Tech Giants: Starting from Bankrupt Companies

24: Chapter 24: The Light of a SparkBillions in capital flowed like hot blood into the already robust body of Spark Technology, bringing not just the confidence for expansion, but a surging, outward-bursting morale.

Every corner of the company was filled with a sense of pride and urgency in creating history and participating in the future.

The capital market responded to this prosperity in the most direct way—the stock price of Spark Technology, supported by solid performance expectations and a grand strategic layout, climbed steadily, breaking through the 150-yuan mark in one go, with the company’s market value moving toward even more astonishing figures.

In this atmosphere of soaring progress, a management meeting concerning the present and future was taking place in the top-floor conference room.

CFO Shen Nanpeng stood before the presentation screen. Usually composed, his tone now carried a hint of irrepressible excitement.

Displayed on the screen was the performance forecast for the first half of 2016.

”CEO Su, colleagues,” he adjusted his glasses, his laser pointer landing on the key data, ”According to preliminary calculations, our three major business lines have blossomed across the board in the first half of the year! Sales of the xinghuo no. 2 drone and the ’Lingmou 1’ camera continue to lead, especially in overseas markets, where growth has far exceeded expectations! And the most dazzling of all is undoubtedly the spark super energy battery business!”

His voice rose a few notches: ”In less than two months since its official supply to the market, the revenue contribution from the battery business has shown exponential growth! The first batch of flagship model orders from Huawei, the starter battery replacement orders from Geely, and emergency purchase orders from several outdoor power brands have pushed our production capacity to the limit! It is no exaggeration to say that the H1 performance will far exceed our most optimistic estimates, laying a solid foundation for the full-year bet!”

The data was cold, but when spoken by Shen Nanpeng, it carried a scorching temperature.

All the executives present wore smiles of shared honor; they knew they were personally participating in and driving a commercial miracle.

Meanwhile, in the quiet yet infinitely promising R&D center, it was a different scene.

Wang Ming and Wu Hao—one a technical veteran who had accompanied the company through its lows, the other a top-tier scientist who led the materials revolution—stood side-by-side on the second-floor observation corridor of the laboratory, overlooking the busy young engineers in the open-plan office area below.

Those young faces, whether staring intently at screens for simulation calculations, fiercely debating technical difficulties, or weaving between various precision instruments, all had eyes that flashed with devotion to technology and passion for exploration.

”Old Wang, sometimes when I look at them, I really feel like I’m dreaming.” Wu Hao said softly, rubbing his eyes, which were sore from consecutive nights of staying up late. ”A little over a year ago, I was still in my previous company’s lab, racking my brains for a tiny performance improvement, feeling that the industry barriers were insurmountable. But now... we are not only mass-producing disruptive products, but also defining the future direction of technology.”

Wang Ming patted his shoulder heavily, his face filled with the relief and pure pride that comes after weathering the storm: ”Old Wu, I understand! I feel it even more deeply than you. Think back to the beginning of last year, that drafty, broken laboratory, a few of us worrying around a few antiquated pieces of equipment... then look at it now!” He waved his arm, sweeping across the vast space filled with top-tier equipment. ”It is CEO Su, it is Spark, that gave us such a stage! To be able to personally turn those era-surpassing technologies into reality here—this life is worth it!”

The two scientists smiled at each other, everything understood without words; it was a kind of satisfaction and pride belonging to tech people at the highest level.

Dozens of kilometers away, on the outskirts of Shenzhen, the spark super energy battery industrial park presented a scene of bustling activity.

The fully automated production lines were like precise giants, quietly and efficiently swallowing materials and producing batteries condensed with top-tier technology.

Production Director Liu Jian accompanied Master Chen, an elderly technician with graying hair, wearing old but clean work clothes, walking along the inspection corridor of the workshop that was clean enough to reflect a person’s image.

Master Chen was one of the very few old employees left from the original old Spark factory, now re-employed as a technical consultant and quality supervisor.

He touched the cold protective glass with trembling hands, watching the precise operation of the robotic arms inside, his eyes reddening involuntarily.

”Director... Director Liu,” his voice was somewhat choked, ”I... I worked at the old factory for over a dozen years. Back then, the equipment was old, there was always a smell in the workshop, the work was dirty and tiring, and I worried every day that the factory would go bankrupt... I never imagined, never dared to imagine, that our Spark could have today! To be able to produce things in such a bright, clean, and advanced place!” He turned to Liu Jian and said excitedly, ”This is all brought by CEO Su! Without CEO Su, there would be no Spark today, and even less so, no today for old Chen! I must thank the company, thank CEO Su!”

Liu Jian looked at the emotional old employee, his heart also filled with emotion.

He came from a manufacturing giant and had seen the world, but the speed of this transformation from hell to heaven at Spark, and the sense of belonging that bordered on faith, was something he had never felt anywhere else.

This morale and sense of belonging permeating every corner of the company needed to be remembered, and even more, sublimated.

A few days later, the largest auditorium at the Spark Technology headquarters was packed.

Not only were headquarters employees present, but core backbones from global branches also joined via video link.

This was the largest all-employee meeting since the founding of Spark Technology.

Su Chen stood in the center of the stage, looking at the faces below, full of youthful vigor, trust, and anticipation.

There were the old retainers who had accompanied him from the brink of bankruptcy, core backbones who could hold their own in various fields, and countless young bloods who had joined with dreams.

He did not talk about cold performance data, nor did he describe a distant strategic blueprint. Instead, with a calm and powerful voice that seemed to penetrate into everyone’s heart, he said slowly:

”My Spark family members,”

This ”family” was like a warm electric current, instantly piercing through all the inherent barriers of the workplace, making everyone’s heart tremble.

”A year and a half ago, the land beneath our feet was still a ruin with no hope in sight. There was only 480,000 left in the company’s account, downstairs were debt-collecting suppliers and angry shareholders, and the office was piled with court summons and employee resignation letters. At that time, someone told me that Spark was finished, that there was no saving it.”

His voice was not loud, but it carried a heavy weight, pulling everyone’s memory back to that precarious winter.

Below the stage, many old employees clenched their fists involuntarily; that dark, confused, and even humiliating memory was still clear.

”But, just when everyone chose to leave, thirty-five people chose to stay.” Su Chen’s gaze was like the gentlest searchlight, slowly sweeping over the familiar faces below, lingering on Wang Ming, Lin Wan, and every ”one-thirty-fifth” present. ”You chose to trust me, to trust a future that seemed impossible. We squeezed into a drafty office, ate the cheapest boxed lunches, and argued until we were red in the face over a single parameter... At that time, we didn’t know if we could succeed, we were just betting, betting on that little ’spark’ in our hearts that refused to go out!”

Below the stage, an old employee sitting in the corner, who was now a battery production line team leader, bit his lip hard to keep from sobbing.

He remembered that winter when his wife urged him to find a new job, but he chose to stay on a whim to go crazy with this young boss.

At this moment, a huge sense of bitterness and pride welled up, turning into hot tears spinning in his eyes.

”Not just them,” Su Chen’s voice became softer, yet more penetrating, ”but every partner who joined later. I remember the R&D department staying up more than a dozen nights in a row to overcome flight control algorithms, finally sleeping directly on the laboratory floor; I remember the brothers and sisters on the production line, working three shifts around the clock to catch up on the first batch of orders, their eyes bloodshot, yet not a single person complained; I remember the colleagues in the marketing department, holding a translator and grinding again and again to win over the first overseas client, drinking until they vomited but still accompanying them with a smile...”

Everything he said seemed to be recreating the scene, touching the softest and proudest parts of the employees’ hearts in different positions.

A young software engineer lowered his head and secretly wiped the corner of his eye; he remembered the first project he participated in after joining, those days of forgetting food and sleep—so the boss remembered it all.

”It was you, with wisdom, sweat, and unwavering trust, who pulled Spark out of the quagmire bit by bit, pushed it to a market value of one hundred billion, and gave it industry influence!” Su Chen’s voice gradually rose, containing surging emotions, ”But, I want to ask everyone, if the company develops, grows, and has all of this, yet cannot allow every family member who fought for it to live a more dignified, stable, and happy life, then what is the meaning of these cold numbers and so-called status?!”

”It has no meaning!” He answered his own question almost decisively.

”Today, I stand here, not as a Chairman, but as a partner who has fought side-by-side with everyone and will continue to walk together in the future, to solemnly promise you—” He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over every emotional face in the audience, every word like a vow hitting everyone’s heart:

”Spark will never forget anyone who has contributed to her! Your sweat will never be shed in vain! The trust and youth you bet on, Spark will surely repay a hundredfold!”

”Hum—”

The big screen behind him suddenly lit up, like the rising sun. A few thick and warm characters, as if carrying temperature, burned everyone’s retinas and instantly ignited the whole audience—

Spark Housing Plan!

A wave of irrepressible commotion broke out below the stage instantly.

Su Chen explained in detail this welfare plan that could shock the entire industry and even change the fate of countless people:

Coverage: The initial 35 employees automatically obtain the highest qualification and are directly gifted a house. Other employees will obtain purchasing qualifications based on comprehensive evaluations of seniority, performance, and job importance.

Core Terms:

1. Ordinary employees: Can apply to purchase ”Spark Homes” properties built or procured by Spark Group, with an option for 20-year installments. For every year served in the company, the corresponding housing payment for that year is directly waived! If the service reaches 20 years, the property rights will be automatically and freely transferred to the employee! If one resigns for personal reasons midway, the remaining housing payments must be made up according to the agreement.

2. Core backbones, senior engineers, and middle management: Depending on the level and contribution to the company, the company will gift a corresponding amount of housing funds, up to 50% of the housing price!

3. Executives and top scientists: The company will directly equip them with housing of the corresponding standard as company welfare based on their outstanding contributions.

After the plan was announced, the entire auditorium fell into a dead silence for several seconds.

Then, like a volcanic eruption, deafening applause, cheers, and even excited sobbing burst forth!

Many people could not believe their ears, confirming the details with each other, and then there were frantic hugs!

Especially in a first-tier city like Shenzhen, ”settling down” is the heaviest burden on so many excellent young people!

And Spark Technology had unexpectedly solved this biggest worry for them in such a generous, warm, and sincere way!

”Long live CEO Su!”

”Long live Spark!”

”I’m sticking with Spark for the rest of my life!”

The fanatical waves of sound almost flipped the roof of the auditorium.

Lin Wan watched Su Chen under the spotlight in the audience, tears shimmering in her eyes.

She knew this was not just a welfare plan, but Su Chen’s fulfillment of his promise and his cherishing of his partners.

Wang Ming clapped hard, his chest heaving violently.

That Master Chen on the production line, seeing this through the live broadcast, was streaming with tears, muttering continuously: ”It’s worth it, it’s worth it...”

The ”Spark Housing Plan”, like a giant stone thrown into the center of a lake, stirred up not only the extreme loyalty and sense of belonging of the employees, but also caused an earthquake-like reaction throughout the tech circle and the workplace.

It pushed Spark Technology’s employer brand to the altar and also built a solid talent moat for the company, cast with sincerity and tangible benefits.

The light of Spark, not only shining in the capital market and the technological frontier, but also warmly shining into the hearts of every Spark person, condensed into an invincible, surging force moving toward the future.