Invasion of the United States

"A million annual salary is really rare for you guys."

She paused, teasingly said, "According to the China-US exchange rate, divided by seven, your undergraduate annual income is just over twenty thousand US Dollars.

In the United States, working as a restaurant waiter earns more than this. Your labor is really worthless."

Marco felt a wave of embarrassment, his face burning. Graduates with higher education at home earn less than high school dropouts elsewhere, which is indeed not a proud thing.

He was about to explain a few words, but Kelly's tone suddenly became serious. "But... those with lower labor costs don't have your high talent quality;

Those with high talent quality don't have your low cost. High quality and low cost ones aren't as hardworking as you. No wonder your products can sweep across the globe."

Kelly slyly smiled and said, "If I offer double or triple the salary, can I poach your entire research team?"

Marco was momentarily speechless and could only force a smile.

Never mind double salary, even a few thousand more or sufficient overtime pay can take away the "Electric Flight" team entirely.

He took a deep breath and said slowly, "Ms. Kelly, you are right. Our salary levels are indeed not high, but we provide more growth opportunities and development space for employees."

Kelly interrupted unceremoniously, "Victor would give you a negative score if he heard this, and would never hire you."

Marco was stunned but had to say seriously, "There are too many young people and too few good jobs. Low salary levels and high work intensity are realities our country cannot avoid."

"Sixty points," Kelly said.

-----------------

In the afternoon, Kelly visited the 'Electric Flight' contract factory.

Inside the factory, machines roared, workers on the production line were busy and focused, the working environment was worse, salary levels were even lower.

No company has mass-shipped low-altitude aircraft yet. Without orders, there is no production capacity, and the unit price is naturally very high.

Even American companies have to come to East Asia for contract manufacturing; otherwise, the costs would inflate infinitely.

The visit lasted less than ten minutes before Kelly couldn't stand the noise and chaos of the factory and had to leave.

Marco was worried that the vice president didn't understand thoroughly enough, so he could only verbally explain, "Although our factory is not advanced, our industrial chain here is very complete.

Motors, batteries, electric control, shells... all components are shelf products that can be solved within a hundred kilometers.

Even for chips, if unmanned driving is not required, we have domestic alternatives.

The current finished products are assembled manually by technicians, but as long as there are enough orders, they can be completely put on the production line.

We can recruit hundreds of skilled workers at any time for assembly, conduct standardized tests, and ensure safety.

If necessary, we can arrange engineers to go directly to Miami to handle on-site issues twenty-four hours a day, ensuring readiness at any time."

To secure large orders, Marco exhausted his efforts because it was related to the company's survival. Then Kelly threw him off again with one sentence, "How much to buy your company?"

Ah... why suddenly want to buy our company?

Kelly continued, "I know Victor once said to buy your products at double the price or use five hundred million RMB to buy your company.

But you can think of him joking.

I've worked in professional investment banking for over a decade and understand how many difficulties startups face. After visiting your company, I realized even more that you are actually on the verge of bankruptcy."

Marco quickly adjusted his mindset, trying to salvage the situation, "Ma'am, we indeed face some challenges, but our technology and team are irreplaceable."

"Irreplaceable?" Kelly sneered, "There are many companies making low-altitude aircraft in this world. Do you know why choose your 'Electric Flight'?"

How would Marco know? He was actually very confused about this too.

"Because your solution satisfactorily pleased Victor. Others are using big motors and big rotors for vertical takeoff and landing, essentially enlarging small multi-axis drones.

You are using an aircraft configuration, with dozens of small motors mounted on the wings, capable of both vertical takeoff and landing and fast flight."

The advantage of this is speed, heavy load, and long range.

Other low-altitude aircraft can only fly less than a hundred kilometers; you have achieved a range of two hundred and fifty kilometers with a half-ton load."

After Kelly praised, she then mocked, "Your engineers work really hard, working for thin salaries, but their effort and reward are too far apart.

After I arrived, I contacted your technical director. He stated that if the salary doubled, he could bring the entire research team over.

As long as there's enough funding, he can develop better products within half a year.

But Victor doesn't want to wait for half a year; he is still willing to acquire.

As Vice President, I won't allow Victor to be a fool and spend five hundred million RMB to buy 'Electric Flight' which is really a loss.

But if the price is reduced to one hundred million, then I think it's still worth it.

As the company's vice president, if you are willing to come over, you will be promoted, and your salary will at least double. Think about it."

Marco suddenly felt defeated; he knew five hundred thousand per unit was a gimmick specially used to fish - fish really bit.

'Electric Flight' indeed had already reached the stage of exhausting funds, with no orders, no venture investments, no stories to tell.

The day's short visit allowed Kelly to basically gauge the situation of 'Electric Flight'. Especially after visiting the contract factory, she further confirmed that the product's technical content was not high.

Either sell the company or poach your people; this move was too ruthless.

-----------------

On the third day of Kelly's arrival, the much-anticipated actual machine demonstration of 'Electric Flight' finally came. On a broad test flight field, a validation machine weighing one and a half tons quietly rested on the ground.

With the activation of thirty-six small motor fans, the body slowly rose into the air, emitting a low humming sound.

The validation machine's performance was impressive—it could not only turn in place performing a one hundred eighty-degree sharp turn, but also fly at a maximum speed of three hundred kilometers per hour by adjusting the fan angles.

When the speed is reduced to one hundred fifty kilometers per hour, its maximum range can exceed three hundred kilometers, fully meeting the intercity transport demand.

Through live broadcast, far away in Miami, Zhou Qingfeng watched the entire test flight process. He was pleased with the validation machine's performance but only made two requests:

First, replace the carbon fiber body with fiberglass. Ordinary-grade carbon fiber costs over a hundred yuan per kilogram, while fiberglass cost is nearly negligible.

Second, cancel the beautiful large round arc canopy, changing it to a closed design. The glass in the cockpit doesn't need to be so large; use frame structures instead and replace them with smaller glass pieces.

Our products are primarily for cargo transportation, so the cost must come down, and the operating cost must be lowered."

Zhou Qingfeng emphasized in the video, "Laser radar and similar can be skipped initially; after all, it is manned in the beginning, which works even without radar."

Lastly, he requested 'Electric Flight' for quick production and to send personnel to Miami for debugging.

The aircraft must be integrated into the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control system; subsequent testing work is substantial. This is a sample from My Virtual Library Empire. Read the rest on M-VLEMPYR.

The boss of 'Electric Flight' smiled broadly on hearing this. However, his smile did not last long before Kelly threw out an acquisition proposal:

Fifty million RMB to buy the company, also taking over about thirty million of bank loans and supplier invoices.

The boss's face instantly turned fiery red like a boiled shrimp, nearly cursing on the spot, directly rejecting Kelly's proposal.

But it wasn't over.

That night, Marco submitted his resignation.

William Congers has taken up the role of CEO of the 'Holy Light' flight subsidiary and urgently needs a deputy who understands both technology and market.

Zhou Qingfeng offered Marco an annual salary of twenty-five thousand US Dollars, equivalent to three times his original salary. Marco happily agreed to go to the United States after only one night of hesitation.

Marco's resignation caused turbulence within 'Electric Flight'. Dozens of employees knew early on that the boss's funds were tight and began to seek ways out.

After all, domestic competition is too fierce, good positions won't wait, they are gone if snatched.

In just two days, the boss of 'Electric Flight' couldn't stand it.

Because the bank heard the wind and came to press for debts too. They were worried that if foreign firms established a separate entity, 'Electric Flight''s bank loans would turn into bad debts.

Rather than that, it's better to sell off while the company is still worth something.

Under multiple pressures, Kelly raised the acquisition price to sixty million RMB, and the boss accepted the reality helplessly, selling the company to 'Holy Light'.

On the surface, Kelly's work was done until a visit from Xiao Jinlang, a director from the Provincial Science and Technology Department.