Stronger by Paying Salaries and I Have 1 Billion Employees

Two months ago, Gao Weilin had paid a visit, hoping to purchase a portion of Jingdongfang’s equity. Since Orange Technology was a major client, Wang Dongsheng had his subordinates welcome Gao Weilin warmly, but he still politely declined to sell any shares.

Later, the representative for securities affairs discovered that a third-party investment firm was buying up Jingdongfang’s A-shares in small, separate batches. After some investigation, they learned it was Senlian Capital.

Wang Dongsheng didn’t think much of it at the time. They were publicly traded shares, after all, and Senlian Capital’s buying spree had even pushed Jingdongfang’s stock price up by a few points.

But who could have known? In the blink of an eye, they had leveraged their connection to Meng Yuanzhi, buying a 3% stake from Luzhou City Construction and another 3% from Xin City International. Just like that, they became Jingdongfang’s third-largest shareholder.

In truth, Wang Dongsheng wasn’t opposed to this development.

After all, in less than half a year, Orange Technology’s smartphone shipments had soared to fourth place in the country.

An annual purchase volume of over 20 million screens was projected to bring Jingdongfang nearly 2 billion in revenue.

By securing such a major client, not only would Jingdongfang’s stock soar, but it was also highly likely that the company would turn a profit in 2012.

”President Wang, for the Q1 supply price, you’ll have to treat Orange Technology like family.”

Chen Yansen replied with a smile.

”No problem. We can discuss it at length after the contracts are signed,” Wang Dongsheng readily agreed.

”Boss, everything’s ready. We can sign the agreement now,” Gao Weilin leaned in and whispered.

Chen Yansen grunted in acknowledgment and followed Gao Weilin to the desk, taking a seat. Xu Minggang offered him a faint smile, but Wang Qingsheng’s face was cold, and he remained silent.

The room was full of reporters. Facing a phalanx of video and still cameras, Wang Qingsheng didn’t dare cause a scene. He silently signed his name on the share transfer agreement.

Chen Yansen and Xu Minggang did the same.

Except, before putting pen to paper, Chen Yansen quickly scanned the contract one more time, only signing after confirming everything was in order.

’He only trusted himself.’

CLICK—!

Camera shutters clicked nonstop as flashes strobed almost without pause.

Through the lens of a reporter from the *Jianghuai Evening News*, twenty-year-old Chen Yansen cut a tall, handsome, and imposing figure. Dressed in a light gray suit, he was captured laughing as he shook hands with Xu Minggang, the chairman of Xin City International.

He was young, successful, and brimming with confidence.

’A talent like this probably only comes around once every fifty years.’

The reporter thought to himself as he pressed the shutter.

The news spread quickly. In response, Jingdongfang’s stock price skyrocketed, soaring from 1.63 yuan to 1.77 yuan per share that day, with buy orders far outstripping sell orders.

Retail investors were holding on to their shares for dear life. At this rate, it seemed no one would sell until the stock hit its daily trading limit for five or six consecutive days.

「Elsewhere.」

Chen Yansen, Wang Dongsheng, Xu Minggang, Tao Jingwen, and the others entered a private dining room at Luzhou Prefecture, and the drinks and toasts began to flow.

By the time the meal was over, the supply prices for LCD and AMOLED screens had been reduced by 8% and 5%, respectively. This would save Orange Technology over a billion in procurement costs annually.

As they were leaving, Tao Jingwen was calling him ”little brother” left and right, while Xu Minggang personally escorted Chen Yansen all the way to his car.

One of them was Meng Yuanzhi’s personal chief secretary, the other was the chairman of Xin City International. These were men so powerful that if they stomped their feet, the earth would tremble for miles around.

”Next time you’re in Luzhou, let your big brother here know in advance.”

Xu Minggang added, swaying slightly, pleasantly buzzed from the alcohol.

”Junior Brother Chen, I’ll get the paperwork for the Orange Phone Factory sorted out for you as soon as possible. As for the low-interest loan, I’ve already had a word with Lao Zhao at the Industrial Bank. I guarantee the funds will be in your account before the New Year.”

Tao Jingwen promised, patting his chest.

”No problem. Next time, it’s my treat. I’ll take you all out on the ocean for some abalone,” Chen Yansen replied with a practiced smile, adeptly playing along.

”And will this abalone be the... proper kind?” Xu Minggang asked with a suggestive look.

Tao Jingwen just smiled and shook his head, not joining in. After all, when out in public, he represented Meng Yuanzhi’s image and couldn’t afford to be as brazen as Xu Minggang.

”That mainly depends on President Xu’s preferences,” Chen Yansen replied with a grin.

”Alright, that’s enough. One of you is the chairman of a city construction company, the other is the CEO of a tech firm. If someone overheard you and posted it online, you’d be disgracing all the entrepreneurs of Huian.”

Tao Jingwen interjected, a look of exasperation on his face as he cut off the conversation between Chen Yansen and Xu Minggang.

Chen Yansen just smiled, bid the three men farewell, and got into his car to head back to the hotel.

The instant the car door closed, the smile vanished from Chen Yansen’s face. He lowered the window, letting the cold wind rush in.

’He didn’t for a second believe that a meal or two was enough to make him sworn brothers with the likes of Tao Jingwen and Xu Minggang.’

’Friendships forged at the dinner table aren’t worth a damn.’

’The world is a bustling place, with everyone coming and going for personal gain.’

’Chen Yansen knew this game all too well. Everyone was in it for their own benefit, and they would inevitably turn on each other for the very same reason.’

’Take Liu Qiangdong and Li Guoqing, Ma Liyun and Wang Xin, or Lei Yijun and Huang Zhang, for example.’

’At the end of the day, it was all just business.’

”Boss, are we heading back to Xucheng tomorrow?” Gao Weilin asked from the driver’s seat, turning his head.

”It’s still early. We’ll go back to the hotel and rest for a bit, then head back to Xucheng this afternoon.”

Chen Yansen said to Old Gao after a moment of thought.

”Understood, Boss.” Gao Weilin sighed to himself. ’Having such an energetic boss inevitably meant a lot more work.’

「Meanwhile.」

The news of Orange Technology acquiring a stake in Jingdongfang had been trending online for three hours.

While the vast majority of ordinary people didn’t grasp the strategic significance of the move, a handful of quick-witted investors seized the opportunity to buy Jingdongfang stock, sitting back to wait for it to hit its trading limit.

But in the eyes of Chen Yongming from OPPO, Huang Zhang from Meizu, and Yu Chendong from Huawei, Chen Yansen’s ambition was far greater than they had imagined.

In 2012, phone manufacturers who were already making strategic moves to secure their supply chains were few and far between.

After learning the news, Lei Yijun was silent for a long moment. He couldn’t help but wonder, ’Should we also invest in a screen supplier?’

Xiaomi’s current supplier was Sharp, and their prices were not low.

With this in mind, Lei Yijun called Li Wanqiang and told him to go to Luzhou to investigate Jingdongfang. If everything checked out, they would switch the screen supplier for Xiaomi’s new phone to them.

Far away in Chunshen, Chen Guobin was squatting at the entrance of his bookstore, holding an Orange C1 Mobile Phone and scrolling through the news.

”Good News! Orange Technology Officially Invests in Jingdongfang, Enabling Vertical Integration!”

”Orange Technology CEO Chen Yansen signed a share transfer agreement on January 10th. According to an inside source, in addition to Jingdongfang, Orange Technology has also invested in Desai Battery...”

”Jingdongfang Reveals New Shareholder List; Senlian Capital Ranks Third!”

Chen Guobin stared at the photo of Chen Yansen. His mouth opened, but he was at a loss for words.

’Was that young man in the news—the one wheeling and dealing in the business world, surrounded by a crowd of titans from state-owned enterprises—was that really his son?’

Remembering how he used to kick Chen Yansen as a child, Chen Guobin was suddenly filled with regret. ’If only I’d kicked him a couple fewer times, maybe he would have come to his senses sooner.’

”Uncle Chen, can I get a copy of *Reader*?”

”Boss Chen, I’d like to buy a copy of *Youth Digest*.”

Just as Chen Guobin was lost in a daze, two young girls in Chunshen Second Middle School uniforms walked up.

Thanks to Chen Yansen’s influence, Lao Chen’s business was bustling with a steady stream of customers, even during the winter break.

These seventeen- and eighteen-year-old kids all saw Chen Yansen as their idol, a goal to strive toward for their own futures.

「Elsewhere.」

In a villa in the Chunshen Outer City, Liang Anguo was trying his best to persuade his father. ”Dad, I’m planning to have our younger brother invite my brother-in-law over for dinner tomorrow. When he comes, please don’t give him a hard time.”

Over the past year, his nephew had become more famous than any celebrity.

He was a twenty-year-old worth tens of billions. Even the scraps that fell from between his fingers would be enough to sustain their family for a lifetime.

”Brother-in-law? What brother-in-law?” Liang Hongbao didn’t register it at first and asked reflexively.

”Chen Guobin, of course,” Liang Anguo replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

The man he once called a penniless bum, a useless piece of trash, a son of a bitch, was now his ”brother-in-law,” a title he uttered with surprising warmth.

”Why are you letting that son of a bitch into our house? I won’t see him!” Liang Hongbao snapped, his face a mask of disgust.

”Dad, you don’t understand! Your grandson has made it big! He has over 10 billion in cash alone! Chen Guobin is my own sister’s husband, after all. We should be on better terms with them,” Liang Anguo explained hastily.

”How much? Over 10 billion?” Liang Hongbao’s eyes lit up as he asked in disbelief.