Chapter 422 Motorola Headquarters
Lin Haoran's ascension as a shareholder and Vice Chairman of Walmart did not cause much of a stir in the United States. After all, Walmart's current presence in America was not particularly strong, with its chain stores mainly concentrated in several southeastern states, totaling just 229 locations. While this number was not insignificant, the limited regional coverage made it difficult to attract widespread attention.
Yet, history is always full of unexpected turns. No one could have foreseen that, in just over twenty years, Walmart would undergo a dramatic transformation, rapidly increasing its number of stores and ultimately becoming the leader of the global retail industry, with its outlets surpassing ten thousand worldwide.
In comparison, Walmart's current scale might not seem especially remarkable. However, the rise of any giant requires a process of gradual accumulation and development. Lin Haoran understood this well, so he was not overly concerned with Walmart's present size.
On the contrary, due to Lin Haoran's frequent appearances in major media during this period, Walmart's visibility increased significantly. Some investors began turning their attention to Walmart. Lin Haoran's successful investments, particularly in Apple and his ventures in Hong Kong, had been widely reported by the media, making him well-known even in the U.S.
As a result, Lin Haoran had garnered a considerable fanbase in America, much like Steve Jobs would be revered by many in the future. Since Lin Haoran had invested in Walmart, those who admired him believed that Walmart must have a promising future and thus followed suit, purchasing Walmart shares. Consequently, Walmart's stock price rose noticeably.
However, these developments had little to do with Lin Haoran directly. Although Walmart was also a target quietly accumulated by Global Investment Company, stock acquisition was a long-term task. Fluctuations in stock prices were normal and not something he was overly concerned about.
On December 25th, a day of special significance in the West, it was Christmas. In New York, the festive atmosphere could be felt throughout shopping malls and along the streets. However, for Lin Haoran, a native of China, Western holidays never held much personal significance.
At 9:30 AM, Lin Haoran arrived at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. Accompanying him were the brothers Li Weidong and Li Weiguo, along with thirteen other covert security guards. His destination was Chicago, Illinois, where he planned to visit the headquarters of Motorola.
Su Zhixue personally came to see him off.
"You've been in the United States for over twenty days now; you must have gotten used to life here by now, right?" Lin Haoran asked with a smile as they sat in the waiting lounge.
"Boss, I didn't have many friends back in Hong Kong anyway. This time, I brought my wife and children with me to America, so I don't feel uncomfortable at all," Su Zhixue replied, shaking his head.
"If anything happens, call me immediately. My arrangements here in America are very important. Out here, you're the person I trust the most," Lin Haoran said, his tone carrying a sense of solemnity.
"Yes, Boss. I understand. I will do my utmost to live up to your trust," Su Zhixue responded seriously with a nod.
Lin Haoran patted him lightly on the shoulder and continued, "Especially now, as we are gradually expanding our operations in America. As the head of our operations here, you bear a heavy responsibility. Whether it's the acquisition of stocks in companies like Coca-Cola, Intel, Citibank, Chevron, or ExxonMobil, or future projects we might undertake, you must coordinate everything carefully to ensure smooth progress. I'm counting on you."
"Rest assured, Boss. I will handle everything properly," Su Zhixue replied, his eyes full of firmness and confidence.
Lin Haoran smiled and nodded before turning around and walking toward the boarding gate with the brothers Li Weidong and Li Weiguo, and the rest of the guards following. Their figures gradually disappeared into the bustling crowd, leaving only the sound of their footsteps echoing in the lounge.
Standing there, Su Zhixue watched Lin Haoran's departure, feeling a surge of emotion. His boss trusted him so much that he even felt a burning urge to give everything he had for Lin Haoran. He understood that this trust was not just a recognition of his ability, but also an expectation tied to the heavy responsibilities placed on his shoulders.
Su Zhixue had been following Lin Haoran for over two years now. He was the very first employee when Global Investment Company was established. At his darkest moment, it was Lin Haoran who had extended a helping hand. This gratitude was something he felt he could never fully repay, but loyalty and working diligently for his boss would be the best way to show his appreciation.
Taking a deep breath, Su Zhixue turned and left the departure hall.
Meanwhile, Lin Haoran and his team boarded their plane without issue.
Two hours later, their plane landed smoothly at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Lin Haoran had never been to Chicago before. The last time he came to the U.S., he had resolved matters related to gold futures in New York, then flown directly to San Francisco to visit Apple's headquarters and sign the investment contract, securing 10% of Apple's shares for just 10 million dollars—shares that later turned into 325 million dollars in cash.
Less than a year later, he was back in America, but this time traveling from New York to Chicago, the country's third-largest city.
Stepping off the plane, the winter sun was shining brightly, although the heat was hardly felt. It was around eleven in the morning. The United States mainland spans four time zones, from Eastern to Pacific, with each zone an hour apart; New York is in Eastern Time, while Chicago is in Central Time.
Looking up at the azure sky, Lin Haoran couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.
This trip to Chicago wasn't about making an investment. Rather, it was to visit Motorola's headquarters in the suburb of Schaumburg.
Accompanied by Li Weidong, Li Weiguo, and the other guards, Lin Haoran stepped out into Chicago's crisp, fresh air. Due to the influence of Lake Michigan, Chicago's winters are notoriously windy. The city was not as bustling as New York, but it had a unique charm and vibrancy of its own.
"Boss, where are we heading next?" Li Weidong asked.
"Let's get settled at the hotel first. We'll head to Schaumburg this afternoon," Lin Haoran replied.
The hotel had already been booked by Su Zhixue in advance—the Vertex Mirage Hotel, located on the top floors of the Willis Tower, the tallest building in the world at the time. Inspired by the reflections of changing clouds, the hotel featured a rooftop infinity pool with dynamic optical glass embedded at the bottom, projecting flowing clouds by day and star trails by night.
Since Lin Haoran had plans to develop Mandarin Oriental Hotels into a world-class brand, he decided to stay in as many top luxury hotels as possible to learn from their experiences.
After checking in, Lin Haoran was deeply impressed by the hotel's unique design and luxurious service. Standing by the infinity pool, he admired the spectacular view of Chicago's skyline, where the outlines of the city and the drifting clouds interwove into a mesmerizing, dynamic display.
It was no wonder this was the most expensive hotel in Chicago. Experiencing such beauty firsthand, Lin Haoran felt that the price, though high, was entirely justified.
After a brief rest, Lin Haoran changed into a crisp suit, ready to head toward Motorola's headquarters.
Leaving the hotel, he and his team drove toward Schaumburg. Along the way, Lin Haoran gazed out the window, taking in the scenery—towering skyscrapers, wide avenues—showcasing Chicago's modernity and splendor.
Lin Haoran, of course, did not personally know Motorola's CEO, Robert Galvin, but that was not an issue. Through an introduction arranged by Citibank, he had already made contact. They had scheduled a private meeting for this afternoon.
The main purpose of the meeting was to collaborate with Motorola to make Hong Kong the first region in the world to commercially deploy mobile phones. Lin Haoran could no longer endure the inconvenience of not being able to contact others while traveling.
Although current mobile phones were bulky, resembling bricks, their portability and ability to facilitate real-time communication made them invaluable.
An hour later, Lin Haoran's motorcade arrived at their destination: Motorola's headquarters, located within an expansive industrial park covering 300 acres.
This campus, established more than a decade earlier, could accommodate over ten thousand employees and was one of America's first corporate headquarters to feature cleanroom semiconductor labs.
Security was tight, but after Lin Haoran reported his identity, he was allowed to proceed, with a patrol car even guiding his vehicle. Clearly, Robert Galvin had already informed security about Lin Haoran's visit.
Under the patrol car's escort, Lin Haoran's convoy slowly advanced toward the core area of Motorola's headquarters. The campus, shaded by lush greenery and interspersed with modern office buildings, radiated an atmosphere of both tranquility and high efficiency.
Their car finally stopped in front of a uniquely designed building.
Lin Haoran adjusted his suit and stepped out of the car, with the brothers Li Weidong and Li Weiguo following closely behind. As for the other security personnel, they remained in the vehicles. After all, if such a heavily guarded place wasn't safe, then nowhere would be.
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