Chapter Four: The First Money—and the Patent Is Not for Sale

Jiming read the clause and, for once, found nothing to criticize. “You arranged this at the negotiating table.” “Cash is not a number resting in an account. It is money only if it opens the next door.” The electronic release arrived one minute before six. Factory lights came on one after another. Han and his crew opened workshops sealed for six months. Dust rolled through the beams, and old engineers touched their machines like children returned after a long separation. Then the recall list went up. None of the twelve critical process engineers reported for work. All had been hired by Kunze Materials at inflated salaries, with their penalties prepaid. Hengchuan's only qualified electrolyte supplier also issued a cutoff notice.