Chapter 884
Frenzied Financing, Galaxy Vocational Education
After persuading Yang Anchao to keep the Xirang technology a secret, Wang Donglai returned to the headquarters of Galaxy Technology and began to deal with the business affairs that had been piling up for a whole week.
"Wa, briefing."
The holographic projection lit up, and a dense stream of data poured down like a waterfall.
Wang Donglai leaned back in his chair, his eyes quickly scanning the key figures.
A 300 billion yuan financing plan.
This is Galaxy Technology's first round of financing since its establishment, and also the largest single-round financing in the history of China's internet industry.
The information was not kept secret at all.
At the time, Wa asked, "Boss, do we need to keep this a secret?"
Wang Donglai said, "No need. Not only do we not need to know, but we also want those who need to know to know."
Thus, the news that Galaxy Technology was about to launch a 300 billion yuan financing round was like a nuclear bomb dropped into the pond of the capital market.
Over the past few days, Wa has intercepted 732 phone calls requesting a meeting, received 147 letters of intent for investment, and refused 83 in-person visits.
Those who were turned away included partners from top domestic investment institutions, heads of overseas sovereign wealth funds, veteran capital giants who had once looked down on Galaxy Technology, and well-known investors who had always wanted Galaxy Technology but had not been able to obtain it.
"What's the situation now?" Wang Donglai asked.
"In addition to the 140 billion yuan subscribed on the spot, the remaining 160 billion yuan quota has already received 230 billion yuan in intended subscriptions."
Wang Donglai's eyebrows lifted slightly.
Two hundred and thirty billion is a considerable sum, especially considering that the three hundred billion raised will be used to develop Galaxy Supermarket and Galaxy Vocational Education.
Of course, Wang Donglai also understood that the reason there were so many subscription funds was because of the rights issue system he proposed.
Without Galaxy Technology's shares as bait, these investment institutions might not be so interested.
"List".
Immediately, a long table appeared on the computer in front of Wang Donglai.
"The social security fund applied for a quota of 20 billion yuan, and we gave them 8 billion yuan."
"The National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund applied for 15 billion yuan and received 6 billion yuan."
"The National Manufacturing Transformation and Upgrading Fund applied for 12 billion yuan, and 5 billion yuan was granted."
"China Investment Corporation applied for 20 billion yuan and received 7 billion yuan."
Wang Donglai listened without interrupting.
These are all "national teams".
They should take their money, but not more.
Galaxy Technology has no shortage of money; what it lacks is a bond that connects it to the country.
Eight billion, six billion, five billion—these figures are just right, deep enough, but not too deep.
"continue."
"Regarding local state-owned assets, Guangdong Science and Technology Financial applied for 5 billion yuan and received 2 billion yuan. Suzhou High-tech Zone applied for 3 billion yuan and received 1.5 billion yuan. Shenzhen Capital Group applied for 4 billion yuan and received 2 billion yuan. A quota of 10 billion yuan was left for Shaanxi Province."
"What about commercial organizations?"
"Hillhouse Capital applied for 10 billion yuan. It was rejected."
Wang Donglai nodded without saying a word.
"Sequoia Capital applied for eight billion. It was rejected."
"IDG applied for 6 billion. It was rejected."
"Chrysanthemum applied for 15 billion yuan, and President Ren made the call personally."
Wang Donglai smiled and asked, "What were President Ren's exact words?"
"His exact words were: 'Mr. Wang, when Galaxy Technology was developing its own system, we didn't hesitate to sell the project to you. Now, I'm shamelessly asking for a small investment, is that alright?'"
"What did you reply?"
I said, "Mr. Ren, your intentions have been recorded. Mr. Wang is currently busy, but he will notify you as soon as there is a result."
Wang Donglai nodded: "That's a good reply. I'll call him personally later."
"The list continues."
"Qiandu applied for 5 billion. It was rejected."
What about foreign capital?
"SoftBank Vision Fund applied for 20 billion. Masayoshi Son personally wrote an email saying, 'Mr. Wang, if you are willing to accept the investment, I can fly to Tangdu to discuss it in person.'"
"I refused."
Goldman Sachs applied for 15 billion. It was rejected.
Morgan Stanley applied for 12 billion, but it was rejected.
"BlackRock applied for 10 billion, but it was rejected."
Temasek applied for 8 billion, but it was rejected.
Wang Donglai listened to each point one by one, then asked, "Any objections?"
"Have."
Wa continued, "SoftBank sent a message saying that Masayoshi Son doesn't quite understand. He believes that Galaxy Technologies is destined for global expansion and needs the backing of international capital. Rejecting them would be 'irrational behavior'."
"Irrational?"
Wang Donglai laughed and said, "When Masayoshi Son invested in Alibaba, Jack Ma was also 'irrational.' And what happened later?"
He stood up and walked to the window.
“Tell him that Galaxy Technology has enough money and doesn’t need foreign capital backing. If they want to cooperate, we can talk business, but if they want to invest, forget it.”
"Recorded".
"The first phase of 300 billion has been fully subscribed. When will the second phase start?"
"If things go quickly, it will be in a year; if things go slowly, it will be in two years!"
Wang Donglai said, "Let the market digest this first, and let those who were rejected think carefully about why they were rejected."
He turned around and looked out the window at the darkening sky.
"Wa, get ready. I need to meet someone tomorrow morning at nine o'clock."
……
At 8:55 a.m. the next morning, a black Audi pulled up in front of the Galaxy Technology headquarters.
The car door opened, and a scholar stepped out. He looked to be in his fifties, with an upright posture, a steady gait, and sharp eyes.
Wearing a dark gray Zhongshan suit with a fountain pen clipped to his left breast pocket, he exuded the air of an old-fashioned intellectual.
It was Xu Songyao, the former president of Tangdu Jiaotong University, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a leading figure in China's higher education field.
Upon retirement, he was recruited by Wang Donglai to work at Galaxy Technology, where he was put in charge of Galaxy's vocational education business.
To show respect, Wang Donglai personally went to the elevator entrance to greet him.
"Uncle Xu".
Xu Songyao waved his hand and said, "Now that I'm part of the company, I'll still use my job title when I'm working."
Wang Donglai smiled but didn't reply.
The two walked side by side into the elevator, heading straight to Wang Donglai's office area.
After taking their seats in the reception area, tea—Longjing, Xu Songyao's favorite variety—was already prepared.
Xu Songyao picked up the teacup, but didn't drink it; he smelled it first.
"Before Qingming?"
"Yes, from Lion Peak Mountain."
Xu Songyao nodded, took a sip, and put down his teacup.
"Mr. Wang, I'm here today because I have a request for you."
Wang Donglai also put down his teacup: "Uncle Xu, please speak."
"You know that Galaxy Education acquired that vocational school, right?"
Wang Donglai nodded.
Galaxy Education is a subsidiary of Galaxy Technology responsible for vocational education and training, and its head is Xu Songyao.
It was only after he visited the thatched cottage three times that he managed to recruit this retired principal.
“I visited that school myself, and it has serious problems.”
Xu Songyao's tone became serious.
"What's the problem?"
“The school buildings are old, the equipment is outdated, the teaching staff is weak, and the students’ quality varies.” Xu Songyao listed them one by one: “More importantly, the school’s philosophy is flawed.”
"What's the problem?"
"They are still using the old methods, treating students as parts on an assembly line, mass-producing them and wholesaling them out."
"The program lasts two years. The first year consists of theoretical courses, and the second year is for factory internships. After graduation, students go directly to the factory as workers."
Xu Songyao shook his head and commented, "This is vocational education from twenty years ago. I didn't expect it to still be done like this today."
Wang Donglai did not interrupt and listened quietly.
"Mr. Wang, tell me the truth, what kind of company do you want to make Galaxy Education?"
Wang Donglai paused for a moment.
"Uncle Xu, what do you think it should be done in?"
Xu Songyao looked at him, his gaze sharp as an eagle's.
"You're the boss, you go first."
Wang Donglai smiled.
"Okay, I'll tell you."
He suppressed his smile and said, "We've talked about this before. What I want to establish isn't a vocational school, but a talent development base."
"It's not about training workers, it's about training engineers; it's not about supplying labor to factories, it's about supplying domestic manufacturing with people who can rewrite the rules."
Xu Songyao's eyes changed, becoming extremely serious.
"continue."
"The training cost of 100,000 yuan per person per year is not a slogan, but a standard."
"Students should not only learn technology, but also mathematics, physics, English and computer science."
"By graduation, you should be able to read English technical documents, operate imported equipment, understand the underlying logic of the production line, and find solutions to problems on your own, instead of waiting for a mentor to teach you."
Wang Dong spoke quickly, clearly having considered these words countless times in his mind.
"More importantly, they need to understand who they are."
“They are not ‘laborers’ or ‘factory workers’; they are the future of China’s manufacturing industry.”
"They can earn higher salaries than white-collar workers, have higher social status than white-collar workers, and have a higher self-perception than white-collar workers."
After he finished speaking, he looked at Xu Songyao.
Xu Songyao remained silent for a long time.
Then he picked up his teacup and took another sip.
"Mr. Wang."
His voice was a little hoarse as he said, "Do you know how I feel after so many years at Tangdu Jiaotong University?"
Wang Donglai did not answer.
"I've seen enough of what Jiaotong University has been like for decades."
"I've seen enough of those students whose best option after graduation is to go abroad, followed by working for a foreign company, and then working for a major internet company."
"There are very few people who are truly willing to go to factories, and even fewer who are truly willing to stay in the manufacturing industry."
He put down his teacup.
"We have trained so many college students, but what do factories lack? People who can work hard, people who can endure hardship, and people who can dedicate themselves to doing one thing for ten years."
"Where do these people come from? They come from vocational schools. But what about vocational schools? They are treated as 'densities for bad students,' looked down upon, and laughed at."
His voice grew louder and louder.
“Mr. Wang, if you really want to run vocational education well, this old man will go all out with you.”
Wang Dong looked at him and suddenly smiled.
"Uncle Xu, please don't get agitated. The reason we recruited you is to put you at the helm of Galaxy Education."
He stood up, walked to his desk, picked up a document, and handed it to Xu Songyao.
"This is Galaxy Education's three-year plan. Please take a look."
Xu Songyao took it and flipped through the pages one by one.
Page 1: The new campus covers 500 acres and represents an investment of 3 billion yuan.
Page 2: Importing equipment, including a five-axis machining center, industrial robots, semiconductor packaging and testing lines, and a biopharmaceutical pilot plant—total budget of 1.5 billion.
Page 3: Faculty. The plan is to recruit 300 full-time teachers, of whom no less than 30% will have doctoral degrees and no less than 50% will have industry backgrounds.
Page 4: Enrollment scale: 1,000 students in the first year, 2,000 students in the second year, and 3,000 students in the third year. Applicants are welcome nationwide, with no household registration restrictions or college entrance examination score requirements; only a comprehensive quality assessment is required.
Page 5: Training Program...
Xu Songyao's gaze lingered there for a long time.
Two academic years, totaling eighty weeks.
The course consists of 45 weeks of theoretical instruction and 35 weeks of practical instruction.
The theoretical courses include mathematics, physics, English, computer science, professional fundamentals, and industry knowledge.
Practical courses include on-campus training, corporate internships, and project-based learning.
Last page: Job security.
All graduates will be given priority for recruitment by various business lines under Galaxy Technology, with a starting salary of no less than 8,000 yuan.
For those willing to start their own businesses, Galaxy Technology will provide startup funds and technical support.
After reading the document, Xu Songyao closed it and looked up at Wang Donglai.
“Mr. Wang, you’re not running a school, you’re running a talent training base.”
Wang Donglai smiled.
"Uncle Xu, isn't the purpose of running a school to cultivate students into talented individuals?"
Upon hearing this answer, Xu Songyao fell silent.
Then he stood up and gently placed the document on the table.
"Mr. Wang, tell me honestly, do you really want to do this plan, or are you just writing it down to make me happy?"
Wang Donglai also stood up.
"Uncle Xu, I have approved the budget of 3 billion."
"The land has been designated, and it's located in Tangdu High-tech Zone. Construction will begin next month."
"We are currently connecting with domestic and international suppliers for the equipment procurement list and recruiting teachers. We can start today."
He looked into Xu Songyao's eyes.
"All you have to do is keep an eye on things for me."
"Seeing this money spent wisely, seeing these students become the kind of people I want them to be, and seeing this school become a benchmark for vocational education in China."
Xu Songyao remained silent.
He stood there, looking at Wang Donglai, and his eyes suddenly welled up with tears.
He is over sixty years old.
He thought his life would end like this: retired, taking care of his grandchildren, writing his memoirs, and occasionally giving lectures at schools.
He believed that vocational education in China would remain rotten for another twenty years, until everyone could no longer tolerate it, before anyone would actually take action to reform it.
I didn't expect someone to make a move so soon.
"Mr. Wang."
He took a deep breath and said, "Give me money, people, and policies, and I'll give you one thing..."
He paused.
"If, three years from now, not a single student from this school can be found to have any flaws, I, Xu Songyao, will write my name backwards."
Wang Donglai smiled and said, "Uncle Xu, please don't say that. I believe you."
Xu Songyao looked serious and said to Wang Dong, "Okay, in that case, does that mean I have a different identity? Can I be called President Xu now?"
Wang Donglai was taken aback, but quickly realized that Xu Songyao had accepted his ideas and officially started working.
"Mr. Xu, then I'll leave it to you."
"Don't worry, Mr. Wang, I guarantee you won't be disappointed."
Xu Songyao took the initiative to extend his hand.
The two hands are clasped together.
Outside the window, sunlight streamed in, casting a warm and bright glow on the floor of the reception area. (End of Chapter)