Chapter 130: Braised Pork and Spicy Fish - It’s the Cyber Age—Still Playing a Traditional Villain?

Chapter 130: Braised Pork and Spicy Fish Compared to the personnel arrangements, the main topic Jiang Chengcheng wanted to discuss was the "Overlimit Project." She had already begun working on the second phase of chip development. Unfortunately, the results were somewhat disappointing. But now, solutions to these problems seemed within reach. On one hand, her capabilities were undeniable, and identifying gaps and making improvements wasn't that difficult. Additionally, with the acceptance of the "Forgotten Ones," came a wealth of research data and "Rust Mist" mineral resources. Having these resources was akin to upgrading from a rifle to a cannon. If she couldn't win with such an advantage, she might as well buy a piece of tofu to end her own misery. However, Jiang Chengcheng still wanted to seek Xu Shi's opinion. Previously, the plan had been to secretly develop the technology, but what about now? Should they continue to work in isolation, or resume collaboration with "Prism"? Ultimately, she preferred to act under instructions. "… of course, it should be brought into the open." Xu Shi had already considered this. "Su Lin, later, discuss this with Ye Shanshan. She'll understand our intentions through your words." The technical resources of the "Forgotten Ones" were available to all six major consortia. Secretive operations offered little advantage and might lead to setbacks due to technical shortcomings — the "Serpent's Coil" was not yet in a position to completely break away from "Prism" and operate independently. For certain aspects of biotechnology, their involvement remained essential. Moreover, "Prism" was currently unstable. While Shen Qin had joined their side, a more cunning Song Chen was with Xie Qingyan. Such opportunistic individuals would likely exploit any tension between the "Serpent's Coil" and "Prism" to their own benefit. Yet, resolving this wasn't difficult — it boiled down to a simple phrase: with all interests plainly visible, could Xie Qingyan really afford any discord? If she could, she wouldn't be Xie Qingyan. Besides, the "Serpent’s Coil" needed "Prism" as much as "Prism" needed the "Serpent’s Coil." They were, after all, complementary to each other. "Alright, I'll get in touch now." Su Lin nodded in agreement. "Not so fast." But Xu Shi stopped her, "I haven't finished yet." "Make things clear but remember to tell Ye Shanshan that our joint development focus this time is on pharmaceuticals, which they excel at." He continued, "Try to accommodate them, even if it means letting them take some lead." "Understood." Su Lin was initially surprised. This didn't seem to match the young master's usual style — relinquishing an already firm grip on leadership? But upon reflection, she recognized that this approach was entirely sensible. For one, it maintained stability, especially since Xie Qingyan had previously extended goodwill to Xu Shi. This could be seen as reciprocal, demonstrating the "Serpent's Coil's" sincerity. Everyone could benefit this way, not just bolstering the "Serpent's Coil's" reputation. Secondly, the first-phase product was a chip, and if the second phase were the same, the market advantage of the initial generation would quickly decline, potentially failing to meet expected returns. It's like a restaurant: if the signature dish is braised pork, there's no need to rush to develop an "enhanced braised pork," but instead offer something new like spicy fish to diversify. This approach not only broadens the menu but also retains patrons for the braised pork. This is about expanding market breadth rather than merely chasing depth, offering consumers more choices without compromising the consortium's interests. "… And what about the chip? Are we giving up on its development?" Jiang Chengcheng felt a bit disheartened by this decision, given that medicine wasn't her forte, meaning she couldn't contribute more to Xu Shi in that domain. "I never said that." Xu Shi smiled and waved his hand. "Of course, we’ll continue developing the chip, albeit at a lower priority… and you won't be handling this; I'll assign someone else." "Who will take it on?" Jiang Chengcheng was puzzled. "Leave it to… the esteemed Mr. Lin." Xu Shi, with a mischievous smile, spread his hands, "I’ll appoint him officially at the upcoming meeting. You will then reassign some personnel and make some modifications to the previous data, so he can manage it." "The previous data? But there were issues... Oh." At this point, Su Lin and Jiang Chengcheng realized everything. Xu Shi's real intent wasn't in chip development per se but perhaps to set up a scenario to remove Lin Wenhua. Lin Wenhua, though not very proficient in engineering, could serve as a managerial figure, delegating specific tasks to his team. This would normally not be problematic, as leaders rarely get involved in every minute detail, unlike Jiang Chengcheng. But if Xu Shi intentionally schemed against him, the situation would be different. Lin Wenhua might be a formidable figure, but if he failed at such a significant project, it would serve as a legitimate reason to oust him — a respectable strategy no one could contest. Moreover, lowering chip development priority could mitigate potential losses. As for Xu Shi’s mention of "modifying the data," the implicit meaning was clear — make it look good, but purposefully include issues… This was Xu Shi's original plan. The emergence of the "Forgotten Ones" aligned perfectly with his agenda — we acquired new data and resources, so why not dive boldly into research? Appointing Lin Wenhua due to a shortage of personnel seemed legitimate, and as long as he wasn't overtly incompetent, it would suffice. "But Lin Wenhua might refuse, right?" Su Lin remained concerned, believing the old man, seasoned in corporate intrigue, might sense Xu Shi’s intentions and decline, thus derailing the young master's plan. "Rest assured, he can't refuse." Xu Shi shook his head with a smile, "He might even gamble on it, knowing it's a trap." The possibilities were limited. If Lin Wenhua, as Su Lin suggested, tried every excuse to avoid the role, it would highlight his unfitness for key positions, effectively sidelining him for good. If he couldn't be relied upon, perhaps retirement was the better option. This would incrementally weaken his influence, leading to an inevitable quiet exit. Accepting the task might be his only chance to regain stature in the company. From an outsider’s perspective, Xu Shi would have no reason to move against him if he succeeded, proving his worth. Alternatively… In essence, assigning this task to Lin Wenhua at such a critical moment would be more advantageous than not accepting it. "We’ll see how he reacts then." Xu Shi had no worries, and besides, this strategy served another purpose. It allowed Jiang Chengcheng to step back, freeing up her time. Thus. "I'm counting on you, Chengcheng, to lead the team in carrying out the most crucial part of the 'Overlimit Project.'" (End of Chapter)