Stronger by Paying Salaries and I Have 1 Billion Employees

After Chen Yansen finished lunch, he had Xiaoli take Lao Chen home first.

He then took the elevator to a small banquet hall on the eighth floor.

Inside the room, four people were seated.

The man in the lead was middle-aged, somewhere in his late forties, with salt-and-pepper hair. He wore a black jacket and held a teacup.

Beside him was a man in his early thirties wearing glasses and an indigo suit, perched on the edge of his seat as he chatted with the middle-aged man.

The last two were young men who stood ramrod straight behind the other two. The moment they saw Chen Yansen walk in, their alertness visibly increased.

’Not much real power, but he sure puts on a big show.’

Chen Yansen’s gaze swept over them, and he couldn’t help but scoff internally.

”Mr. Chen, let me make an introduction. This is Mr. Tang Lixin, the head of our county’s Central Bureau.”

The man with glasses quickly stood up, positioning himself between Chen Yansen and Tang Lixin with a smile as he made the introduction.

Chen Yansen gave a slight nod, remained where he was, and extended his right hand.

Seeing this, Tang Lixin paused for a moment to consider, then rose to his feet. He took two steps forward, grasped Chen Yansen’s hand, and said with a smile, ”Mr. Chen, please forgive us for this sudden intrusion.”

Before Chen Yansen had entered, he and his secretary had already been waiting for over an hour.

It was impossible for him not to be angry.

Normally, whenever he wanted to meet one of the county’s entrepreneurs, they would come running to his door.

But Chen Yansen was a different story. He’d simply said he had to have lunch with his father.

Tang Lixin had been suppressing his anger. He thought he would wait a dozen minutes at most, but he never expected the other party to make him wait for nearly two hours.

But he didn’t dare show it!

As Chen Yansen’s fame in the Business Community grew, Tang Lixin had naturally set his sights on him.

A multi-billionaire like Chen Yansen could casually leak some funds from between his fingers and invest in a few projects in Chunshen, which would become crucial capital for Tang Lixin’s own career advancement.

Two weeks ago, the man had even connected with Meng Yuanzhi, snatching equity from a state-owned enterprise to become the third-largest shareholder of BOE in one fell swoop.

Tang Lixin had originally thought, ’Even if Chen Yansen is a genius, he’s just a young man of twenty. All I’ll need is a few words to make him cough up the money.’

But to Tang Lixin’s surprise, Chen Yansen had just stood there at the door, extended his hand, and waited for him to come over and greet him—the posture of a superior.

From this point alone, he understood: ’This Chen Yansen is definitely not someone to be trifled with!’

”Mr. Tang, please sit. Whatever the matter is, let’s sit and discuss it slowly.”

Chen Yansen turned the tables, speaking nonchalantly as if he couldn’t care less about Tang Lixin’s status.

After all, he was just the head of a small county. There were dozens of people like him in Huian Province.

He could give him face, or he could not.

With his current wealth and status, he could afford to ignore Tang Lixin completely.

”I heard Mr. Chen is planning to build a 100,000-square-meter mobile phone production base in Luzhou?”

Tang Lixin asked, deciding to broach the subject.

”That’s half right. Orange Technology is indeed going to build a branch factory for phones in Luzhou, but the factory building is pre-existing. It was the old site of the Hegang Third Plant...”

Chen Yansen raised an eyebrow, deliberately explaining the reason and pointedly emphasizing that Meng Yuanzhi himself had personally approved the factory.

The implication was self-evident.

Tang Lixin carefully observed Chen Yansen’s expression and demeanor. Combining this with his own understanding of such investment attraction work, he knew Chen Yansen wasn’t lying.

At the same time, he was secretly glad that he hadn’t lost his temper just now and had chosen to swallow his pride.

He knew very well how attractive an entrepreneur like Chen Yansen—a multi-billionaire willing to invest in physical manufacturing—was to someone like Meng Yuanzhi.

”Mr. Chen, you’re a local, born and raised. You must understand the situation here in Chunshen. Besides the service industry, there are very few factories that can offer jobs with social security benefits...”

Tang Lixin began slowly, his words very tactful.

”The supporting infrastructure around Chunshen is too poor. It doesn’t meet the conditions for building a factory.”

Chen Yansen waved a hand, cutting Tang Lixin off directly.

Having lived two lives, he was well aware that small ponds were often full of petty tyrants. Why did most entrepreneurs prefer to go to Yanjing, Hu City, and Shencheng City?

Because those places played by the rules.

Although he had Meng Yuanzhi’s personal number in his phone, Chen Yansen knew that their relationship was merely a transactional exchange of benefits. Every time he sought Meng Yuanzhi’s help, he had to pay a price.

There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

If he agreed to Tang Lixin’s proposal to build a factory in Chunshen, there was no telling what kind of trouble might pop up down the line.

Similar cases were all too common. While Chen Yansen wasn’t afraid, he found it troublesome, and there was no need to waste his energy and connections on it.

Hearing Chen Yansen’s reply, Tang Lixin couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment. The young man was even more difficult to deal with than he had imagined.

Chen Yansen glanced at Tang Lixin and thought, ’This guy is surprisingly composed.’

Since he had agreed to see Tang Lixin, it obviously wasn’t just to reject him.

”We can try a different kind of cooperation. Chunshen is a major agricultural county, rich in agricultural by-products with high yields. There’s no shortage of grain, oil, and food factories. Plus, there are local specialties like crisp pears, tofu, silverfish, and salted chicken and duck.”

”If Mr. Tang can take the lead in guiding these companies to develop online channels, I can allocate a portion of traffic resources on Pinbei Mall to Chunshen’s local products.”

Chen Yansen explained his idea with a faint smile.

’This way, he would turn a passive situation into an active one, increasing his influence by controlling Chunshen’s local businesses.’

Tang Lixin’s brow furrowed. He knew about Pinbei and roughly understood its business model, but in 2012, most factory owners still had an offline distribution mindset. They had no concept of ”going online” or ”doing e-commerce.”

Moreover, compared to investing in a factory, this model was slow to show results, wouldn’t produce achievements easily, and offered little in the way of tangible resources for him to claim.

”Mr. Tang, do you know how much in monthly sales fruits from Xiyue generate on Pinbei?”

Chen Yansen shook his head, having seen right through Tang Lixin’s thoughts, and posed another question.

”Products like fruit are difficult to transport and have high spoilage rates. A few hundred thousand a day, at most.”

Tang Lixin replied after a moment’s thought, based on his past experience.

”At least 20 million a day!” Chen Yansen said, looking at Tang Lixin, his tone casual.

million?

’Wouldn’t that be 600 million a month?’

Tang Lixin looked astonished, finding it hard to believe.

”Chunshen’s Bagongshan Crisp Pears and Anlong Water Honey Peaches could very well replicate this successful model. Take the crisp pears, for example. Fruit vendors buy them for only 0.6 to 0.8 yuan per jin. If sold through online channels, the price could easily double.”

Chen Yansen continued to paint a grand picture for Tang Lixin, moving on to talk about linen-feather ducks and great white geese. He also mentioned that Cloud Speed Express would be adding cold chain logistics after the New Year.

With the help of Pinbei and Cloud Speed Express, local farmers could sell their products all over the country.

Tang Lixin’s attitude, initially dismissive, grew increasingly serious.

”Mr. Tang, what do you think?” Chen Yansen asked with a smile.

Tang Lixin found Chen Yansen’s words to be perfectly reasonable. Every sentence the young man spoke instilled a strong sense of trust in him.

”Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. On behalf of all the people of Chunshen, I must thank you, Mr. Chen.”

Tang Lixin looked emotional. As he said this, he actually stood up and bowed.

”You’re too kind, Mr. Tang.” Chen Yansen pulled Tang Lixin back into his seat.

He clicked his tongue in his mind. ’This Spirit value of 14.78 is really useful. Even a wily old fox as worldly and experienced as Tang Lixin fell for it.’

Normally, no matter how eloquent Chen Yansen was or how strong his narrative skills were, it would have been difficult to change Tang Lixin’s ingrained ideas.

But under the influence of his Spiritual Power, he had succeeded.

After Tang Lixin sat back down, he immediately turned to his secretary and said, ”Si Yuan, I want you to go back and immediately compile a list of companies that meet the requirements. For primary products like chicken, duck, fish, geese, and fruits, find factories with online operational capabilities as quickly as possible. Then give the list to Mr. Chen.”

”Yes, Boss.”

As Tang Lixin’s assistant, Zhao Siyuan knew his boss’s temperament well. The fact that he would say this in front of Chen Yansen showed his approval of the project and the level of support he would provide moving forward.

”Mr. Chen, I heard your father runs a bookstore at the entrance of Chunshen Second Middle School?”

Having achieved a satisfactory outcome, Tang Lixin shifted the conversation to Chen Yansen’s personal affairs.

Chen Yansen nodded slightly, understanding Tang Lixin’s intention.

”To be honest with you, the county is actually planning to move the schools and hospitals from the city center to the outskirts to focus on developing the tourism industry. Chunshen Second Middle School will definitely be relocated. Si Yuan, when the time comes, keep an eye out and pick out a few well-located commercial properties for Mr. Chen near the new school.”

Just as expected, Tang Lixin immediately began to return the favor.

It was just a few commercial properties. He knew it meant nothing to him, and he knew it would mean nothing to Chen Yansen either.

”Then thank you very much, Mr. Tang,” Chen Yansen agreed readily.

As for asking Tang Lixin to provide security for Chen Guobin, Chen Yansen didn’t even mention it.

As long as his plan was realized, it would add at least 3 to 5 billion in agricultural and industrial output value annually. In the future, tens of thousands of people would depend on Pinbei for their livelihoods.

Forget Tang Lixin; even the local people themselves would start treating Chen Guobin like their own father.

And all Chen Yansen had to contribute was a small amount of traffic resources from Pinbei Mall, which would also boost the platform’s performance.

Not only did he not spend a single cent, but he also left with Tang Lixin feeling deeply grateful.

Chen Yansen walked out of the hotel lobby, got into his car, and instructed Xiaoli to drive toward the city center.

”Boss, that Chen Yansen is incredibly shrewd. He’s nothing like a twenty-year-old,” Zhao Siyuan said in a low voice.

”What twenty-year-old has achieved what he has? That kid is slippery. He’s not willing to cough up a single dime, and he’s extremely wary.”

Tang Lixin said with a sigh.

”So, about that plan to get agricultural products online... are we still going to push it?” Zhao Siyuan asked, trying to gauge Tang Lixin’s true intentions.

”Of course, we’re pushing it! You think I was just playing along? Those fruit farmers in Xiyue are making millions a year. Our Bagongshan Crisp Pears and water honey peaches aren’t bad either. As long as Chen Yansen is willing to help, what’s there to fear about not being able to sell them?”

Tang Lixin retorted with a laugh.

In any case, the young man had at least given them a chance.

That evening, using Tang Lixin’s name, Zhao Siyuan gathered the major livestock farmers, fruit growers, grain and oil company bosses, and local specialty distributors from around Chunshen to announce the plan for joining Pinbei after the New Year.

”Open an online store? None of us have ever done that. Will it even work?”

”I’ve heard of Pinbei. Isn’t the boss from Chunshen? Secretary Zhao, could you introduce us?”

”Our company’s main products are rice and cooking oil. Can those be sold online too?”

After hearing Zhao Siyuan’s description, the conference hall erupted into a clamor as the bosses, familiar with one another, began discussing it amongst themselves.

Just then, Tang Lixin walked in, and everyone immediately fell silent.

”The county has already reached an agreement with President Chen of Pinbei Technology. As long as you are a local factory or company from Chunshen, you will receive extra traffic exposure after joining Pinbei. If you don’t understand operations, that’s fine. Just hire people who do.”

Tang Lixin spoke with great confidence.

After returning from the hotel, he had crammed on information about e-commerce and Pinbei, finally understanding that Chen Yansen hadn’t been bluffing.

「At the same time.」

Chen Yansen got out of the car, carrying two gift bags. Just as he turned into a small alley off Chessboard Street, he came face to face with a young girl.

Fluffy short hair rested on her shoulders, and a beauty mark under the corner of her eye was faintly visible. Her fair face had a pinkish glow, and she was wearing a red down jacket.

On anyone else, that color might have looked gaudy.

But on her, it was like a blooming flame—bright, captivating, and brimming with endless youthful energy.

Compared to the last time they met, the girl was clearly a few centimeters taller, her head now reaching his chin as she stood before him.

”Is there a present for me in there?” the girl asked with a smile, stopping to size Chen Yansen up.

”Yeah, a bag of air. You want it?”

Chen Yansen’s lips curled into a wicked grin as he asked.