My Life as an Awoken

Chapter 129: Phone Call

When I got home Xue Qing was in the living room working on her laptop and watching some TV.

It was already late but she was still working. She said that not working for a few weeks was her limit. That she was starting to feel anxious without working.

I decided to wait until she was at a stopping point.

A few minutes later she stopped typing and looked up at me. She said, "Hey, how was it today? Did everything go well?"

"Yeah, it did but, maybe a little too well? Because now the production is more than I expected and the market has jumped higher than I thought it would."

"Suffering from success? I don’t really see a problem."

"It’s because I don’t know what market to go for. Either corporation or a general consumer. Plus the estimated profits are a lot higher than I initially expected."

"What’s the difference between corporate and general public? Also how much are the estimated profits now?"

The difference is that corporate takes less material cost but it also makes less money. While it is the opposite for the general consumer product. The estimates for both are a little over a billion dollars. And that’s on a low end estimate."

Xue Qing put the computer to the side, leaned forward, then pinched the bridge of her nose.

We sat in a momentary silence until she said, "How on earth are you able to make that much with two production lines of RAM? What kind of RAM are you producing? Is it made of gold?"

"It might as well be. I have talked to you about the patented RAM I made, right?"

"Yeah? But, if I recall it was impossible to make... you don’t mean!?"

"Yeah... I managed to get it to work. Or you know, I got the machines to be way more efficient and with some clever loopholes. I am now able to make them at 4 times the rate of the original production speed.

Plus, since I was able to make them I could run the actual numbers and find out what the stats are. I found out that the RAM is running at 128GB DDR7.

So, that’s why I’m in a dilemma. Because, I could go corporate and sell 128GB DDR7 or I could go general consumer and sell 32GB DDR7.

I ran the numbers on what the comparable DDR5 versions are currently going for. Which is why I said the estimate was on the low end."

"Haa~. So, you are making a ton of future tech RAM?"

"Yes?"

"And you were wondering who to sell it to?"

"Yep."

"Do you remember what my company is?"

"...Oh! Do you want to buy it?"

"Haa~. Sometimes you really push my patience."

"Haha. I know. I do it on purpose."

"Buying all of it will be difficult. Since the company only makes a little over a billion dollars and I have expenses and salaries to pay. I probably only have around $800,000,000 to spend on RAM."

"Hmm. So still $300,000,000 short. I could sell the extra to the public or to friendly consortiums. I could also just sell them to you for a wholesale discount."

"I don’t really like either idea. I don’t want to short change you, but I also wouldn’t want it to get out that you can produce such high tech stuff."

"Yeah. The risk is certainly high if the rest of the world finds out. But, I still have to provide a sample to the control board for testing. To make sure I’m not infringing on international patents and to make sure I have quality control. So, I think it will get out anyway."

"Of course... But! If you already have a contract signed. Then they can’t really do anything about it."

"So, you are going to buy all of them?"

"I will if that’s what you want."

"Yeah. It saves me a lot of trouble."

"Ok. Then I will get right to work getting a contract written up."

As Xue Qing got right back into working I dove into my thoughts. Thinking, well there goes my initial plans to become the cool guy that solved the world’s gamer’s problems by offering cheap, good RAM to the average person.

Sigh. I can still do that by making more factories or by making VR a reality. I should start the experiments I was planning for that.

But what a way to spend my birthday. Working all day.

...

Two days later. Saturday. February 7.

I received a contract for $800,000,000 in exchange I would provide my entire year’s supply of RAM. We decided on these terms because if I produced more or less it could put the contract in jeopardy if we had a specific number.

So we went vague, which could put her in an unfavorable position. If I say stopped all production and only made one box for the entire year.

But, she was willing to take the risk.

...

Two days later. On Monday, February 9. Xue Qing had to leave. She had to return to her family for the Spring Festival. Which will go from February 17 to March 3. During that time Xue Qing will not be able to leave.

It is a very important holiday for all of Xia. She needs to get there at least a week before to help with preparations.

I saw her off along with all of her body guards as she left for a long holiday.

I was left alone feeling lonely in my massive house of solitude.

...

The next day. February 10.

It was a Tuesday that started like any other.

I got up groggy and especially tired. But I was determined to have a good day. So, I made myself some pancakes and decided to go for a walk.

Walking around the area I was blessed with some light snow falling.

It is some of my favorite weather.

Overcast with light snow fluttering all around. Everyone else also seemed to be enjoying the weather.

I walked down to the park by the town hall and visited the little shop there. Many other elderly people were there enjoying a warm drink and meal while watching the snow fall.

I spent some time talking to them while enjoying a warm drink myself.

Eventually, I excused myself and made my way back home. The couch I ordered for the home theater should have arrived today.

Walking back down the driveway with a skip in my step. I got to the front door and saw the couch wrapped up and waiting.

Usually they would help take it inside and take the trash. But, I asked them to just leave it at the door. I wanted to get it in myself and finish off the renovation with my own hands.

As I unlocked the door ready to struggle to move the couch. I got a phone call from mom.

I picked up the call and said happily, "Hey mom! What’s up?"

Her voice came through tense and low. It was seeping with dread. She said, "I don’t really know how to say this. But, Layla is dead."