Chapter 149: The 20-Billion Acquisition (Begging for Monthly Tickets)

An hour later, Chen Yansen walked into the conference room and announced without preamble:

"Regarding the pay raise, I'll keep it brief. Xu Dan will send out the salary adjustment notice before end of day, effective this month—a 20% raise for everyone, part-time customer service included."

"Sen-ge, does the business development position get adjusted too?" Xu Dan asked.

"The base salary for business development is also within the adjustment range."

Chen Yansen said casually.

Yuan Wei, Zhang Yifeng, Li Hui, and the others exchanged smiles, each face lighting up. Though the bump in base salary was mere pocket change to them, who would complain about more money?

Song Yuncheng looked at Chen Yansen, feeling this raise had come out of nowhere—not part of the original plan.

"Alright, get back to work." Chen Yansen gave a few brief instructions and waved his hand.

Once everyone had left, Song Yuncheng turned back, closed the conference room door, and stared at Chen Yansen: "I think it feels off, you suddenly giving everyone a raise."

Song Yuncheng's tone was very certain.

"You're so smart—it's a shame you didn't repeat a year and take the 985 exams." Chen Yansen shrugged and teased with a smile.

"So the rumors are true?" Song Yuncheng pulled out a chair, sat beside Chen Yansen, and pressed curiously.

"What's true or not, why are you asking about this?" Chen Yansen chuckled, brushing it off.

The negotiations between Gao Weilin and the investment firm hadn't reached the pricing or discussion stage, so Chen Yansen wouldn't leak any information to the outside—including to Song Yuncheng.

"If you sell Fox Tao, I'll follow you to Sister Chengzi Tech." Song Yuncheng stared straight at Chen Yansen, her gaze soft yet firm.

"What, you planning to cling to me?" Chen Yansen teased.

In truth, even if Song Yuncheng stayed at Fox Tao, he wouldn't mind—but her words still warmed his heart.

This Miss was only twenty; though capable at work, she was far more naive than the girls he'd dated in his previous life.

"Don't worry, you're my employee number one—I won't leave you behind."

Chen Yansen said something deliberately ambiguous.

Song Yuncheng's heart sank; she vaguely guessed Chen Yansen's plan.

She'd heard Chen Yansen explain the ecosystem model of guide e-commerce and understood clearly—even if Chen Yansen didn't sell Fox Tao, in another two or three years, Fox Tao's market share would be gradually eaten away by competing sites.

Chen Yansen stood up and walked out.

Arriving downstairs at the faculty apartment building, he opened the door of the BMW 750 and got in.

Passing the girls' dormitory, he waited a few minutes and saw Meng Jie jogging over, laptop in arms.

"Get in, I'll take you to Sister Chengzi Tech for a look around."

Chen Yansen opened the car door, helped Meng Jie with her seatbelt, and said with a smile.

Parents and students along the road kept casting glances. Someone asked the student in charge of welcoming new arrivals: "Is that young man a teacher at your school? He looks quite young, but what a nice car."

A BMW 750 would be ignored a decade or more later, but in 2011, it was a bona fide luxury car with a real price tag of over two million.

"Him? That's Chen Yansen from the College of Liberal Arts—the business prodigy of the Virtual Academy! Sir, have you heard of Fox Tao?"

The sophomore turned his head to glance and asked with a smile.

"Never heard of it—what does it do?" The parent shook his head.

"Then have you heard of Orange Phone? He's the founder of both Fox Tao and Orange Phone, worth over ten billion."

The sophomore watched the BMW drive off into the distance, speaking with undisguised envy.

"So that's Chen Yansen!" The parent and son exchanged a look, suddenly enlightened.

Before coming, the son had been going on about how there was a sophomore at the Virtual Academy who was incredibly good at business.

He hadn't believed it at the time, thinking: if he's so amazing, how come he only got into Virtual City College?

But after a quick search online, he was immediately silenced.

Chen Yansen really was no ordinary talent—before the age of twenty, he had founded two successful companies.

Sister Chengzi Tech's valuation hadn't been publicly released, but Xiaomi Tech, whose phone sales were far below Sister Chengzi Tech's, was currently valued at roughly 1.5 billion USD.

By that math, adding Fox Tao, Chen Yansen's net worth was well over ten billion.

"You're in e-commerce—Fox Tao loves hiring students from your major. If you get the chance to join Fox Tao, I'd recommend you go for a business role."

The sophomore noticed the two of them spacing out and added with a smile.

"Why? I checked online—the best future positions for e-commerce majors are operations and management." The freshman asked, face full of confusion.

"How much does operations make in a month? Our business school's Zhang Yifeng joined Fox Tao last year, and now his monthly salary is this much!"

The sophomore looked proud, as if that monthly income of over a hundred thousand were his own.

"A hundred thousand?" The parent's face was full of disbelief.

"Exactly! I'm a sophomore now—next year when I'm a junior, I'll definitely go interview at Fox Tao."

The sophomore said with a smile.

Meanwhile.

Chen Yansen drove toward Zhuxianzhuang Tech Park.

Along the way, aside from endless fields of winter wheat, there was barely another car in sight.

"So desolate." Meng Jie sighed.

"Everything has two sides—the amenities around here are a bit lacking, but the rent is cheap."

Chen Yansen explained with a smile.

"Hehe, that's true." Meng Jie licked her lips and nodded in agreement.

"There's bottled water on your right."

Chen Yansen reminded her.

Early September weather was still hot, and combined with Meng Jie's short jog earlier, fine beads of sweat still clung to her forehead.

The AC inside the car was blowing hard, making lips prone to drying out.

Meng Jie made a sound of acknowledgment, took out a bottle of mineral water, and drank in small sips.

Within a few minutes, a technology park covering a hundred mu appeared ahead, with more than a dozen office buildings scattered across it.

Meng Jie instantly recognized the building of Chengzi Technology; a huge orange logo hung on the front of the sixth floor.

"The logo designed by Senior Sister Song is truly beautiful; the color scheme and lines are so eye-catching, it's instantly memorable."

In front of Chen Yansen, Meng Jie praised Song Yuncheng.

Chen Yansen smiled without speaking, parked the car on the first floor, and took Meng Jie by the elevator straight to the fifth floor.

"Ahead is my office," Chen Yansen introduced.

"Tap-tap-tap—"

At that moment, Ye Qiuping walked over quickly, holding a document.

Chen Yansen's arrival time at the technology park was irregular, so Ye Qiuping had specifically instructed the first-floor receptionist to notify her immediately once the boss arrived at the company.

"Mr. Chen, there is a contract that requires your signature," Ye Qiuping said, standing at the door and glancing at Meng Jie.

"Leave it here," Chen Yansen said softly, pointing to the desk.

"Understood, Mr. Chen," Ye Qiuping said, put down the document, and turned to leave.

Although she was curious about Meng Jie's identity, since Chen Yansen did not say anything, she would not ask recklessly.

"That sister is so beautiful, and her figure is super good," Meng Jie murmured quietly, her face full of envy.

Chen Yansen grinned and laughed out loud.

Meng Jie was merely a B, while Ye Qiuping was a D; indeed, there was no comparison.

"Old Gao, come to my office."

Chen Yansen picked up the phone and called Gao Weilin.

Since he needed to find an experienced master in finance for Meng Jie, Gao Weilin was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate.

"Boss, you called for me?" Gao Weilin knocked and walked in.

"Let me introduce you: Meng Jie from the Accounting Department of Xu Yuan, a sophomore this year. You will mentor her for a while."

Chen Yansen gave brief instructions.

"Hello, I am Gao Weilin, the Finance Director of Chengzi Technology; you can also call me Dylan."

Gao Weilin looked at Chen Yansen, then at Meng Jie, and took the initiative to greet her; being a cautious man, he did not even extend his hand.

"Hello, Director Gao," Meng Jie replied politely.

"Boss, I will first take Meng Jie to the Finance Department to familiarize herself with the environment."

Gao Weilin asked for instructions.

Chen Yansen nodded slightly, indicating that Meng Jie should simply follow Gao Weilin.

After the two had been out for about half an hour, Gao Weilin returned with a computer, walking in with long strides.

"Boss, Meng Jie is settled; I've asked Xiao Lin to take her around for two days first."

Gao Weilin sat down and reported.

"Thanks for your hard work," Chen Yansen said without further explanation.

Judging from Gao Weilin's attitude, he had probably guessed Meng Jie's identity, and Chen Yansen felt there was no need to point it out.

Gao Weilin was used to this; his boss was young, wealthy, and handsome, so how could he possibly have only one girlfriend?

In Hong Island, the situation of one husband and two wives was not uncommon; even the eldest wife taking care of the concubine during her confinement was not considered strange.

"Boss, SoftBank and Mama Ali have accepted the proposals from Rakuten and Augusta: Rakuten and Augusta will jointly initiate an acquisition of Fox Tao, and Mama Ali will exchange its Zhifubao and Ali Baba equity for Fox Tao equity."

Gao Weilin shifted the topic and spoke of the main business.

"That is their business; as long as Rakuten and Augusta provide the funds, it is fine. What is their current offer?" Chen Yansen asked.

"18 billion! I told Rakuten and Augusta our bottom line: at least 20 billion, otherwise there is no deal. They said they need a 15-day evaluation period before deciding whether to acquire."

Gao Weilin replied.

"Converted, that is just 3 billion US dollars. Old Ma is really going all out to fill his third-party traffic entry point."

Chen Yansen couldn't help but sigh.

According to his knowledge, in the previous life, Mama Ali had indeed planned in the second half of 2013 to acquire a leading enterprise in the guide e-commerce sector and then merge it with Yitao. com, but the price was not agreed upon.

Chen Yansen knew clearly in his heart that if it were not for these two suckers, Rakuten and Augusta, there would have been no possibility of negotiation at all, since at this time Old Ma truly did not have extra funds.

Otherwise, when he met Ma Liyun, the other party would not have proposed using equity payment to acquire Fox Tao.

Last time in Yanjing, while chatting with Zhou Shouzhi, he learned that Ma Liyun was communicating with Yahoo, wanting to buy back Yahoo's 40% equity before the IPO.

For this, Ma Liyun not only borrowed money from banks but also brought in a group of wealthy venture capital institutions seeking financial support.

"Boss, money in the internet industry is so easy to earn; with your skills, you will surpass Li Chaoren in less than ten years."

Gao Weilin said with a smile, flattering him.

Chen Yansen smiled faintly and said he had no interest in money.

But in his heart, he thought: Li Chaoren will die, but I will not!

What can Li Chaoren compare with me? Is he even worthy?

Gao Weilin laughed heartily, thinking his boss was joking.

In this world, who would not love money?

In the following period, group-buying websites entered a countdown to death.

Before the first week of September was over, more than 200 group-buying websites successively announced their bankruptcy.

Laoshou, Wowo Tuan, Nuomi, and Meituan activated their duel mode; relying on venture capital blood transfusions, the battle situation was even more brutal than in the first half of the year.

But the users were the happiest; on various platforms, there were plenty of subsidized products, such as 9.9 yuan K-song packages, 1 yuan KFC family buckets, and 19 yuan hotel stays, which were everywhere.

To Chen Yansen's surprise, Nuomi. com actually rose to the top.

Its parent company, Renren, though not flush with capital, relied on its own outstanding marketing prowess to crush Wowo Tuan, becoming the second-place player in the group-buying race.

Immediately after, Meituan's market share also surpassed Wowo Tuan, breaking into the top three of the industry.

Dianping in Hu City, leveraging its restaurant review model, had accumulated vast merchant and user resources; after securing Series C funding, it no longer confined itself to its home base.

It immediately pivoted to group-buying operations, expanding wildly across the six provinces of East China.

Originally ranked outside the top ten, by September its market share began to climb, kicking Gao Peng Net out of the top ten with a single kick.

Seeing this, Chen Yansen could not help but sigh that Gao Peng was truly 24k pure trash; backed by the two great mountains of Groupon, the grandfather of group buying, and Penguin, plus covert traffic support from Fox Tao, yet its business was a complete mess.

This made Chen Yansen even more convinced that even the most brilliant ideas require powerful execution to be realized.

Whether a plan succeeds depends 1% on planning and 99% on execution.

Not until the third day after the Mid-Autumn Festival did the headquarters of Lotte and Augusta Capital finally approve the Fox Tao acquisition, making a heavy bet on the Chinese e-commerce race.

This acquisition campaign involving multiple companies officially entered the negotiation process.

(End of this chapter)