Chapter 113: R&D Team Takes Shape, Procurement Director Candidate (Seeking)

"Chen, generally speaking, to optimize a more operable phone system on the basis of the Android system, you need at least one system architect, 4–6 people for framework development, 6–8 for application development, 2 for driver development, 2 UI designers, and 4–6 for testing and security architecture. Basically, you need to put together an R&D team of about 20 people."

Wang Teng took a deep breath, sorted out his thoughts, and slowly explained.

"How long is the development cycle?"

Chen Yansen asked again.

"Nine to twelve months," Wang Teng replied.

"Too slow. Given ample funding and personnel, how fast can you get it done?"

Chen Yansen shook his head and pressed on.

"Three months, but the headcount has to go up to 60, and after the product launches, it'll need repeated debugging and revisions." Wang Teng was stunned for a moment, gathered his thoughts, and quoted a new number.

"Draw up a staffing plan. Before you come on board, I'll have HR get the people in place for you."

Chen Yansen said bluntly.

"Chen, what about the Fox Taobao mobile app—are we still doing it?" Wang Teng caught on at this point: the real goal was still to build a phone.

"Build the phone system first; the app can come after. The current mobile devices and network environment aren't enough to support a full shift of Fox Taobao to mobile."

Chen Yansen said unhurriedly.

"Chen, I understand. I'll join as soon as I can." Wang Teng made up his mind and spoke up.

"The area around us is all countryside. Usually, colleagues recruited through the open market either rent a faculty apartment or a civilian house across from the Dongmen. You can consult Xu Dan on this and get the place rented in advance."

Chen Yansen patted his shoulder and reminded him with a smile.

"Thanks, Chen." Wang Teng grinned, a bit more respect showing in his expression. After all, he'd accepted the offer—Chen Yansen would be his boss from now on.

"It's just about mealtime. Want to try the food at the Virtual Courtyard cafeteria?" Chen Yansen suggested with a light laugh.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony." Wang Teng agreed readily. When the boss treats, even if it's boxed lunch, he has to keep him company.

Chen Yansen called Wang Zihao, and the three of them headed to the cafeteria together.

Over the meal, Chen Yansen and Wang Teng's conversation naturally drifted to OPPO, Xiaomi, and the development trends of the domestic phone industry.

"Sen-ge, you're getting into the phone business?" Wang Zihao listened for a while and asked in surprise.

"Still in the planning stage. Making phones isn't that simple. Keep it to yourself—don't blabber about it in the project team." Chen Yansen looked at Wang Zihao and instructed him.

Xiaomi's R&D team had over 100 people. Add in tech heavyweights like Lin Bing and Li Wanjiang, and it still took over four months to release the MIUI internal test version.

Although Wang Teng had thrown out the slogan of finishing in three months, Chen Yansen didn't hold out much hope. He took it as the goal Wang Teng had set for himself—first build an initial version and see how it turns out.

"Awesome!" Wang Zihao made a "666" hand gesture.

After the meal, Wang Zihao took Wang Teng back to the startup park, greeted Xu Dan first, then led him to look at houses.

In Hao-ge's words: we both have the surname Wang, so I've definitely got to look out for you.

In reality, Wang Zihao knew perfectly well that among all the open-market candidates Chen Yansen had interviewed, he had invited only Wang Teng to lunch—clearly showing how highly he valued him.

This Wang Teng was very likely a future core figure at Fox Taobao. Better to build the relationship first.

By the time Wang Zihao and Wang Teng finished renting the place, the two were already close enough to walk arm-in-arm.

After wrapping all that up, Wang Teng took his leave, preparing to head back to Dongguan to handle his resignation.

Apart from Xu Dan, no one else knew about Chen Yansen's move. Using the investor's money to back his own project didn't sound very ethical, but the pull of ethics on Chen Yansen was far too weak.

Afternoon.

Chen Yansen walked into Cao Dahua's office and, opening his mouth, rented out all six startup rooms on the first floor.

"You're really going to make phones?" Cao Dahua handed over the keys, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face. He didn't think much of Chen Yansen's decision.

"Of course! I've already hired over a dozen people. By month's end, these rooms should be filled up."

Chen Yansen took the keys, didn't rush to leave, plopped himself down, and brewed himself a pot of fresh tea.

"You're hiring so many people from off-campus. Honestly, I'm having a hard time covering for you."

Cao Dahua pushed his glasses up, his face full of difficulty.

The six rooms downstairs could fit sixty to seventy workstations. Add the dozen-plus open-market hires on the second floor—if anything went wrong, he'd absolutely be the first to take the fall.

"Can Old Tang cover it?" Chen Yansen shot Cao Dahua a glance. Seeing he wasn't joking, his heart sank. He figured getting the security office to issue passes this time wouldn't be so easy.

"Not a chance." Cao Dahua gave his verdict.

"What, put everyone off-campus?" Chen Yansen was a bit annoyed. The startup park's rental cost was almost zero. Renting office space off-campus was cheaper, but managing and keeping tabs on R&D progress was the bigger issue.

"Tomorrow I'll talk to the principal and try my best to fight for it," Cao Dahua thought for a moment and replied.

"Heh, if it really doesn't work out, I'll just move the project to a nearby tech park."

Chen Yansen said dismissively.

If he moved Fox Taobao away, how would Tang Qingshan still leverage his reputation as a college-student entrepreneur?

The mid-March college student entrepreneurship competition was still counting on Chen Yansen to hold up the front.

"Haha, you've finally got the principal by the throat." Cao Dahua laughed, looking rather gleeful. When the time came, Tang Qingshan would have to take this on. If something really went wrong, he couldn't be the only one taking the fall.

"Next, I still need to find a reliable procurement director on the supply side. That's far harder than finding R&D people."

Chen Yansen picked up his tea cup, took a small sip, and sighed softly.

In Chen Yansen's view, once procurement people had more resources, it was hard for them not to be greedy—the only question was how much.

Capable and not taking kickbacks? That would make them a saint.

Chen Yansen wasn't that greedy. As long as they could get things done, a little greed was fine. What he himself couldn't do, there was no need to demand of others.

"I do have some connections on that front." Cao Dahua picked up his cup, looking quite pleased with himself.

"Are they reliable?"

Chen Yansen put down his tea cup and pressed urgently.

"Big Pineapple's procurement VP—he's been in the phone industry for over ten years. He knows the electronic component suppliers in the Southeast region inside out…"

Cao Dahua introduced slowly.

Big Pineapple?

Isn't that a Shanzhai phone brand?

Chen Yansen pondered silently, estimating that with the other party's resources, they could only integrate low-end supply chains.

What he wanted were first-class quality chips, screens, cameras, motherboards, and batteries; if they were just making Shanzhai phones, there would be no need to waste manpower and capital developing a derivative system.

"What do you mean, you kid? Looking down on it? Then figure it out yourself." Cao Dahua saw Chen Yansen's look of disdain, turned his head, and fell silent.

"I definitely trust the person recommended by Teacher Cao. Give me a contact number; I'll have Xu Dan chat with him later."

Chen Yansen said with a smile.

"That's more like it. Old Zuo is a straightforward person and gets things done efficiently." Cao Dahua evaluated seriously.

"You're in the internet circle; how do you know someone in the mobile phone industry?" Chen Yansen looked puzzled and asked curiously.

"We're all making our way in Shencheng, and we're fellow townspeople; meeting at the Chamber of Commerce isn't that normal, is it?"

Cao Dahua shrugged his hands, explaining as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"You staying at Xucheng Academy is a complete waste of talent. Why not come to Fox Tao? I'll get you a position as Vice President." Chen Yansen joked.

"Don't mess around! Last time I joked with you, did you take it seriously? With my job, you could offer half the equity of Fox Tao, and I still wouldn't care."

Cao Dahua chuckled and casually bragged.

"Alright, I'm leaving. Your tea is quite good; let me borrow it for two days."

Having said that, Chen Yansen, regardless of whether Cao Dahua agreed or not, picked up the tea leaves and walked out.

"You rascal! I just bought this new tea, and you're eating it and taking it!"

Cao Dahua shouted at Chen Yansen's retreating back, his tone filled with indignation.

Chen Yansen acted as if he hadn't heard, his steps noticeably quickening, and he vanished in a flash.

Back in Room 206.

Chen Yansen gave Xu Dan the phone number of the person Cao Dahua had introduced, asking her to communicate first and test the other party's conditions for switching jobs.

While developing the system, supply chain integration work could not stop.

Whether to build a factory or find someone for OEM would be decided once funds were sufficient.

Chen Yansen opened the data backend; it was only 4:30 PM, yet the total number of active users for the day had already reached 1.8 million. It looked like it could hit 2 million by the end of the month.

Fox Tao's development couldn't be rushed; the current growth rate already far exceeded Chen Yansen's expectations.

As long as they proceeded steadily from here on, not giving Mushroom Street, Meilishuo, and Taofenba any chance to rise, and firmly holding onto the four major sectors of Super Rebate, Nine Yuan Nine, Search, and Shangcheng Rebate, Fox Tao could firmly sit in the top seat of shopping guide e-commerce.

By then, whether selling the whole company or negotiating financing, the selling price or valuation could be maximized.

Before getting off work, Chen Yansen glanced at Song Yuncheng; seeing her still bent over revising the proposal, he smiled faintly and walked downstairs.

Lately, she had been full of energy for making money, busy all day coordinating channels with major B2C platforms or communicating with brands to implement marketing plans.

Seeing her work so desperately, she must be determined to double the tens of thousands of yuan she spent in Yanjing.

Just as Chen Yansen stepped out of the Entrepreneurship Park, Zhang Yifeng called.

The matter was simple: merchant resources for A's investment promotion had dropped out of the CRM database and were picked up by B's investment promotion.

Now, when merchants tried to report brand groups to A, they discovered the registration authority was in B's hands. A asked B for the merchants, but B refused to give them up; if not for him and Yuan Wei intervening, the two would have almost fought.

"Those causing trouble will have their commission reduced by one percentage point this month. If it happens again, they will be fired immediately."

After listening, Chen Yansen said decisively.

These investment promotion staff had made quick money for two months and started acting arrogant, not even following the 'dropped from database' rules.

If they weren't strictly punished, it was unknown what kind of trouble they would cause.

According to regulations, when merchant resources are first entered into the CRM database, the registration authority belongs to the investment promotion staff who entered them.

If no brand group activity is registered within 21 days, they will drop out of the CRM database and become public resources, which anyone can pick up.

Therefore, the investment promotion staff causing trouble didn't even have a single valid reason.

"Alright, Brother Sen, I will handle it properly." Zhang Yifeng promised.

Chen Yansen hummed in acknowledgment and continued walking toward the cafeteria. Just as he reached the crossroads, he saw Song Yang holding hands with a long-haired girl, heading toward the Dongmen.

"This kid really got together with the senior sister?"

Chen Yansen smiled and muttered quietly.

(End of Chapter)