Stronger by Paying Salaries and I Have 1 Billion Employees

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At Renren Headquarters, Chen Yizhou sat in his executive chair, listening to the beeping from his speakerphone. A wave of irritation washed over him, and he mentally cursed Chen Yansen and his entire family.

Li Yanhong was an old fox, and Chen Yansen was a young one.

They had agreed to an acquisition deal, but the former had dragged him along for a month before turning around and buying Lashou Network instead. The latter just kept relentlessly lowballing him. And now? Now he wasn’t even picking up the phone.

”Hello? President Chen, what can I do for you?” The call suddenly connected. Chen Yansen’s voice, laced with a hint of amusement in its questioning tone, sounded in his ear.

”President Chen, I’ve given it some serious thought. I’m willing to lower the price for Nuomi Network to 160 million US dollars.”

Chen Yizhou forced a smile and didn’t beat around the bush with Chen Yansen, getting straight to the point.

As a seasoned businessman, he wasn’t foolish enough to ask Chen Yansen why he hadn’t answered his calls.

For adults, the reason was simple—he just didn’t want to answer!

”My apologies, President Chen. After a comprehensive evaluation, the company has unanimously concluded that Dianping’s organizational structure is more advanced, its marketing more precise, and its ground-level promotion capabilities more robust. The acquisition... might have to be called off.”

Chen Yansen stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows of Building 9 in the Science and Technology Park, gazing out at the golden wheat fields as he spoke with a light chuckle.

’Might?’

Chen Yizhou immediately caught the subtext in Chen Yansen’s words. ’Senlian Capital probably hasn’t even contacted Dianping yet, or maybe they just haven’t agreed on a price. Nuomi Network still has a chance.’

’Of course, it’s also possible that Chen Yansen hasn’t contacted Dianping’s Zhang Tao at all and is just saying this to drive the price down further.’

’Besides, Dianping’s growth rate is on par with Meituan’s; Zhang Tao has no reason to sell his company.’

Having figured this out, Chen Yizhou cursed inwardly, then decided to just lay his cards on the table. ”What’s your target price, President Chen?”

”One hundred fifty million US dollars. This offer is only valid through August,” Chen Yansen replied directly.

’One hundred sixty million in July, and now he’s dropped it by another ten million in August?’

Chen Yizhou’s eyes widened. He was about to curse him out, but he forced the words back down.

In the current environment, with the Group Buy market cooling and capital shying away, Chen Yansen was actually a very high-quality buyer.

The price he offered was low, but at least his intent to buy was genuine.

Besides Qian Du and Senlian Capital, Chen Yizhou had shopped around to a whole circle of investment firms and internet giants, including Penguin. None of them were even willing to entertain the idea of investing, let alone an acquisition.

”Fine. I agree,” Chen Yizhou said after a long silence, his agreement ground out through clenched teeth.

’He agreed?’

Chen Yansen was slightly taken aback. He immediately felt he had offered too much. ’Maybe Chen Yizhou would have sold for 140 million,’ he thought.

But then he reconsidered. Compared to securing a foothold in the Group Buy sector and advancing Gaode Map’s O2O strategy, an extra ten million US dollars for more market share and a better entry point seemed more important.

”No problem. I’ll send a team to Yanjing tomorrow to begin due diligence. We’ll start by verifying Nuomi Network’s asset status and business data. If everything checks out, consider Nuomi Network sold.”

Chen Yansen’s smile vanished, and he made the promise in a serious tone.

”Of course. I’ll have Nuomi Network’s CEO, Shen Boyang, give your company’s audit his full cooperation.”

Chen Yizhou quickly agreed, letting out a silent sigh of relief.

’I’ve finally sold off this money pit!’

’A huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders!’

Ma Wenteng was in a similar frame of mind. He also wanted to offload the three blood-sucking burdens—QQ Online Shopping, Paipai Network, and Yixun Network—onto Liu Qiangdong.

But as he was finishing his tour of the Zhuxianzhuang Science and Technology Park and preparing to attend the Orange Technology new product launch, he received a call from Lin Chenfeng of the Penguin Investment Department. The news: Zhao Yingchun, a director from the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Investment Banking Division, had joined Jingdong as a Vice President, responsible for the company’s financing and IPO preparations.

In other words, Liu Qiangdong had spent a fortune to poach a well-connected financial broker from Wall Street to find overseas financing solutions for Jingdong.

Ma Wenteng, who was well-versed in the workings of capital markets, understood the exchange of interests between Liu Qiangdong and Zhao Yingchun at a glance.

Zhao Yingchun had most likely already found a potential investor for Jingdong; otherwise, Liu Qiangdong would never have given up a Vice President position so easily.

’Would a Jingdong that isn’t short on cash still be willing to accept Penguin’s ”junk assets”?’

”Have Lin Chenfeng sound out Liu Qiangdong.”

Ma Wenteng said to Liu Zhiping after a moment of thought.

”Okay, I’ll arrange it,” Liu Zhiping replied, his expression tense.

Zhao Yingchun’s entry into the picture made one thing clear to him: Liu Qiangdong was not content to be a mere trash collector.

Just then, Chen Yansen, having just finished his call with Chen Yizhou, returned to the office and invited the two of them to the Orange Technology new product launch.

Ma Wenteng and Liu Zhiping readily agreed.

The large party departed in a fleet of over a dozen luxury cars, speeding toward the city center.

They were even escorted by vehicles from the Inspection Institute clearing the way!

The previous night, upon learning that Penguin’s chairman was visiting Xucheng, Xu Zhenhui had immediately dispatched two teams of inspection personnel to handle security for the Science and Technology Park and the Sky Garden, respectively.

If any accident were to happen, it would be Xucheng that lost face.

「Meanwhile.」

Liu Qiangdong—unlucky in love but thriving in business—swept away the dejection and gloom of the past two months. He looked at Zhao Yingchun with a satisfied expression and asked, ”When do you think we can finalize the investment agreement with the OTPP?”

The OTPP, short for the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan of Canada, was currently facing a 9.6 billion Canadian dollar pension funding gap and was therefore in urgent need of a high-yield investment project.