Stronger by Paying Salaries and I Have 1 Billion Employees

”President Yu, what about you?” Chen Yansen asked Yu Weijiao, remaining noncommittal.

Yu Weijiao subconsciously looked up, his gaze meeting Chen Yansen’s.

The young man’s eyes were deep and bright, hinting at an intimidating power. Even though Yu Weijiao knew Chen Yansen was only a twenty-year-old college sophomore, he couldn’t help but feel his breath shorten. In his panic, he blurted out his rock-bottom price: ”840 million.”

’Fuck!’

’What the hell is Old Yu playing at!’

Chen Dejun whipped his head around and glared fiercely at Yu Weijiao.

The two of them had already agreed on a strategy back in Hu City. Shentong’s offer would be 1.4 billion, and Yuantong’s would be 1.05 billion, giving Chen Yansen at most 100 million in room for negotiation.

”President Gao, what do you think?” Chen Yansen asked, looking at Old Gao.

”Boss, when we acquired Yunda Express, their average daily volume was 600,000 parcels, which is comparable to Yuantong’s. The price was 760 million.”

Gao Weilin instantly understood his boss’s meaning and immediately chimed in, helping Chen Yansen drive the price down.

The implication was that Yu Weijiao’s offer of 840 million was too high.

”President Chen, President Gao, Yuantong and Yunda are not on the same level. We have 9,000 service outlets across the country, over 80 transit centers, and as many as 4,000 transport trucks...” Yu Weijiao hurriedly argued.

”President Yu, Yunda and Zhongtong also have many service outlets, but most of them are franchise-based. They are of very little value to Cloud Speed. We would need to waste a great deal of manpower and resources to streamline the structure, cutting at least seventy percent.”

Chen Yansen shook his head with a look of disdain.

Yu Weijiao was at a loss for words, his mouth hanging slightly open. A fire of frustration burned in his chest. After struggling in the business community for so many years, this was the first time he had been criticized so thoroughly as to be deemed worthless.

”President Chen, what price are you looking for?” Chen Dejun asked coldly.

They were all smart people. It might be more effective to just lay the cards on the table and talk openly.

”I’m only buying one. Whoever gives me the lower price, that’s who I’ll buy.”

Chen Yansen leaned back, pretending not to understand the meaning behind Chen Dejun’s words, and repeated what he had just said.

A faint smile played on his lips, which made Chen Dejun furious, yet there was nothing he could do.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t considered getting up and leaving to find Ali Baba later, but he knew in his heart that Ma Liyun would definitely not offer a high price either.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have deliberately delayed their investment payment, waiting for Shentong and Yuantong to gradually decline.

A tiger on the East Mountain eats people, but does that mean a tiger on the West Mountain won’t?

”Shentong’s warehouses, service network, business volume, employees, and number of transport vehicles are all 20% greater than Zhongtong Express’s. Is a price of 1.2 billion unreasonable?”

Chen Dejun dropped his price by 200 million in one go, setting his offer at 1.2 billion.

Two months ago, when Senlian Capital acquired Yuantong Express, the package price was 980 million. Given Shentong’s market share and number of transport routes, a price of 1.2 billion was very reasonable.

But he had overlooked a key fact: Chen Yansen could afford to wait, whereas he could not.

”1.1 billion. I’m only making one offer,” Chen Yansen countered, making a token gesture of negotiation.

”President Chen, I’ll take just 800 million!” Yu Weijiao hastily interjected, terrified that Chen Yansen would actually follow through with his ”pick one of two” power play. If he was the one who missed the acquisition opportunity, it would be a dead end for him.

Whether Ali Baba would make a move, and when, were both uncertain. Yu Weijiao didn’t dare pin his hopes on Ma Liyun.

Seeing that Yu Weijiao was playing along so well, Chen Yansen smiled faintly. He still didn’t say anything, merely turning his gaze to Chen Dejun.

”Fine, 1.1 billion it is,” Chen Dejun said with a sigh, staring intently at Chen Yansen.

’With a useless teammate like Yu Weijiao, there was no way to raise the price.’

”President Gao, I’ll leave the rest to you,” Chen Yansen said to Gao Weilin as he slowly stood up.

With that, he pushed the door open and walked out.

”President Gao, what did President Chen mean?” Yu Weijiao asked, not having caught on yet.

”He’s buying both companies, of course,” Chen Dejun said irritably.

”We will first sign a letter of intent. Once the financial and legal audits are complete and clear, we will initiate the acquisition process and formally sign the equity transfer agreement. Do either of you have a problem with that?”

Gao Weilin announced in an extremely assertive tone.

”I have no objections,” Chen Dejun said, looking completely resigned.

”No problem. We’ll do as President Gao says,” Yu Weijiao said, nodding and agreeing readily.

「Elsewhere.」

After leaving the conference room, Chen Yansen took the elevator to his office. He hadn’t pushed the price to the absolute bottom because he was afraid of pushing the two men too far, causing them to completely side with Ali Baba.

He opened his computer, logged into the data backend, and checked the daily data for companies like Pinbei, Orange Technology, Today Technology, Byte, Kuaipao, and Fast Taxi.

Ten minutes later, Chen Yansen closed the webpage and opened a news site.

”Qian Du, Jinshan, 360, Penguin, Sogou, Byte, and other companies gather in Yanjing to jointly draft the ’Search Engine Service Self-Discipline Pact’ to maintain orderly industry competition.”

Ma Wenteng’s visit to Xucheng was indeed just a stop along the way; his real purpose was to attend the meeting in Yanjing.

During the 3B War, Penguin, Jinshan, 360, and Qian Du had gone too far, treating their users like dirt.

When the higher-ups got angry, they all had to bite the bullet and reconcile.

Although Sogou and Byte didn’t participate in the war, they were summoned as well.

”Qian Du’s market cap evaporates by 12 billion; Fangzhouzi blasts 360!”

Reading this, Chen Yansen couldn’t help but chuckle. ’Li Yanhong is certainly creative, paying a scoundrel to curse a hooligan. That’s one way to do it.’

”Taobao Browser released, touting the slogan of safe shopping.”

”Weibo mobile users account for 56% of traffic; significant growth in mobile internet.”

”Meituan adjusts Group Buy strategy in preparation for food delivery business.”

”Li Chen’s heart-shaped stones exposed; he allegedly gave the same gift to multiple people.”

”Overtime culture is rampant in internet companies. The 996 work schedule: is it right or wrong?”

In August 2012, besides the 3B War, reports about the Olympic Games also frequently trended.

Toutiao even created a special column for the Olympics.

News such as Sun Yang breaking the world record in the 1500m freestyle, Lin Dan defending his men’s singles badminton title, and Chen Yibing being robbed of a gold medal all received over ten million clicks each. However, the most discussed topic was still Liu Xiang’s withdrawal from the Olympics.

Even though a week had passed, the comment sections were still filled with angry criticism.

Chen Yansen’s brow furrowed slightly, and he let out a long sigh.

That afternoon, after signing the letter of intent for the equity transfer, Chen Dejun and Yu Weijiao left Zhuxianzhuang Science and Technology Park together.

”Are you really going to sell the company to Senlian Capital?” Yu Weijiao asked.

’You’re so fucking fickle!’

Chen Dejun was in no mood to even curse. He shot Yu Weijiao a glance and didn’t say a word.

A letter of intent merely expresses the intention to enter into an agreement; it is not a formal contract. It lacks details such as the subject matter of the sale, delivery time, method of delivery, and breach of contract clauses. It is not strongly legally binding and, in principle, can be revoked at will.

Chen Dejun planned to take Chen Yansen’s offer and go talk to Ma Liyun.

’As for that idiot Yu Weijiao, to hell with him!’

Seeing him remain silent, Yu Weijiao’s eyes darted, and a suspicion formed in his mind.

The two of them had roughly the same idea: they both wanted to ditch the other, take Chen Yansen’s offer, and go communicate with Ma Liyun.

If Ali Baba’s price was higher, couldn’t they stand to make an extra two or three hundred million?

On the way back, the two parted ways at the Jinling Service Area. One said he was going to Yongcheng, the other that he was heading to Huzhou.

But three hours later, their cars, one after the other, drove into the Alibaba Headquarters.

「Meanwhile.」

After becoming ’unemployed,’ Cheng Wei spent his days wandering the streets of Yanjing, searching for a new business opportunity.

Although he still held shares in DiDi Dache, he had lost his controlling stake and could no longer get involved in daily operations.

As soon as Wang Jin and Xiang Hailong arrived, they pushed him out. He wasn’t even given a sinecure; going to the office just meant being a mascot.

At the Wangfujing Subway Station, Cheng Wei leaned against a wall, observing the pedestrians coming and going and the ceaseless flow of traffic.

’Ride-sharing is no longer an option!’

Unwilling to go back to working for someone else, Cheng Wei was determined to think up a new business. Office workers hurried past him. A row of bicycles of various brands was parked at the subway entrance, essential commuting tools for the nearby white-collar workers.

’Bicycles!’

A flash of inspiration struck. Cheng Wei’s eyes lit up as he vaguely grasped the glimmer of a business opportunity.