Stronger by Paying Salaries and I Have 1 Billion Employees

”Something feels like it’s missing,” Zhao Maolin remarked, glancing around the room.

”What’s missing? A landscape painting, or maybe a calligraphy scroll that says ’Heaven rewards the diligent’?” Chen Yansen teased.

”Right, you young people aren’t interested in that stuff,” Zhao Maolin said with a chuckle.

”What kind of tea do you want?” Chen Yansen asked casually.

”Whatever you like.” Zhao Maolin walked over to the sofa and flopped down with a contented look on his face.

Chen Yansen didn’t stand on ceremony. He grabbed a canister of Huangya tea and sat down opposite Zhao Maolin. As he started preparing the tea, he gave an order to Chen Jie, who was standing nearby. ”Tell President Ye to send over the brand promotion materials for our subsidiaries.”

”Right away, Boss,” Chen Jie replied quickly and turned to leave the office.

”You two wait for me outside.” Zhao Maolin waved his hand, dismissing his subordinates.

Once everyone was gone, he let his guard down. ”Was that your secretary just now? She’s a knockout!”

”Assistant,” Chen Yansen replied calmly.

”What’s the difference?” Zhao Maolin asked, confused.

”A secretary works *under* you. An assistant just works *for* you,” Chen Yansen said airily, leaning back.

”Hah! I don’t believe you,” Zhao Maolin scoffed.

Chen Yansen couldn’t be bothered to respond. He quietly watched the tea leaves unfurl in the water, tinting the liquid a pale gold.

”I understand the value these internet plan cards bring to Luzhou Telecommunications. They can attract a large number of users who rely on the Senlian application ecosystem to switch carriers or sign up for new plans. They can also help Telecommunications compete for younger customers and high-data users. But there are too many competing interests involved.”

Seeing that Chen Yansen remained silent, Zhao Maolin added,

”It’s all about small profits and quick turnover. In that regard, the Lighthouse Country’s T-Mobile, Sprint, and MetroPCS do it very well. People in other countries have been able to watch movies and short videos on their mobile data for ages. Meanwhile, we have to check the file size before downloading a single high-res photo. It’s just pathetic.”

Chen Yansen lifted the teapot, poured Zhao Maolin a cup, and set it in front of him.

”Don’t be impatient. Commercial testing for the 4G network is already complete, and licenses are expected to be issued in Q3 or Q4. The higher-ups have repeatedly called for faster speeds and lower fees. Behind the scenes, the three major carriers are all preparing their own initiatives. A drop in 3G prices is inevitable.”

Zhao Maolin picked up the teacup, but it was a little too hot, and he quickly pulled his hand back.

”Too slow,” Chen Yansen said, shaking his head.

”Once I’m the one in charge, you can have any kind of data plan you want,” Zhao Maolin vowed, patting his chest.

”And who knows when that’ll be,” Chen Yansen teased.

”...” Zhao Maolin’s face darkened, too annoyed to speak.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK! A knock came from the door.

”Come in,” Chen Yansen answered. He knew it was Ye Qiuping.

”Boss, here are the brand promotion materials you wanted. I put together a summary version, focusing primarily on the user data for each product,” Ye Qiuping reported.

Chen Yansen took the documents and waved his hand dismissively.

Ye Qiuping took the hint and obediently excused herself.

”Here, take a look at this,” Chen Yansen said, passing the file to Zhao Maolin.

When it came to business, Zhao Maolin was as serious as they come.

But get him into a karaoke bar, and he’d cut loose more than anyone.

As he picked up the documents, the smile on his face slowly vanished.

”Pinbei Mall: 430 million total registered users, 74 million daily active users.”

”Orange Pay: 160 million total registered users, 31 million daily active users.”

”Toutiao: 150 million total registered users, 43 million daily active users.”

”Kuai Pao: 120 million total registered users, 17 million daily active users.”

”...”

The list continued with products like Fast Taxi, Gaode Map, Ofo, Xiaohongshu, Orange Application Mall, Lingxi Browser, and Lingxi Search. Total registered users exceeded one billion, with unique users reaching as high as 600 million and daily active users numbering a staggering 110 million.

Zhao Maolin swallowed hard. He knew Senlian Capital was powerful, but he had never imagined it was *this* powerful.

They could reach one hundred million netizens across the country every single day!

If Luzhou Telecommunications partnered with Senlian Capital, they could increase their average revenue per user, lower customer acquisition costs, and improve user retention.

Chen Yansen hadn’t been wrong. The potential benefits for Telecommunications were truly substantial.

”Do you have a digital copy?” Zhao Maolin asked. He wanted to send the data to his boss to strengthen his bargaining position internally.

”I’ll send it over,” Chen Yansen replied without hesitation.

”You’re not going to turn around and take this to Unicom or Mobile, are you?”

Zhao Maolin asked out of the blue.

His mind flashed back to when they first met. Chen Yansen, trying to secure the campus distribution rights for their SIM cards, had waved a list with over a thousand potential sign-ups. ”You don’t agree?” he’d said. ”Fine, then I’ll just have to go to Unicom or Mobile.”

”Why would I do that?” Chen Yansen said with a shrug, silently adding, ’Yeah, right.’

’Senlian Capital will partner with whoever offers the best terms.’

’Even an ordinary person shops around before buying something, let alone a multi-billion-dollar partnership.’

Zhao Maolin stared intently at Chen Yansen, his eyes filled with pure, unadulterated distrust.

He took a deep breath. ’I really hate it when he does this,’ he thought, ’but if I were in his shoes, I’d understand his reasoning.’

”I hope President Chen can give Telecommunications a little more time,” Zhao Maolin said after a moment of thought.

”No problem,” Chen Yansen replied with a slight nod.

Zhao Maolin smiled, picked up his teacup, and took a careful sip. His eyes lit up, and he couldn’t help but exclaim, ”Excellent tea!”

”It was a gift from Mr. Meng,” Chen Yansen said casually.

His tone was casual, but to Zhao Maolin, the words sounded like an outrageous flex.

Zhao Maolin gave a weak laugh. He wasn’t foolish enough to ask who ”Mr. Meng” was.

’With Chen Yansen’s current status, there’s only one person in all of Huian Province he would refer to so respectfully.’

He had been about to ask for a canister for himself, but as soon as he heard it was from Meng Yuanzhi, he instantly dropped the idea.

He couldn’t help but sigh to himself. ’Compared to Chen Yansen, it feels like I’ve wasted the last forty-odd years of my life.’

The two chatted idly over tea, and before long, the pot was empty.

”Want me to show you around?” Chen Yansen suggested with a smile, setting down his cup.

”Sure. Let’s start with Orange Technology. I’d actually like to meet the designer of the Yaocheng X1.”

As he spoke, Zhao Maolin nonchalantly revealed his new phone.

It was none other than a Yaocheng X1.

Chen Yansen said nothing, simply accompanying Zhao Maolin on a tour from the top floor down, where they met Zhang Cong, Zhou Ze, Wang Teng, and others.

Around noon, they should have gone into the city for lunch, but Zhao Maolin was in a hurry to return to Luzhou, so they just had a simple meal in the company cafeteria.

President Chen glanced at his watch. It was exactly twelve-thirty. He promptly took out his phone and sent a text message.

「Meanwhile.」

After receiving the text, a joyful expression appeared on Meng Jie’s fair, pretty face. She turned back to her dorm, hastily stuffed a few items of clothing into a suitcase, and walked briskly toward the East Gate of Xuyuan.

Ten minutes later, a black-and-white Gusteau pulled up in front of her.

”Is business all settled?” Meng Jie asked casually as she stepped into the car.

”We talked. Whether it went well or not is another story,” Chen Yansen answered truthfully.

Xiaoli sat silently in the driver’s seat, speeding toward the Shidu Hot Spring Hotel.

”This is so nice. A life with no work and no classes is the best,” Meng Jie sighed, snuggling into Chen Yansen’s arms and resting her head on his lap.

”You have your internship next semester. Time flies, doesn’t it?” Chen Yansen replied softly.

”My... my dad wants me to intern at a bank,” Meng Jie said carefully, afraid he might get angry.

”It’s your decision,” Chen Yansen said. He never interfered with his girlfriends’ careers.

”But if I go back to Chunshen, we’ll be living apart,” Meng Jie said, sensing his indifference. Her delicate eyebrows knitted together as a flicker of disappointment crossed her face.

”It’s fine. Liao Wei is ordering a private jet for me. Whenever I miss you, I can fly over to see you,” Chen Yansen bluffed.

”You’re silly. Chunshen doesn’t even have an airport,” Meng Jie’s mood brightened, and she giggled.

”I can parachute in.”

”No way! That’s not safe! You being safe and sound is what’s most important.” Meng Jie grabbed his large hand and stared intently at him.

Chen Yansen’s heart softened, and he gently ruffled her hair.

”You’re messing up my hair,” Meng Jie whined playfully, a look of mock annoyance on her face. But she didn’t pull away, letting him continue to play with her hair.

Her big, watery eyes were half-closed, as if she was enjoying it immensely.

「At the same time.」

「Luzhou Telecommunications Headquarters.」

A group of senior executives each held a detailed file on Senlian Capital, along with a proposal for the ”Senlian Star Shining Card,” outlining the partnership model, the cost-sharing ratio for targeted data, and the underlying business logic.

”They’re not putting up a single penny?” someone asked, their brow furrowed and their face grim.

”Telecommunications acquires users, and Senlian Capital acquires a traffic gateway. It’s a win-win,” a man in his fifties said with a grin.