Chapter 195: Traitor Steve Jobs

The headquarters of Apple Inc. is located in another city not far from Palo Alto, which is also one of the core cities of Silicon Valley.

After an hour's drive, Zhou Ming and Steve Jobs arrived at the headquarters of Apple Inc. However, in this era, Apple Inc. did not yet have the same large industrial scale as in later generations, and it did not have that kind of design. The current Apple headquarters is just a stepped building with a distinct sci-fi feel of the future. At the entrance, like other companies, there are national and state flags and three Apple flags hanging.

'Is this the headquarters of Apple Inc.? It's a magnificent building. Are the computers that have taken the world by storm designed and produced here? This is really unexpected, but today we are here to conquer it!' Cheng Qian followed Zhou Ming here. After getting out of the car, he looked up at the building of Apple Inc. across the street and couldn't help but say,

Zhou Ming smiled, patted Cheng Qian on the shoulder and said, 'Very lofty ambitions, but Apple is only our partner, especially now that they have not yet agreed, we had better be more humble.'

Cheng Qian thanked Zhou Ming and tried to remember what Zhou Ming had just said. He was very aware of the gap between himself and Zhou Ming, so he had to remember every word of Zhou Ming's. Perhaps he couldn't understand it now, but he might be able to understand it in the future. After all, surpassing means starting with imitation.

At the entrance to the Apple headquarters building, a short, stocky man was standing there. He was overjoyed to see Steve Jobs and immediately came up to greet him. Steve Jobs also introduced him to Steve: 'Michael, he is my best friend at Apple. These are Mr Zhou Ming and Mr Cheng Qian. They are the representatives of Jieke Company that I told you about and who are here to discuss cooperation with Apple today.'

Michael first politely greeted Ming Zhou and Qian Cheng, then angrily gave Jobs a slap. Although Michael looked very unhappy and raised his head to scold, 'Damn it, man, can't you just let Apple develop quietly? Every time you come here, you always drive people crazy.'

Jobs was not ashamed of this, but proud of it, and said, 'Quiet is all about the mood of a horror movie, only constant chaos is the right attitude for development.'

After a joke, Jobs asked, 'Is everything ready?'

Michael nodded and replied, 'Everyone is waiting for you at the company, but I'm afraid I can't understand what they are waiting for. I can only say, my friend, be prepared.'

Jobs nodded silently. He turned to Zhou Ming and smiled apologetically before they walked together into the headquarters building. Ten minutes later, they were in Apple's conference room.

'This is Apple's large conference room, where negotiations with customers and other matters are usually discussed.'

Jobs explained to Ming Zhou and Qian Cheng, while Michael went to notify the others of the meeting. Five minutes later, a few middle-aged men walked into the meeting room. After being introduced by Jobs, Ming Zhou knew that these were the top management of Apple Inc.

After everyone had taken their seats in the meeting room, a man with a squint and a shiny forehead stood up and questioned Steve Jobs: 'You are only a regular director of Apple, and a director who has been stripped decision-making power, but there are many other people at Apple. I ask you not to always think of Apple as your own personal property, which is impossible. Do you understand?'

Facing the accusation, Jobs stood up and retorted, 'If it's not mine, is it your personal property? Mr John, I ask you to understand that you are not the owner of Apple Inc. If your marketing tactics cannot get Apple Inc. through the current crisis, you will be out of here in no time. Apple Inc. is an innovative company, not a place for you to practice personal politics!

While Steve Jobs and John were arguing like cats on a hot tin, another thin middle-aged man stood up and said, 'Okay, although it's an open secret that you two don't get along, in front of our guests, we still have to maintain the unity we deserve, don't we?'

Following the middle-aged man's words, Jobs and John stopped arguing. The one with such charisma was naturally Ball, who had replaced Jobs as chairman of the board.

Ball pointed at Ming Zhou and Qian Cheng and asked, 'Jobs, my friend, you should introduce the clients you brought first.'

Jobs calmed down a little, then introduced Ming Zhou and Qian Cheng, and explained that Jieke Company wanted to cooperate with Aipai Company on the plan to participate in this technology exhibition.

'This plan has been approved by Forte, and they will also give up the best location in the middle. I think Apple can accept this plan and cooperate with Jieke to participate in the exhibition...'

Before Steve Jobs could finish his sentence, John couldn't help but stand up and interrupt him, saying, 'I'm sorry, Mr. Jobs, but I really can't listen to any more, because your ideas are just too incredible.'

Pointing at Ming Zhou and Qian Cheng, John continued, 'These two are from... Jieke, right? I'm sorry, I've never heard of this company. I don't think I'm the only one who doesn't know about it, but Jieke is not a well-known company, is it? Or is it that they are a small company with no reputation at all? But if they are just a small company, what reason is there for us to cooperate with them in an exhibition?'

John stared at Jobs and asked, 'Is it because they have some special research results? Or is it because they are your relative, Steve Jobs' nephew?'

With John's question, there was an instant burst of laughter in the conference room. Amidst the laughter, Jobs was very serious. With his sharp eyes fixed on John, he said, 'I wasn't sure before, but now I'm completely sure that the predicament Apple is in is because of you, you idiot!'

John laughed disdainfully, looking at Jobs askance and saying, 'What? Has Mr. Jobs now degenerated to such unqualified abuse?'

Jobs took a deep breath, suppressed the anger in his heart, and then said to John, 'I'm sorry, I don't think this is an insult. It's just a reminder to you. Just like now, I can understand that you don't accept my advice, but I don't understand why you have to mock it.'

'So you want to know the reason?' John said meaningfully, 'The reason is simple. Apple is a high-tech company, not a charity foundation, and it is not the Small Business Relief Association. We have no reason or obligation to help this company.'

'Mr. John, I think you're not really listening to me when you say that.'

Jobs then threw back John's question in a package, and continued, 'I never said that Apple's cooperation with Janco was an obligation. From the beginning, what I have emphasised the equality and reciprocity between the two parties. In other words, if we can cooperate with Jeco, then their vice-president can pay us 10 million in compensation.'

After these words, there was an instant uproar in the conference room. Everyone looked at Jobs in amazement, unable to believe the figure.

Although Apple created four billionaires within an hour of its IPO, that was more of a company-wide asset, and it was a glorious past. Now, with other companies launching personal computers computers continue to seize the market, Apple's capital has long been in trouble, and this is precisely the reason why they were so surprised when they heard that they could earn 10 million.

However, John still stood up and objected: 'If this is a deal, then I don't think I agree with it as the CEO of Apple. The reason is simple: the core technology of our company is not something that can be bought for 20 million. Or should I say, Mr. Jobs, your friends at Apple simply want to beg for crumbs from our table?

When John finished speaking, the others in the meeting room let out another gasp, because John's words had directly hit the nail on the head.

John's meaning was simple: if Apple Inc. accepted a partnership with Jieke Inc., then as a partner, Apple Inc. would inevitably have to provide Jieke Inc. with industrial, technological and service support, whether it be computer hardware or software, these aspects undoubtedly involve the technological core of Apple Inc. If this is so rashly given to another company, this is not allowed by any company.

Other companies cannot directly use the information even if they obtain it due to the existence of patent rights. However, it is different for Jackel Company. Due to the existence of the cooperation agreement, Jackel Company can directly use all the core technologies. In this way, Aipai Company has lost out.

'It It seems that Jeco is obviously unwilling or unwilling to be a beggar, so it needs the technical support provided by Apple.'

John suddenly laughed here, and he looked at Jobs and continued, 'I can't help but say that Mr. Jobs is really ambitious to want to buy the entire core technology of Apple for 10 million! did you resent being stripped of decision-making power by the board of directors, so you found a company called Jeco somewhere, and then tried to spend 10 million to buy Apple's core technology and compete with Apple for the market?'

'If if that really is the case, then you, Steve Jobs, are the biggest traitor in Apple!' John concluded.

With John's last words, everyone else in the meeting room was like a machine gun with the trigger pulled, each one furiously venting their anger at Steve Jobs.

One traitor, and a torrent of vicious abuse reached Jobs' ears, instantly breaking the tall man.

He sat down in his chair, paralyzed. He couldn't imagine how he, who had created Apple and worked hard for it his whole life, had become a traitor to Apple.

'No No, it's not like that. The cooperation between Apple and Jerko is simply based on mutual benefit. They are not going to steal our core technology. They just want to do a good job at this technology exhibition. You have to believe me!'

Jobs mumbled, but at this time no one would listen to his explanation. Instead, it provoked John's mockery: 'Cooperation won't steal? My God, Mr. Jobs, are you trying to tell us to believe that you are all the purest angels? But unfortunately, we are all too old to believe in fairy tales, so you should take your words back and tell them to your daughter!'

John words once again made the others in the meeting room laugh at Jobs. Amidst the jeers of the entire room, Jobs lowered his head in pain. He whispered to Zhou Ming, 'I'm sorry, I didn't expect this outcome. I'm really sorry. They really are stupid and have no vision!'

Jobs made Cheng Qian feel a little sad. After all, Apple Inc. had embodied his countless efforts, and he had dreamed of returning to the company. However, he was now being treated like a traitor, which was saddening. Cheng Qian turned to look at Ming Zhou, but saw him smiling and saying to Steve Jobs, 'It's okay, my dear Mr. Jobs, you've done what you can, haven't you? I'll take care of the rest.'

Steve looked up and heard Zhou Ming say to him in the end, 'I'm really good at talking nonsense. After all, these days, there are a lot of things that you can just talk about without doing anything about them. Isn't that right?'