Tech Giants: Starting from Bankrupt Companies

93: Chapter 93 The Return-to-China Wave Triggered by Zhang WeiOn August 26th, the reception room of the Consulate General in San Francisco was arranged in a solemn yet warm manner.

Deep red carpets lay on the floor, an embroidery of the Great Wall hung on the wall, and several fresh lilies were placed in a blue and white porcelain vase on the coffee table. Zhang Wei sat on the sofa, looking at the document in front of him—the formal declaration to renounce his American citizenship.

Consul Wang of the consulate personally poured tea for him: ”Mr. Zhang, let’s confirm one last time. Once you sign, you will no longer be an American citizen. According to American law, renouncing citizenship is an irreversible decision, and you may face an exit tax audit.”

Zhang Wei smiled, a sense of relief in his expression: ”I’ve lived in America for twenty-two years and became a citizen eleven years ago. But every time I filled out the nationality column, there was always a void in my heart. Today, I can finally fill it.”

The tip of the pen touched the paper, and the signature was smooth and powerful.

The ceremony was simple but significant. Consul Wang handed him a copy of the document along with a brocade box. Upon opening it, inside was a mutton-fat white jade plaque engraved with the words ”A Patriot Returns Home,” with a detailed outline of the Huaxia map on the back.

”This is a small token from the motherland,” Consul Wang said. ”Thank you for choosing to come back.”

Zhang Wei stroked the jade plaque, the warm touch traveling from his fingertips to his heart. He looked up and saw the cameras prepared by the consulate staff and several invited media reporters.

”Do I need to say a few words?”

”If you’re willing.”

Zhang Wei stood up and walked to the national flag—the Five-Star Red Flag looked exceptionally bright in the San Francisco morning light. He turned around to face the camera, without a script, speaking only the words that had been building up in his heart for over twenty years.

”Standing here today, I am not giving up a nationality, but choosing a future.”

His voice was steady and firm.

”Twenty-two years ago, I came to America on a full scholarship for my PhD. My advisor told me: ’Zhang, the future of semiconductor technology is here.’ I believed him. I worked at Intel for fifteen years, participating in the R&D of five generations of processes from 65nm to 7nm. I led a team of thirty people from eight countries. I thought this was the meaning of internationalization—people from different countries advancing technology together.”

”But three years ago, things began to change. My Chinese colleagues were gradually moved off key projects, our technical exchange meetings were suddenly canceled, and every time I applied for funding, I had to write fifty more pages of ’risk assessment’ than the white teams. Last year, my leading 3D packaging technology proposal was rejected on the grounds that it ’might flow to Huaxia through you.’”

Zhang Wei paused, a flash of pain in his eyes.

”In that moment, I suddenly understood: no matter how many years I live here, no matter how much I contribute, in the eyes of some people, I will always be a Chinese person, forever carrying the label of ’potential traitor.’ Since that’s the case, why not return to a place that truly welcomes and needs me?”

He held up the jade plaque in his hand.

”What Spark Technology gave me is an opportunity—not just a job, but a mission. We need to establish Huaxia’s own chip industry chain, from EDA tools to manufacturing equipment, from materials to design. This path is difficult and may take ten or twenty years. But if our generation doesn’t walk it, the next generation will have to start from scratch.”

”So today, I officially announce: I have restored my Huaxia nationality and will join Spark Technology full-time as the Vice President of Advanced Process R&D. I want to say to the Chinese engineers who are still hesitating: The motherland needs your technology, your experience, and even more, your courage. Come back, let us fight together for the rise of Huaxia chips.”

The video was released at three o’clock that afternoon.

The distribution channels included not only Spark’s official platforms but also the overseas accounts of Huaxia Daily, Huaxin News Agency, and CCTV News. It was expertly edited with stirring music and both Chinese and English subtitles.

The data was explosive.