Chapter 899
I Don't Want to Be a Stereotypical Role Model
The interview request from CCTV was submitted three days after the Century Academic Conference concluded.
By this time, 35,000 scholars from around the world had begun their return journeys, and the campus of Tangdu Jiaotong University was still filled with the echoes of discussions about this grand event.
On the streets and alleys, people are still discussing Wang Donglai's performance on stage and the technological achievements that are enough to rewrite the course of human civilization.
The application was submitted through official channels, forwarded by the relevant departments in Qin Province.
The wording was very official, but the gist was that they hoped to conduct an in-depth interview about some of the technologies and impacts of this press conference, showcasing the style of outstanding Chinese entrepreneurs and promoting the spirit of serving the country through science and technology.
Wang Dong looked at it and casually put it aside.
"Boss, do you need me to draft a reply for you?" Wa's voice rang out at the right time.
"Need not!"
Wang Donglai shook his head and said, "Let them come directly. It's nine o'clock tomorrow morning. I only have one hour."
Wa paused for a second, then asked, "Boss, you don't seem very interested in this interview?"
Wang Donglai did not answer.
He walked to the window, looked at the towering cranes at the Tang Dynasty Imperial City construction site outside, and after a long while said, "Wa, why do you think the higher-ups arranged this interview?"
"Logically speaking, it's for publicity."
"The buzz surrounding the 'Century Academic Conference' is still strong, and global media are paying close attention. Releasing an in-depth interview at this time can further solidify a positive image and boost national confidence. At the same time, it is also an official endorsement of you and Galaxy Technology."
"Official recognition..."
Wang Donglai smiled, a smile that carried an indescribable meaning.
"What if I take this opportunity to say something they don't want to hear?"
Nuwa fell silent.
This behavior only appears when Wa is facing Wang Donglai. It's not that Wa doesn't know the answer, but rather that she's unsure what answer Wang Donglai wants.
The next morning at nine o'clock, at the headquarters of Galaxy Technology, in Wang Donglai's office.
The CCTV interview team arrived at the office ten minutes early.
The team was led by Bai Song, a senior reporter from CCTV, the same one Wang Donglai didn't particularly like a few years ago.
This time, however, Bai Song was exceptionally cautious, even showing a degree of awe.
"Academician Wang, we meet again."
Bai Song extended his hand proactively, a professional yet sincere smile on his face.
Wang Donglai shook hands and nodded: "Reporter Bai, please sit down."
The interview took place in a small meeting room next to Wang Donglai's office.
The skyline of Tang City is visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The sunlight shines perfectly on the light wood coffee table, creating a particularly relaxed atmosphere.
But Bai Song was not at ease.
Before the interview, I was specifically instructed to adopt a "positive publicity" approach, focusing on showcasing Galaxy Technology's achievements and Wang Donglai's personal charisma.
Avoid unnecessary complications and refrain from touching on sensitive topics.
Clearly, the higher-ups know Wang Donglai.
I glanced at the interview outline; all the questions had been agreed upon beforehand, such as:
—Academician Wang, this academic conference of the century has been a great success. What do you think is its greatest significance?
—What is the secret to Galaxy Technology's many groundbreaking achievements in just a few years?
—What are your views on the future development of China's technology industry?
—As a role model for the younger generation, what would you like to say to young people?
It's standard, safe, and reliable.
Bai Song wouldn't have come if this interview hadn't been so important and if the interview questions hadn't already been discussed.
In his experience, this kind of interview is the hardest to make stand out, but it is also the least likely to go wrong.
Wang Donglai only needs to answer the questions step by step, and he can edit them to produce a high-quality interview program.
The camera was set up, the lights were adjusted, and the two sat down.
"Begin," Bai Song gestured.
The camera flashed a red light.
"Academician Wang, hello, thank you very much for accepting our interview."
Bai Song's opening remarks were impeccable and fluent, stating, "This academic conference of the century has garnered global attention. Your presentations on technological achievements such as room-temperature superconductivity, quantum computing, and brain-computer interfaces have generated tremendous interest. As the person in charge, what is your biggest feeling?"
This is a standard question.
Wang Donglai looked at the camera and remained silent for two seconds.
"Feelings?"
"My biggest feeling is exhaustion."
Bai Song was taken aback; this answer was not what he had expected.
After all, Wang Donglai is no ordinary person. The fact that he was able to discuss the interview questions beforehand was already a great favor, so there was naturally no limitation on the content of his answers.
"For seven consecutive days, I faced a barrage of questions from the world's top scholars. To be honest, it was much more tiring than doing research."
Wang Donglai smiled, but there was a hint of meaning in his smile, and then he said, "However, it's worth it. Because this time, the whole world has finally seen things clearly."
"See what clearly?" Bai Song breathed a slight sigh of relief. Although the answer was different from his guess, it was still perfectly reasonable.
"Recognize China's technological strength, recognize that we are no longer followers, and understand that times have changed!"
Bai Song's heart skipped a beat.
That's a bit of a bold statement, but it's still within a manageable range.
He quickly adjusted the pace, steer the conversation back on track: "You're right, times have indeed changed. Galaxy Technology's development over the years can be seen as a microcosm of technological innovation in China. From its initial internet business to later advancements in batteries, chips, aerospace, and biomedicine, and now to breakthroughs in fundamental physics, every step has been taken quickly and steadily. What do you think is the secret to Galaxy Technology's success?"
Wang Dong looked at him and suddenly asked a question: "Reporter Bai, you have interviewed many entrepreneurs. What do you think is the secret to their success?"
Bai Song was taken aback by the question and paused for a moment before saying, "It varies from person to person. Some rely on a keen business sense, some on strong execution, and some on deep technical expertise..."
"What about Galaxy Technology? Which category do you think it falls into?"
Bai Song thought for a moment and said cautiously, "It should be a combination of factors. Your personal technical talent, the team's collaboration, and the support of national policies..."
Wang Donglai shook his head, interrupting him: "What you said is all correct. But it's not the core issue."
"So what is the core?"
"It's a person!"
Bai Song frowned subconsciously, waiting for the next part.
Wang Donglai picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then slowly said, "The success of Galaxy Technology is not because I have any outstanding technical talent, nor because we caught any trend. It's because we have a group of people who are willing to work with me."
"The reason they are willing to work for me is not because of how much salary I can pay them, but because they feel respected, valued, and have a future here."
He put down his teacup and looked into Bai Song's eyes: "Reporter Bai, do you know what the average monthly salary of frontline workers at Galaxy Technology is?" Bai Song was taken aback.
I was the host, so how did the initiative suddenly fall into Wang Donglai's hands?
Although the question was a bit off-topic, he had looked at the data before the interview, so he said, "I remember it was over seven thousand?"
"Seven thousand three hundred and sixty-two yuan."
Wang Donglai gave a precise figure: "Forty-seven percent higher than the industry average."
"Did you know that we pay social insurance and housing fund contributions for food delivery riders and couriers?"
"know."
Do you know how many employees became millionaires when Pinduoduo went public?
"One thousand five hundred and twenty-four."
Bai Song blurted out, "This is publicly available data."
Wang Donglai nodded and asked, "Then do you know what these numbers mean?"
Bai Song did not answer; he vaguely sensed that the topic was veering off course.
Wang Dong answered his own question: "It means the money has been distributed."
He paused, his voice becoming serious: "Reporter Bai, what do you think is the secret to Galaxy Technology's success? My answer is to distribute the money to those who truly create value."
"I developed the technology, that's true. But without the engineers' day and night debugging, the workers' meticulous operation, and the couriers' delivery regardless of wind or rain, Galaxy Technology wouldn't have grown to this size."
"So I share the money with them. The more I share, the more motivated they become. The more motivated they become, the faster the company grows. The faster the company grows, the more money I have to develop new technologies. It's a positive cycle."
He looked directly into the camera, his gaze clear and sharp: "But this positive cycle doesn't exist in many companies in China."
Bai Song's palms began to sweat.
He knew what Wang Donglai was going to say.
"Reporter Bai, do you know how many companies in China treat their employees as costs rather than assets?"
Wang Donglai's voice was not loud, but every word was clear and powerful.
Do you know how many companies use outsourcing, temporary workers, and various other means to evade their legal obligation to pay social insurance and housing provident fund contributions for their employees?
Do you know how many companies treat "996" as a blessing, "hard work" as an excuse, and exploitation as a matter of course?
Bai Song opened his mouth as if to say something, but Wang Donglai didn't give him the chance.
“When these companies are making money, they think about how to distribute it to shareholders and themselves. When they are losing money, they think about how to lay off employees and cut salaries. To them, employees are just consumables. Once they are used up, they replace them with a new batch.”
"And what about our public opinion?"
Wang Donglai smirked and said without any restraint, "They're still promoting 'entrepreneurial spirit,' 'entrepreneurial myths,' and 'wealth stories' every day. It's as if those billionaires' money just fell from the sky. It's as if the hardships of those working people are a given."
Bai Song finally found an opportunity to interject: "Academician Wang, what you said makes a lot of sense. But our main topic today is still about scientific and technological achievements..."
"Technological achievements?"
Wang Donglai interrupted Bai Song: "Reporter Bai, I have a question for you. Tell me, what is the purpose of our research and development of these scientific and technological achievements?"
Interrupted by Wang Donglai, Bai Song was not angry. After thinking for a moment, he cautiously replied, "To promote social progress and benefit mankind?"
"Yes and no."
Wang Donglai nodded, then shook his head and said, "Promoting social progress is correct. Benefiting humanity is also correct. But have you ever thought about what 'benefiting humanity' really means?"
He asked himself and answered: "Restore sight to the blind is a blessing to humanity. Help the paralyzed stand up again is a blessing to humanity. Make cheaper and better products available to more people is a blessing to humanity. But can it be called a blessing to humanity if those who create these achievements for us don't even have basic living security?"
Baisong fell silent.
Wang Donglai continued, "We have developed room-temperature superconductivity, which allows for zero-loss power transmission in the power grid. But how many of those electricians who climb up and down high-voltage lines can earn more than 5,000 yuan a month?"
"We've developed quantum computers that can crack codes and simulate drugs. But how many of those programmers who sit in front of computers coding every day can leave work on time and rest on weekends?"
“We have developed a brain-computer interface that can restore sight to the blind. But how many of the caregivers who look after patients in hospitals have the five social insurances and one housing fund, and how many days off do they get in a year?”
His voice rose higher and higher, but then fell back down, returning to calm.
"Reporter Bai, I'm not blaming anyone. I just want to raise a question: our technology is advancing, but has our resource allocation kept pace?"
Bai Song was completely at a loss for words.
He glanced at the cameraman next to him, who also looked troubled.
He didn't even want to imagine what would happen if this footage were broadcast.
"Academician Wang, the problems you mentioned do indeed exist. But the main purpose of our interview today is to ask you to talk about your scientific achievements..."
"Reporter Bai."
Wang Donglai interrupted him again, saying seriously, "You just asked me what the purpose of scientific and technological achievements is. Now I'll tell you my answer."
He looked directly into the camera and said, slowly and deliberately, "Scientific and technological achievements should first and foremost benefit those who created them."
"Galaxy Technology's foray into food delivery is not just about making food cheaper for consumers, but also about enabling delivery riders to earn money with dignity."
"Galaxy Technology's involvement in express delivery is not just about enabling merchants to ship goods quickly, but also about ensuring that delivery personnel can leave work on time."
"Galaxy Technology makes batteries not only to extend the battery life of mobile phones, but also to ensure that workers have stable jobs and decent incomes."
"Galaxy Technology is doing aerospace not just to plant the national flag on the moon, but to keep up with the world in exploring the universe and prevent the tragedy of a hundred years ago from happening again."
After finishing his statement in one breath, Wang Donglai's expression remained unchanged, and he calmly said, "This is my answer!"
Baisong fell completely silent.
He has interviewed countless people, from politicians to entrepreneurs, from scholars to celebrities.
He has met all kinds of people and heard all kinds of things.
But he had never heard of any entrepreneur like Wang Donglai who spoke of "sharing money" so confidently and "distributing" so matter-of-factly.
"Academician Wang, Galaxy Technology has indeed done a very good job in what you described. But other companies..."
"Other companies can't do it, right?"
Wang Donglai finished for him: "I know. It's not because they don't have the money, it's because they're unwilling. Or rather, their shareholders, their investors, their capital markets won't allow them to do it."
He sneered, his tone tinged with disdain: "The nature of capital is to pursue profit. As long as profits are maximized, everything else can be sacrificed. Employees can be sacrificed, users can be sacrificed, society can be sacrificed, the environment can be sacrificed. As long as the financial statements look good, as long as the stock price can rise, anything can be sacrificed."
"These are the rules of the game for capital. But let me ask you, are these rules really right?"
Bai Song's heart was pounding, and his palms were sweaty.
Having worked in the industry for decades, he knows what those words mean.
This is not something an entrepreneur should say, at least not something someone who wants to live a good life should say. (End of Chapter)