Cisco rented a 500-square-meter factory near the headquarters. The factory already had a building, along with dormitories and a canteen. As soon as Cisco procured the necessary production equipment, they planned to recruit workers and train them to manufacture routers. Twenty workers were hired, and Bosak personally guided them in production. By September, the factory was bustling, and they finally officially began operations.
Before this, Cisco confirmed the registration of its trademark featuring the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Each router would be affixed with a unique Cisco logo!
The atmosphere in the factory was electric, with Bosak and many R&D personnel joining the effort. By October, the factory had produced a total of 1,000 routers. Following the directives from Henry and the major shareholders, Bosak and the R&D team set off to various renowned universities to provide assistance. They visited Stanford University, the University of California, Harvard University, and others.
At each university, they delivered three to five routers and provided training on installation and usage. Bosak and the team faced adverse weather, making multiple runs through the city each day. First, they traveled to prestigious universities on the West Coast, then switched to the East Coast's elite institutions. Upon their return, Henry couldn't help but be taken aback by the state of his team.
He saw a group of tired, gaunt individuals who resembled those wandering through Africa.
"Mr. Bosak, have you all worked hard?" Henry asked with a warm smile, genuinely concerned.
"Haha, this hard work is nothing!" Posack shook his head, beaming.
"Was the trip smooth?" Henry inquired further.
"Of course!" Bosak replied excitedly. "Not only that, but we also secured an order!"
"Oh, really?!!!" Henry felt a rush of enthusiasm over the company's first order and hurriedly asked, "Which school placed it?"
"Harvard University!" Posack announced, "We gave them a trial router, and unexpectedly, they placed an order just three days later."
"How many routers do they want?"
"Ten."
"Only ten? Why does the enormous Harvard University only need ten routers?" Henry was excited yet secretly disappointed.
"Haha, don't be concerned. The person in charge told me that these routers are for a large research center. If they perform well, it could lead to widespread adoption across the entire university. At that point, we won't have to worry about orders!"
Henry smiled, feeling a bit embarrassed as he scratched the back of his head. "Oh, that makes sense; they couldn't utilize all the routers at once."
The high-end nature of routers doesn't appeal to advertising on TV. Currently, some schools and research institutions need routers, so Cisco's strategy is to first establish a network at a school, then radiate outwards, connecting companies, governments, or research institutions to this network. Various schools' networks can then connect, facilitating a national network, ultimately forming the Internet.
Henry suddenly felt a swell of pride; what he was doing was monumental!
"Benefiting humanity and changing the world!"
Shortly after, more schools began placing orders, keeping Cisco's small factory busy. The production cost for each router was $200, and after discussions, they decided to price the routers at $1,000. While this may sound steep, considering that computers cost tens of thousands, the orders from major schools helped maintain the company's operations. As the network reached a certain scale, Cisco would embark on explosive growth!
Meanwhile, the situation at Nicholas Bookstore was challenging. The Internet had yet to emerge, making online selling unrealistic. Henry, thinking outside the box, recruited computer talent to develop a browser—Netscape. He then created a website to display the inventory of Nicholas Bookstore. Although there was no actual internet connection, with the software installed, users could launch Netscape to browse the contents and make purchases over the phone.
This approach seemed cumbersome and could not update content in real-time, yet it was an effective "stopgap." The future Netscape browser would be a key player in the internet, eventually reaching a market value in the billions. The timing was right!
However, the work involved for the Nicholas Bookstore team was daunting.
Creating a browser followed by a comprehensive website was inherently technical and difficult to achieve at this stage!
Consequently, even though Henry opened Nicholas Bookstore in June, they still hadn't completed the browser. Regardless, many patents related to this browser were in the process of being filed; it was a journey of development, with slow progress being understood.
Nevertheless, money issues haunted Henry, as Nicholas Bookstore continued to burn through funds. He worried about when this financial drain would stop. Even once the Internet arrived, it would likely require significant capital; establishing its giant status wouldn't be cheap. Seeking venture capital felt premature, but going public for funding seemed too early. Ultimately, spending his own money appeared to be the most comfortable route.
But the trouble was, Henry didn't have money to burn!
E-commerce is notoriously costly. It incurs expenses both online and offline, from buying books to constructing warehouses and logistics—a staggering amount!
Just as Henry fretted over finances, in early November, Penguin Publishing finally settled the manuscript fee with him. This year, they had sold more than 13 million Harry Potter books, and after paying taxes, Henry received over ten million dollars.
With a whirlwind of magic sweeping across Europe, Penguin Publishing graciously invited Henry to attend a book signing event in London.
After some contemplation, Henry decided to accept the invitation from Penguin Press.
On November 15, 1985, Henry disembarked at London's airport, surprised to find hundreds of fans there to welcome him.
"Henry!!! Henry!!!"
"Harry Potter!!!"
Henry smiled and waved at everyone, and with the assistance of Penguin Publishing staff, he managed to navigate through the throng.
Once in the car, Henry wiped his brow and murmured, "Hehe, I didn't expect to be this famous already!"
A manager from Penguin Publishing chuckled, "Haha, of course! You're a genius here in the UK, especially since the Harry Potter story takes place in London! That's why the people of London admire you and your work!"
The manager leaned closer and whispered, "We at Penguin Press have heard some news that it seems Her Majesty the Queen is going to knight you!"
"Knight me?!!!" Henry was taken aback.
"Nothing comes from nothing; there may be truth to the rumor. I think it's quite possible," the manager speculated.
Henry felt thrilled; being knighted would elevate his status into the upper echelon of society.
Penguin Publishing had arranged for Henry to stay at a five-star hotel, and British newspapers began reporting on his arrival in London. That afternoon, Penguin Press held a press conference announcing that Henry Williams, author of Harry Potter, would hold a new book signing and sale at the London Hotel at 8 AM two days later. The fourth Harry Potter novel would debut in London!
Henry attended the press conference to promote the event and answered reporters' questions.
"Hello, Mr. Williams, I'm a reporter from The Sun. What inspired you to write? It's said that Harry Potter is based on your own life, is that right? Your situation seems quite similar!" the reporter queried.
"The original purpose for writing was quite simple: to make money. As for whether Harry Potter is based on my own experiences, I think it can be said that I drew from my life," Henry responded thoughtfully.
"Excuse me, is it true that eight British publishing houses rejected your work?"
"That is true. One publisher kindly sent me a letter, saying, 'Get a steady job; writing a book to get rich isn't for you.' Reading that made me more determined to write. Instead of wavering, I became even more resolute that I would succeed one day. And I did succeed; I became a favored writer. Of course, I don't hold any resentment toward that publishing house—instead, I am grateful to them!"
After the press conference, reporters rushed back to edit their pieces.
The next day, headlines across newspapers screamed Henry's name.
"A grand signing event for the new Harry Potter book on the 18th!"
"Harry Potter: The author himself!"
"A genius who was rejected eight times yet refused to give up!"
As a result, sales of British newspapers surged dramatically. Preliminary statistics showed that sales had increased by 50% over previous averages. Even printing presses in some factories were overwhelmed! George Makinson, CEO of Penguin Publishing, hosted a banquet in Henry's honor that evening, throwing a lavish party in the luxurious lobby of the London Hotel.
In the lobby, beautiful women mingled, and many business associates of Penguin Publishing attended!
When Henry arrived, Makinson approached with a welcoming smile. "Welcome, Henry the little writer!"
Makinson was in his thirties, young and promising, smartly dressed, and exuded an air of authority befitting the CEO of a world-class publishing group. Henry shook his hand, appreciating the gesture. "Thank you."
Makinson grinned, "Henry, I'm a loyal fan of your work!"
"Hehe, really? That's quite an honor!" Henry responded, smiling.
Makinson took Henry's hand and guided him in front of everyone, introducing him: "Everyone, this is Henry Williams, the author of the Harry Potter series!"
Everyone greeted Henry enthusiastically, including executives from television and newspapers, along with large chain bookstore owners and various colleagues.
Henry responded politely and like a gentleman to everyone.
Later, after the party, Makinson took Henry aside to a private room nearby. Henry knew this conversation was going to be important.
As expected, Makinson spoke directly: "Henry, I've heard you haven't authorized Asian copyrights to any other publishing houses. What are your thoughts about our Penguin Publishing House?"
Henry was not surprised; he anticipated Makinson's interest centered on Harry Potter. He pondered before responding, "The primary strength of Penguin Publishing is in Europe, while your reach in Asia isn't particularly robust."
"You're right. Nonetheless, Penguin Press has committed itself to making a concerted effort and is willing to invest heavily in establishing a presence in Asia. At that point, the Harry Potter series can also gain traction in that market!"
"Oh, really? And what kind of investment is your publisher talking about?"
"One hundred million pounds!!!"
Henry was taken aback, stunned by the publishing house's wealth.
Realizing Henry's shock, Makinson clarified, "This investment comes from Pearson, the parent company of Penguin Press. With the acquisition and integration of several reputable Asian publishing houses, Penguin Press aims to dramatically enhance its scale and influence!"
Upon hearing this, Henry understood the gravity of the situation. He decided to grant Makinson's request: "Alright, I agree to authorize the Asian copyright of Harry Potter to you."
A smile spread across Makinson's face as he proceeded to sign the relevant agreement with Henry.