Chapter 900
Warriors Who Dare to Face Life
"Academician Wang, this issue might be a bit complicated..."
After hesitating for a moment, Bai Song spoke up.
Is it complicated?
Wang Dong looked at him calmly and said slowly, "I think there are some issues that we should think about together."
"Reporter Bai, I'd like to ask you a simple question: In a society where wealth can flow more evenly and benefit more people, is this a direction worth striving for?"
Bai Song paused slightly, but did not answer directly.
He realized that the interview was probably going to take a turn for the worse than he had originally expected.
But he also understood that what Wang Donglai said reflected the questions in the minds of many people.
Wouldn't it be better if everyone's working hours were arranged more reasonably in a society?
"Isn't a society healthier if the income gap can be gradually narrowed?"
Bai Song thought for a moment and then responded, "Academician Wang, the questions you raised are indeed real challenges, but they often require long-term social development and policy guidance, and may not be very relevant to the topic of our interview today."
So how should we view these challenges?
Wang Donglai continued in a calm tone, "Do you believe that things will improve naturally over time? Or do we, especially every capable company, need to proactively explore solutions?"
Bai Song seemed lost in thought and did not respond immediately.
Wang Donglai leaned back in his chair and said sincerely, "Reporter Bai, I understand your concerns. You may feel that the topics I'm discussing are a bit too broad and exceed the scope of typical discussions among entrepreneurs."
"But the reason I want to talk about these things is because I think these are questions that companies in our time should be thinking about."
He pointed to Tangdu City outside the window, his expression filled with pride and a sense of responsibility: "Galaxy Technology now has 770,000 employees. Behind each of these 770,000 people is a family. Their salaries support the daily lives of countless families; their benefits allow the elderly to enjoy their later years; their stable jobs allow children to go to school with peace of mind."
"I do these things not to be different, but because I sincerely believe that this is a responsibility that enterprises should bear and the cornerstone of sustainable development."
"Technology can keep breaking through, and profits can keep growing, but everyone only has one life. They have devoted their most precious years to the company's development, and we should provide them with a decent life."
Baisong fell silent.
He knew that the topic had already been explored in great depth.
The cameraman's lens was firmly mounted, and the red light remained on.
Wang Donglai continued, "Some people ask me why Galaxy Technology has achieved its current success. I have many answers, but the most important one is that we strive to treat our employees as partners in common development."
"As partners, we must provide them with reasonable rewards, full respect, and reliable protection. We must make them truly feel that every contribution they make is recognized and that their future is closely linked to the company's development."
"In addition to technological innovation, Galaxy Technology is now striving to explore a fairer and more sustainable way of value distribution, so as to better ensure that workers receive the respect and rewards they deserve."
He paused, looked at the camera, and said thoughtfully, "I know that these practices and ideas may spark some discussion. Different companies have different business philosophies, which is normal."
"But I firmly believe that exploring a development path that balances efficiency and fairness and respects the value of workers is beneficial to the long-term development of the whole society."
"I founded Galaxy Technology hoping to explore and prove to everyone that a company that truly cares about its employees and shares the fruits of development with them can also achieve commercial success. A company that is willing to distribute profits reasonably can also grow and thrive. A company that does not rely on excessive exploitation but on innovation and win-win cooperation can also create value."
"If more and more companies can recognize and practice this concept, I believe our society will become a better place."
He's finished speaking.
The room was quiet for a moment.
Bai Song took a deep breath, feeling the weight of those words.
He glanced at the interview outline; the questions he had prepared seemed to need to be readjusted.
"Academician Wang..."
He finally spoke, his voice sincere: "I will record and present the views you shared today as they are. I believe that, regardless of whether they are all broadcast in the end, these thoughts themselves are valuable."
Wang Donglai smiled, a smile that conveyed relief and openness: "It's a good thing that it can spark discussion. Truth becomes clearer through debate."
At that moment, Bai Song made a decision.
He set aside his original interview outline and, following the topic, asked a crucial question: "Academician Wang, the licensing conditions for Xuanwu Battery technology that you proposed at the press conference, including hoping that partner companies would improve the treatment of frontline workers, standardize the payment of social insurance and housing provident fund, and explore employee stock ownership mechanisms, have indeed sparked widespread discussion. Some support it, believing that it reflects corporate social responsibility; others have doubts, feeling that it exceeds the scope of technological cooperation. What are your thoughts on these different opinions?"
Wang Donglai leaned back on the sofa, his expression calm.
"Reporter Bai, I'd like to discuss a basic issue with you first."
"What do you think is a reasonable income level for an average worker?"
Bai Song thought for a moment.
"This does vary depending on the industry, job position, and region, and it is difficult to measure it with a single standard."
Wang Donglai nodded.
"To take this a step further, what kind of financial security should a person have after retiring, given that they have worked diligently their entire life?"
After thinking for a moment, Bai Song replied, "That also depends on his payment history and the completeness of the social security system."
Wang Donglai continued, "So, you believe that the levels of wages and pension security are mainly determined by market mechanisms and current policies?"
Bai Song nodded: "That's roughly how it can be understood."
Wang Donglai smiled.
"Let's think about this one more time. If market mechanisms and policy implementation fail to reach their ideal state in certain aspects, resulting in some workers' incomes only being able to cover basic expenses, do you think this is something we can strive to improve?"
Bai Song seemed lost in thought and did not answer immediately.
“I understand that any change takes time. The suggestions I made were not unrealistic demands.”
"The five social insurances and one housing fund are clearly required by national laws and regulations. Reasonable working hours are also advocated by labor laws. Employee stock ownership is an incentive method that companies can choose independently."
"What I'm doing is simply hoping to push forward these things that should have been implemented and can have been done well, within the scope of our cooperation, in a more solid manner."
"Partner companies have full choice. Our proposed cooperation also includes competitive technical solutions, reasonable profit margins, and trustworthy payment terms, hoping to achieve a true win-win situation."
Bai Song took a deep breath, trying to explore the issue from another perspective.
"Academician Wang, we can all understand your starting point. But some people think that using technology licensing to guide the employment policies of partner companies might be... beyond the scope of normal cooperation between companies?"
"After all, a company's internal management is usually determined by the company itself. The government can regulate it through laws and regulations, but for a company to use technology as a link to impose its expectations on other companies in this regard, that's..."
Wang Donglai listened quietly.
He could sense Bai Song's sincerity in discussing the matter and was willing to engage in in-depth exchanges.
"Reporter Bai, do you think that doing this might interfere with the company's right to operate independently?"
Bai Song did not deny it.
Wang Donglai smiled.
"Let's think about this from another angle—if there's a company in the market that uses extreme cost-cutting to compete on price, squeezing out competitors and forming a monopoly, ultimately raising prices and harming consumer interests, do you think this model is healthy?"
Bai Song was stunned for a moment.
"This falls under the category of unfair competition."
"Yes. So if a company gains a short-term price advantage by excessively compressing labor costs, forcing competitors to follow suit, leading to low-level competition across the industry and a continuous devaluation of workers, do you think this phenomenon is reasonable?"
Baisong fell silent.
Wang Donglai said, "This is precisely the original intention behind my suggestions."
"It's not about interfering with anyone, but about discussing with everyone how to avoid falling into that cycle of 'low-level involution' and exploring a healthier, more sustainable development path."
"When businesses get caught in vicious competition, profits are meager, workers' incomes are limited, and their purchasing power is insufficient, the market shrinks further, and businesses can only continue to cut costs—this is a cycle that we need to be wary of."
"What we hope to do is to work with everyone to try to break out of this cycle."
Bai Song pondered for a moment, then asked a more profound question: "Academician Wang, what you just mentioned reminds me of a goal we are all pursuing."
"This goal has been repeatedly mentioned over the years. However, in practice, everyone's understanding of its meaning may differ. How do you understand it?"
Wang Donglai did not avoid the topic.
"Reporter Bai, what do you think constitutes achieving this goal?"
Bai Song thought for a moment and answered seriously, "It's probably... to make the fruits of development benefit everyone more fairly, so that everyone's life can get better and better?" Wang Donglai nodded.
"This understanding is accurate and insightful. We can try to express it in more detail—"
"Achieving this goal is not simply about equal outcomes, but about striving to create an environment where every worker can earn a decent income and the dignity they deserve through honest labor."
"A decent income means that the money earned can support your current life and also provide security for the future."
“A dignified life means not having to worry about basic medical care, not having to worry about old age, and not having to worry about the development opportunities for the next generation.”
He looked at the white pine.
Do you think this is the direction we should be working towards together?
Bai Song thought about it carefully and nodded.
Wang Donglai continued, "The measures I promoted at Galaxy Technology—standardizing the payment of social insurance and housing fund, supplementing commercial insurance, providing reasonable year-end bonuses, exploring employee stock ownership, and piloting more flexible work methods—were not because I was particularly noble, but because I sincerely believed that this was the healthy cooperative relationship that should exist between the company and its employees."
"When a company achieves growth, sharing the results with the employees who create value should not be seen as a favor, but as a fair reward based on contribution."
"Employees have put in a lot of effort, and the company provides them with corresponding protection and room for development. This is not only a moral obligation, but also a wise choice for the company's long-term development."
He paused.
"If more and more companies can reach this consensus, then the goals we pursue will be gradually achieved in daily practice."
Bai Song pressed on, "Academician Wang, didn't your explanation just now give the impression that you don't value the role of capital in economic development?"
Wang Donglai shook his head.
"No, I fully acknowledge the crucial role of capital. Without capital investment, it would be difficult to achieve business expansion, technological research and development, and market development."
"But what we need to consider is, in the process of value creation and distribution, what proportion is more sustainable?"
"I'm reminded of a classic example."
"When Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company, decided to significantly increase workers' wages, it was not widely understood. But the result was that as workers' incomes increased, they were able to buy the products they produced, the market size expanded accordingly, and the company achieved greater development."
"This is the virtuous cycle that capital and labor can form."
"Capital receives a reasonable return, workers receive fair compensation, and together we can make the 'cake' of value creation bigger and more sustainable."
"This contrasts with the cycle in which, in some extreme cases, capital crowds out the reasonable returns to labor, leading to insufficient purchasing power for workers and limited market space."
He looked at Bai Song: "In your opinion, which model is more viable in the long run?"
Bai Song listened intently, his palms slightly sweaty, but his mind became increasingly clear.
He realized that this was a rare and in-depth conversation.
After calming himself down, Bai Song continued, "Academician Wang, what role do you think technology should play in this process?"
Wang Donglai thought for a moment and replied, "Technology itself is a tool, a capability."
"The value of a tool depends on the user's philosophy and goals."
"Technology can be used to over-exploit the limits of human capabilities. For example, certain algorithm designs may exacerbate the workload and risks for practitioners."
"Technology can also be used to liberate human resources. For example, we are exploring the use of intelligent systems to take over repetitive tasks, allowing people to focus on more creative work."
"The key lies in the starting point of technology research and development and the design of application scenarios."
“When we are developing technology, we think not only about ‘how to improve efficiency’, but also about ‘how to make the work process more humane’.”
"It's not just about 'how to maximize corporate profits,' but also about exploring 'how to enable workers to benefit more from technological progress.'"
"This is not a simple moral judgment, but rather my conviction that technology can only truly demonstrate its positive value when technological progress is synchronized with the improvement of human well-being."
"For example, we can see that in some management methods, technology is used for more refined process monitoring, which may put pressure on practitioners; there are also applications that try to use technology analysis to more objectively assess work status. Where is the 'degree' of technology application, and how can technology be made more humane, are issues that deserve continuous discussion by the whole society."
Bai Song agreed wholeheartedly after hearing this.
Before we knew it, fifty minutes had passed in the interview.
Bai Song checked the time and knew the interview was nearing its end.
But there was one crucial question lingering in his mind that he had to ask.
"Academician Wang, one last question—"
"Some argue that the concepts you advocate and practice are setting a new benchmark for corporate governance, which may put pressure on some traditional models. What is your view on this statement?"
The scene quieted down.
The staff were all waiting.
Wang Donglai paused for a moment.
Then he smiled and said sincerely, "Reporter Bai, do you know what kind of person I admire most?"
Bai Song shook his head.
"The people I admire most are those predecessors who laid a solid foundation for the country's development. Under extremely difficult conditions, they created one miracle after another with their firm beliefs and unremitting struggle."
"Their spirit of striving for progress, dedication, and pioneering is our precious spiritual wealth."
"The foundation they laid enabled our country to develop into the world's second largest economy and achieve remarkable success."
"Today, times are changing, technology is advancing, and society is transforming."
"We need to inherit and carry forward that spirit, while combining it with the new conditions of the times to continuously innovate and forge ahead."
He looked at Bai Song with a sincere expression: "I am not trying to 'set up any new rules,' but rather to use my skills and abilities in my own field to do what I believe I should do, and to contribute my meager strength to the progress of this era."
"If anyone has a different opinion about my approach, I welcome open and rational discussion and criticism."
"Truth becomes clearer through debate. The exchange and collision of different viewpoints helps us see things more clearly and move forward more steadily."
"If my understanding is flawed, I am willing to listen, learn, and continuously correct it. If my exploration has some value, I also hope to provide a model for broader thinking."
"I believe that as long as the direction is right, no matter how long the road is, we will reach our destination if we keep walking."
"The efforts each of us makes in our respective positions are collectively pushing that better future to become a reality step by step."
The interview is over.
The machine is off.
The lights went out.
The scene was silent, a silence born of deep thought.
Bai Song sat there, motionless for a long time.
He has been conducting interviews for decades, and rarely has he been so deeply moved by a conversation as he was today.
Wang Donglai stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the city outside.
"Reporter Bai, is there anything else you'd like to discuss?"
Bai Song smiled wryly and said sincerely, "Academician Wang, I think I will think about the points you raised today for a long time."
Wang Donglai turned around, looked at him, and his gaze was gentle.
"Let's think about it together. Because these thoughts concern each of our lives and our shared future."
Bai Song stood up and walked up to Wang Donglai.
"Academician Wang, thank you for accepting the interview and sharing such profound insights with us."
Wang Donglai extended his hand.
"Thank you for listening attentively and taking notes. Greetings to our viewers."
The two shook hands.
The interview team packed up their equipment, deep in thought, and quietly left. (End of Chapter)