Reborn in 1977

“Waaah… I really don't want to part with you guys.”

Zhou Yali hugged the little monkey, resting her head on Jiang Tiantian's shoulder, leaving the two sisters feeling helpless. Even knowing that their cousin was acting, they couldn't care less about the strange looks from those around them and could only hug her and whisper words of comfort.

How could my cousin act like this in the crowded airport waiting hall?

Chen Fan stood aside with his hands in his pockets, turning a blind eye to this. He continued to discuss some company matters with Zhou Zhengdong, "There's no problem with registering the company in the United States, but if we cooperate with domestic companies in the future, we will definitely have to travel back and forth frequently.

Currently, the most convenient way to travel to and from China is still through Hong Kong. Although the little island nation also has direct flights to China, there are only two flights a week. In case of an emergency, we will inevitably have to transfer through Hong Kong or take a train.

So, it's better to directly place the technology and after-sales center in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is not only close to the mainland and has convenient transportation, but it also has a very abundant talent pool. Local universities have mutual recognition agreements with Commonwealth countries, making it easy to find both grassroots technicians and high-level R\u0026D talents."

Zhou Zhengdong slowly nodded, "Then why not register directly in Hong Kong?"

Chen Fan's mouth twitched slightly. After a moment of silence, he said, "Registering in the United States and using the Hong Kong company as a branch is more conducive to dealing with various parties."

Zhou Zhengdong's eyes darted slightly. Thinking of the many Chinese companies in Chinatown that also hire white people as senior executives, he remained silent.

After a while, he asked with some curiosity, "I see many Hong Kong people studying in the United States, Britain, and Canada, but I rarely hear of people studying in Hong Kong. Is their local education very good?"

Chen Fan took out a cigarette, handed one to Zhou Zhengdong, and lit one himself, holding it in his mouth. He said, "Hong Kong implements the British 'elite education' system. In terms of universal education, they used to implement 6 years of free compulsory education, which has now been extended to 9 years, so the basic education is still decent.

In terms of top universities, only two universities are currently recognized: the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. These two universities are considered good universities in Asia and possess good scientific research capabilities.

Between free education and universities, there are several schools similar to mainland vocational and technical schools, such as the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education and the Workers' Night School, which was founded in 1947."

The Workers' Night School underwent several name changes and expansions, and was finally officially renamed the Hong Kong Institute for the Advancement of Vocational Education in 1987, offering full-time and part-time bachelor's degrees, higher diplomas, applied education diplomas, and diploma courses.

In fact, most of the later Hong Kong universities came about in this way. Before the 1990s, only the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong were recognized.

With these two universities as the apex, other vocational education as the backbone, and free education as the foundation, Hong Kong's education system is formed.

With a complete education system and the backing of the mainland, a talent system from construction to R\u0026D can be built. Placing the communications company in Hong Kong is the best choice.

Zhou Zhengdong slowly nodded, "I'm still racking my brains about where to recruit people. Even if we can obtain the agency rights, the entrusted company will provide training and some maintenance services, but this cost is extremely high. The most suitable option is to cultivate our own talent.

And if we recruit people from abroad, they are not stable enough. We need to do long-term business, not temporary business trips. Sending people from abroad is not only more expensive, but the employees' stability cannot be guaranteed either.

If, as you say, Hong Kong can provide enough talent, it would be the most suitable choice."

He sighed, "Unfortunately, college students in the mainland are assigned uniformly, and we are not qualified to participate."

Chen Fan's mouth twitched slightly, "You can forget about college students in the mainland for the time being. For at least ten years, there will only be a shortage of talent, not a surplus, so graduates will not flow out. By the time that happens, the company will have enough time to create its own training system."

Zhou Zhengdong was slightly stunned, a thoughtful look in his eyes, "Create our own training system? Hmm, that's a good idea."

Then, he suddenly gritted his teeth, "We'll talk about this later. You don't know, there's a company in the United States called Procter \u0026 Gamble that specializes in daily consumer goods, oh, you know, soap and shampoo. They started implementing a training system internally in 1970.

Through this training system, they optimize the matching of people and positions, improve the ability and technical level of employees, and enhance the comprehensive quality of employees.

Over the years, it seems to have had a very good effect. Many business schools are paying attention to their case. Many companies are also tempted to replicate this system.

What you said is a bit like Procter \u0026 Gamble's system."

After saying this, he smacked his lips regretfully, "Unfortunately, I heard that the investment in this system is very large, and our company is still too small to afford it."

Chen Fan smiled and said, "In fact, large companies have this kind of system, the only difference is the degree of implementation. Big companies have big advantages, and small companies have small ways of doing things."

He looked around. Zhou Yali had stopped crying at this time and was pulling the two sisters aside to whisper. He couldn't help but frown slightly. What kind of mischief is this girl up to again?

Then he ignored her, turned his head, and said, "Yali said that the Zhou family used to have several hereditary servants?"

Zhou Zhengdong blinked, not expecting his daughter to even mention this.

But thinking that this was his nephew, half a member of the Zhou family, it didn't matter if he knew.

So he nodded and said, "There is such a thing. Actually, they can't be considered hereditary servants. In the beginning, they were a few people who followed your grandfather to make a living in the Northeast. Their strength and personality were not suitable for independent households, so they always followed your grandfather, and over time, they recognized him as their master and became a member of the Zhou family.

Later, the families intermarried, and the Zhou family raised their children and paid for their education. When they grew up, they stayed in the Zhou family to work. Although there was no longer the concept of hereditary servants at that time, that was essentially the case.

Later, when your grandfather took the whole family away from their homeland and went to the United States, they followed without hesitation. For decades, through thick and thin, the Zhou family protected them, and they supported the Zhou family. Now, their families are indistinguishable from the Zhou family. We don't treat them as servants, but as close relatives."

He briefly explained, then looked at Chen Fan, "Why are you suddenly talking about this?"

Chen Fan smiled and said, "I'm using this as an analogy. Actually, company training is similar to cultivating hereditary servants. The long-term workers in the family weren't just hired randomly, right?"

Zhou Zhengdong nodded, "That's right. Generally, they have to be assessed for three years. First, their character is assessed, and second, their ability. Those with both virtue and talent are the best, those with virtue but no talent are average, those with talent but no virtue can be used but not recruited, and those with neither virtue nor talent are discarded."

Speaking of this, Zhou Zhengdong understood somewhat. He frowned slightly and said as he thought, "You mean that when the company recruits people, it should start assessing them from the time they join the company and categorize employees based on standards.

After determining their character and abilities, then cultivate them.

To cultivate household servants, bestow kindness to win their hearts, display authority to control their actions, and spend money to secure their well-being..."

He looked up at Chen Fan, with a hint of confusion in his eyes, "But moving that to the company to train employees, isn't that inappropriate?"

Chen Fan smiled and said, "Of course, we can't directly copy it; modifying it a bit should be fine. It's just using bonuses to stimulate at the grassroots level, using positions to motivate at the middle level, and using equity to bind at the high level. Additionally, use contracts for constraints. You understand this aspect better than I do.

Actually, the most crucial point here is something you just mentioned."

Zhou Zhengdong's eyes darted slightly, "A large investment?"

Chen Fan nodded, "So, you have to be willing to spend."

Zhou Zhengdong pursed his lips and slowly nodded, "Yes, I understand this matter. Whether to do it or how to do it, I'll go to Procter \u0026 Gamble to get a detailed understanding after I return to the United States, and I'll tell you when I make a decision."

Chen Fan said, "It's okay, there's no rush. Just treat it as the next step in the company's development plan. The immediate priority is to secure the agency rights and build the after-sales system."

Zhou Zhengdong smiled, raised his hand, and patted his arm, "There's another matter that I want you and Yali to discuss and make a decision on."

Chen Fan was taken aback, turned his head to look at Zhou Yali, then turned back, "What is it?"

Zhou Zhengdong raised his voice slightly, "Yali, come over here."

Zhou Yali turned around, saw the gesture her father made, and quickly trotted over, her eyes shining and grinning, "Are you pointing at little brother, does that mean little brother is going with us too?"

Zhou Zhengdong's expression stiffened slightly, and a hint of regret appeared in his eyes, "No."

"Ah?"

Zhou Yali turned her head to look at Chen Fan, "Then does that mean I don't have to go and I can stay here to accompany little brother?"

Zhou Zhengdong's face turned dark, "I'm asking you and Xiaofan to discuss and come up with a company name."

He turned to look at Chen Fan, "I just remembered now that the publishing company's name is still the original Zhou's. Since the company has been transferred to you, it's no longer appropriate to call it that. Also, the name of your newly established technology company was just a random one chosen when the agency handled it, so that also needs to be changed.

Then there's the upcoming establishment of a telecommunications company, which will be responsible for the maintenance of program-controlled switches in the future.

Now the business is becoming wider and wider, and the company's scale will become larger and larger, but even a suitable company name hasn't been decided yet, which is not appropriate."

After he finished speaking, Zhou Yali couldn't help but pout, "Why are you only mentioning it now? The boarding is about to start, isn't it too late?"

A trace of embarrassment flashed across Zhou Zhengdong's face, "Didn't I just remember it?"

Chen Fan wiped his face. Okay, so his uncle was also unreliable.

Now he knew who his cousin got her personality from.

Then, as his mind turned, he saw Zhou Yali staring with her big eyes, sparkling, "Little brother, you're so talented, just leave it to you. I promise I won't have any objections."

Chen Fan fell into deep thought. Is naming something I can decide? What can an author who is terrible at naming do?

Zhou Zhengdong, Zhou Yali, and the approaching two sisters all looked at him, hoping to hear a good name.

Chen Fan raised his head, met the gazes of the four, and coughed dryly, "How about calling it Huateng? Meaning China soars. What do you think?"

Zhou Yali's face immediately fell, "The meaning is good, but can you come up with a name that sounds better?"

Chen Fan, "Didn't you promise you wouldn't have any objections?"

Zhou Yali, "...But it really doesn't sound good. Think of another one."

Chen Fan, "Do you think naming is that easy? Why don't you try to come up with one?"

Zhou Yali, "I'm not a writer or an author. You are. Why are you making me come up with one?"

Chen Fan, "It's just a name, why does it need a 'jia'?"

Zhou Zhengdong looked left and right, and took advantage of the gap between the two's confrontation, and quickly coughed, "Well, in the past, when people opened companies, they mostly chose from these auspicious words: Feng, Long, Heng, Heng, Yi, Xin, Chang, Ze, Qun, Run, Tai, Yuan, Xing, Wang, Sheng, Li, ...

Or, ..."

Before he could finish, Zhou Yali raised her hand to veto, "I don't want to. It's so corny. It's not as good as what little brother came up with."

Zhou Zhengdong was expressionless and didn't speak.

Even he was feeling defeated. Jiang Tiantian and Jiang Lili didn't dare to say anything, and stood obediently aside, constantly paying attention to whether anyone was coming over, so that others wouldn't hear them.

Chen Fan thought of a few more, but Zhou Yali still didn't approve. In the end, he had no choice but to spread his hands, "Then go to Chinatown in Hong Kong or New York and see if there are any Yi Jing masters. Just find a master to come up with a name."

Zhou Yali squinted her eyes, her facial features squeezed together. After a moment, she suddenly opened her eyes and looked at Chen Fan and said, "Little brother, you see, the company is for both of us, so it's best if it has our imprints. Your name has the character 'Fan', and my name is Yali. How about calling it Extraordinary Yali? What do you think?"

Chen Fan covered his eyes with one hand, "I'm not looking."

Zhou Zhengdong squinted at his daughter, "I don't think you're extraordinary at all."

Zhou Yali pursed her lips, "Then let's call it Fanya."

Chen Fan thought for a while and shook his head, "As soon as you hear this name, people will easily think of me. Let's forget it."

Jiang Tiantian and Jiang Lili next to her also nodded almost imperceptibly. They had to know that this company was going to provide after-sales service for domestic communication equipment, and it would definitely enter the domestic market in the future. At that time, anyone who knew Chen Fan and knew that he had this relative would easily associate him with it.

Even if half of the company really belonged to him, it would not be appropriate to expose it like this. Even speculation would not work, as it would have a great impact on him.

You must know that most of the time, people don't care what the truth is, but are more willing to believe unfounded rumors.

So the best way is not to evoke other people's imagination.

Zhou Yali also understood this, so she didn't insist anymore, she could only bulge her eyes, "Then you say."

Chen Fan pondered for two seconds and said, "My surname is Chen and your surname is Zhou, let's take a homophonic sound, ..."

Zhou Yali's eyes widened, "Sinking Boat Company? Isn't that a bit miserable?"

The three people next to her nodded together, indicating that it was indeed very miserable.

Chen Fan smiled slightly, "A thousand sails pass by the side of a sunken boat, and ten thousand trees bloom in front of a sick tree. Why not call the publishing company Thousand Sails, then the pages are like sails.

Let's call the technology company Ten Thousand Trees Spring."

Zhou Yali narrowed her eyes slightly, "Thousand Sails? Ten Thousand Trees Spring? Winter goes and spring comes, ten thousand trees bloom in spring, grass grows and orioles fly, hundreds of flowers bloom, and thousands of sails compete. This name is okay."

Chen Fan exhaled a long breath, "Then it's settled."

After chatting for a few more words and watching them enter the boarding gate, Chen Fan and the three turned and went back.