polite with me. There's no reason for me to take back what I've given away. That's settled then, let's cooperate next time." Qian Gang hung up the phone with a gloomy face. Sitting in his office were his son Qian Duole, accountant Yan Jiming, and technical manager Zhang Chunjiang. Yan Jiming and Zhang Chunjiang were outsiders and didn't feel comfortable asking questions, but Qian Duole didn't have so many reservations.
"Dad, what's wrong? Is Li Dong pushing for that batch of computers? Zhang Chunjiang and the technical department have been working overtime for several nights to replace almost all the suitable old parts into the new brand cases. Just finding a suitable new motherboard backplate has been quite a hassle for me. And there's so much dust inside the old machines!"
Qian Duole spoke with a boastful tone, recalling how he had spent 30,000 yuan to bid for the old computer from the lock factory, and how Qian Gang had given him a good scolding and fined him several months' allowance. So these past few days, Qian Duole had been trying his best to please his father.
With a snap, Qian Gang swept the teacup off the table and onto the floor. The sound of shattering glass sent shivers down Yan Jiming and Zhang Chunjiang's spines. It seemed that things were not going as smoothly as they had imagined.
Qian Gang cursed, "Things have changed. Someone submitted an optimization plan to the tire factory, and the factory has approved it. So it's no longer possible to purchase computers in large quantities. They will only phase out a batch of old Celeron 3 and Pentium 3 level machines used for control. The number is probably only about twenty. Even if we take them all, we won't make much money. Moreover, it's not easy to mix old machines with twenty machines. We need to have the technical department remove all the old parts from the new chassis."
Qian Duole jumped up abruptly: "How can they do this? We already brought the computers back ahead of time and even replaced the parts inside. Now they're saying they don't want them anymore. Are they messing with us? They're putting so many obsolete brand-name machines on our plate all at once. We can't afford it." The models in Xinhua Computer's tender document were all obsolete, though of course much more advanced than the tire factory's original machines.
Qian Gang said, "The bidding process was never finalized. We placed the goods ahead of schedule on our own. This is not Li Dong's fault. The only one to blame is Wang Yidong. As far as I know, he has been lobbying people to optimize the system these past few days. We even ran into each other when we went to the tire factory to submit the tender documents. He must be the one pulling the strings behind the scenes!"
Yan Jiming frowned. As the accountant of Xinhua Computer Company, he naturally knew how serious this matter was. Most of the funds were tied up in this batch of computers. If these computers could not be disposed of as soon as possible, the company's normal operation would be affected. He thought for a moment and said, "President Qian, let me make a call to the finance department of the tire factory. Maybe there is some other inside story."
Qian Gang knew that Yan Jiming had a classmate in the finance department of the tire factory, which was why he was confident that he could get the money for the machine from the tire factory. "Okay, call him right away and ask if Wang Yi had tampered with things. I will never let this matter rest!"
Yan Jiming immediately took out his phone, and hung up three minutes later. "President Qian, the matter has been clarified. It seems that this has nothing to do with Wang Yidong."
Qian Gang exclaimed in surprise, "How could that be? He's the only one in Donghai City who's making all this weird optimization software."
Yan Jiming said, "It was the optimization plan submitted by the daughter of Sun Junmei, the finance director of the tire factory. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been approved so quickly. The tire factory has to give Sun Junmei face. Her older brother, Sun Junhai, is the president of the provincial branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. The tire factory gets loans from the provincial branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China every year. Offending her is like offending the God of Wealth."
Qian Gang stroked his chin: "Sun Junmei's daughter? Is she short of money?"
Zhang Chunjiang then spoke up: "I'm afraid it's not in the name of Sun Junmei's daughter. As far as I know, Zhao Qiang opened a Shunfeng Technology Company with the help of Sun Junmei's daughter, and it seems to be opening tomorrow."
Yan Jiming said, "Yes, it was indeed an optimization plan submitted in the name of Shunfeng Technology Company."
Zhang Chunjiang slapped his thigh and said, "That's right. At first, Sun Junmei's daughter went to work at Home Inns Computer Company. I later found out that it was all for Zhao Qiang. This time, Zhao Qiang must have used her connections to poach our daughter."
Qian Duole cursed loudly: "Damn it, it's that damned Zhao Qiang again. Last time he made me spend 30,000 to buy junk worth 10,000. Dad, you can't let him off this time, otherwise how will our Xinhua Computer Company survive in Donghai City!"
Qian Gang chuckled and asked Zhang Chunjiang, "What's the relationship between that little rascal Zhao Qiang and Sun Junmei's daughter?"
Zhang Chunjiang said, "They should be ordinary classmates. I didn't see that they were in a romantic relationship. Even if they were, I don't think Sun Junmei would agree to her daughter marrying a poor boy."
Qian Gang said, "That makes things easier. I, Qian Gang, am not someone who can be easily bullied in Donghai City. Since they've blocked my path to wealth, I'll teach them a lesson! Lao Yan, check which district Shunfeng Technology Company is under the jurisdiction of, and invite the relevant leaders in charge of fire protection, sanitation, public security, industry and commerce, and national tax to dinner. Isn't it opening tomorrow? Let's give them a good celebration!"
Zhang Chunjiang proactively reminded Qian Gang, "Mr. Qian, I don't think we need to make an appointment with the Industry and Commerce Bureau. As far as I know, his business license was issued a long time ago, so even if they investigate, they won't have any excuse."
Qian Gang nodded, "Okay, even if we lose one department, we'll still keep him busy!"
Volume 1 [079] Inspection
Zhao Qiang had barely finished half a pot of tea in the lounge when Wang Yi called. His business had been exceptionally good these past two days. Some customers who had their systems optimized had introduced other friends to have their systems optimized, especially the early single-core CPUs with frequencies above 2GHz, which had extremely significant optimization effects. The overall performance improvement was even greater than adding a 1GB memory stick, and the total cost was only 180 yuan, which was a great deal.
Of course, some of these customers came because of the reputation of the super optimization software online. It is said that the version from Home Inns Computer Company is derived from the advanced version of the super optimization software. The advanced version online is ridiculously expensive. They can enjoy high-end services for just over 100 yuan. Why not?
Zhao Qiang was busy until 12:30 pm before he could eat. Business finally quieted down in the afternoon. Because he was worried about the opening tomorrow, Zhao Qiang decided to go back to Shunfeng Technology. Wang Yidong took him there on his electric scooter.
Zhao Qiang opened the iron gate and invited Wang Yidong: "Mr. Wang, come in and have a cup of tea. I have some good tea here, supposedly some kind of Luohan tea, 880, which seems to cost around a thousand yuan per jin." Actually, tea costing over a thousand yuan per jin isn't considered good tea, but for Zhao Qiang, it was already an exorbitant price.
Wang Yidong said happily, "Really? Great! We have nothing to do this afternoon anyway, let's have some tea."
Opening the door to the lounge, Zhao Qiang busied himself boiling water, making tea, and cleaning the teaware. These were all left behind by the original owner of the repair shop. Only the tea leaves were brought from home by Xu Xiaoya, but she herself didn't drink tea, saying she was saving them to entertain guests. There was also a whole carton of Yellow Crane Tower Soft Purple Gold tea. At the time, she said a carton was worth seven or eight hundred yuan, which startled Zhao Qiang. Because of economic reasons, Zhao Qiang didn't smoke, so he didn't know the market price.
After serving tea and cigarettes, Wang Yidong smiled and sniffed the smoke: "Wow, Yellow Crane Tower, you've really gone all out to entertain your guests. You're quite generous with your investment."
Zhao Qiang explained, "I don't have such a standard. It was brought by Xu Xiaoya from home. I suppose it was a gift from someone else to her parents."
Wang Yidong lit a cigarette, took a nice puff, and asked, "What do your classmate's parents do?"
Zhao Qiang thought about it carefully: "She didn't say, and I didn't ask."
Wang Yidong was smoking when he heard Zhao Qiang's answer and was a little surprised. The smoke made him cough. "Cough...cough...you really know how to keep your composure. Haven't we been classmates for more than three years?"
Zhao Qiang scratched his head. "She doesn't usually flaunt her family background in class, and I'm busy working outside, so I don't care about these things."
Wang Yidong stopped asking questions and changed the subject, saying, "Are there many guests tomorrow? I'll come early to help you greet them."
Zhao Qiang said, "There are probably only two or three tables of guests. Mr. Wang, you know I don't know many people in Donghai City, just a few buddies from my dorm. My class monitor said she would invite a few clients to come and show their support, and that's about it."
Wang Yidong said, "Alright, just tell me if you have any difficulties. I will do my best to help if I can."
Facing his former JS boss, Zhao Qiang was somewhat moved. Wang Yidong was actually a good person. He exploited his customers in order to ensure the survival of his company. If a businessman doesn't pursue profits, he's not a businessman.
Bang, bang, bang! Someone was knocking on the door. Zhao Qiang had locked the door behind him when he came in, assuming it was Xu Xiaoya returning. He hurriedly went out to open the door. Hearing the urgent and heavy knocking, Zhao Qiang shouted, "Coming, coming! Can't wait a minute!" With a creak, the iron door opened, and a group of people outside startled Zhao Qiang.
"What are you doing?" There were at least six vehicles, one of which had the words "Urban Management Enforcement" printed on it, and more than twenty people. They were a large and impressive group. If you didn't know better, you would think that Shunfeng Technology Company was opening for business today.
Someone flashed their work ID to Zhao Qiang, indicating that they followed the proper procedures: "From the epidemic prevention station, checking hygiene."
As someone squeezed into the yard, they said, "The fire department is inspecting the fire-fighting equipment."