Chapter 239: Cheng Wei Got Scammed! 80 Million Soul Fire Threads Broken Through

"Boss Cheng, DiDi Taxi 1. has been developed and is now in testing."

In a cramped office area of Yanjing Digital Valley, a subordinate spoke to Cheng Wei.

"So fast?"

Cheng Wei felt suspicious—he was trained in administrative management and knew nothing about technology, but after years at ZhiFuBao, he naturally understood that developing a brand-new product usually took at least two months.

Yet the outsourced company had done it in under a month!

Thinking of this, he immediately stood up, walked over to the testing team's workstation, picked up a test phone, and installed DiDi Taxi right away.

"Why is the installation so slow?"

Cheng Wei frowned and asked.

"Boss Cheng, the installation package is big—29. MB total. With our download speed, it'll take several minutes."

The testing team member replied.

"How big is the installation package for KuaiDi Taxi?" Cheng Wei tightened his brow and asked coldly.

He didn't understand technology, but he understood comparison!

"7. MB," the testing team member shrugged.

The entire DiDi Taxi team consisted of only a dozen people: the essential finance and tech partners, two testers, and the rest were business staff Cheng Wei had lured away from ZhiFuBao's B2C division.

Cheng Wei and his old colleague Wang Gang had pooled 800, 00 yuan just to get the project off the ground.

Hearing the tester's words, Cheng Wei's heart sank—an oversized installation package meant higher data usage and more memory consumption.

In 2012, mobile data wasn't cheap; Cheng Wei himself used a China Unicom plan costing 46 yuan monthly, with only 150 MB of data.

Asking passengers to download an unknown app using 30 MB of data would make promotion extremely difficult.

Taxi drivers certainly wouldn't be happy either!

"The data package is too big—this won't work. Even if we carry wireless modems for promotion, the efficiency is too low. Jianhui, communicate with them—compress the package to under 15 MB."

Cheng Wei turned to his tech partner and instructed him.

"Understood. We'll first identify all the bugs, then coordinate with them collectively," Zhang Jianhui nodded.

"No! This app drains battery and eats up data—in simulation, the ride-booking success rate is under 30%. Once launched, it might not even hit 10%."

An hour later, two testing team members shook their heads like bobbleheads—they found zero advantages in the app.

Every feature was riddled with bugs!

Furious, Cheng Wei bypassed Zhang Jianhui and called the outsourced company.

Due to budget constraints, the company had quoted 150, 00 yuan; Cheng Wei used his negotiation skills to slash it to 90, 00.

But 90, 00 yuan wasn't nothing!

It had wasted him a month—and delivered garbage!

"Hello, Boss Gu, we tested the installation package—it's unusable. Refund my deposit; I'm switching to another company."

Cheng Wei demanded angrily.

"Boss Cheng, don't get upset—just optimize slowly. Bugs in new products are normal, aren't they?"

The outsourced company's boss laughed it off, trying to soothe him.

Inside, he was furious: You gave me 90, 00 yuan and expect me to build you a Taobao?

Cheng Wei's words were merely a negotiation tactic—he knew the company wouldn't refund him. He exaggerated to force them to take it seriously.

"I'll give you one more month. Otherwise, refund the money—or face court!"

Cheng Wei said bluntly.

"Yes, yes, I guarantee I'll fix it, Boss Cheng—you must trust our company's reputation in Yanjing."

The outsourced company boss smiled and agreed.

Cheng Wei took a deep breath, hung up helplessly, then told Zhang Jianhui to compile all the collected bugs and send them to the company for fixes.

On the other side.

In a software outsourcing firm in Yanjiao, Gu Zhijun put down his phone, sneered, and muttered: "Poor and pretending to be rich? 90, 00 yuan? I only made 60, 00—do you want me dead?"

He then called the engineer handling the project: "Teacher Zhou, what the hell did you develop? You've made me get screamed at by the client. I've sent the revision requirements to your email—if this happens again, I won't give you any more work."

"Boss Gu, you can't blame me entirely—I only had one month. Just getting it done was already a miracle."

Teacher Zhou hurriedly explained.

"I don't care. I'm giving you thirty more days. If the client's still unhappy, your final payment is gone," Gu Zhijun threatened.

Damn it!

Teacher Zhou cursed under his breath, turned, returned to the classroom, gathered a few students, and went to his office to fix the bugs.

At this moment, Cheng Wei had no idea that the DiDi Taxi app he was counting on was written by a vocational school teacher from Shandong, along with a few half-baked students.

While Cheng Wei was still struggling with development and funding, KuaiDi Taxi's daily orders in Jin Ling had already surpassed 30, 00.

Cheng Weixing, armed with an authorization letter from the Transportation Association, directly approached the managers of Zhongbei, Dongfang, Dajian, and Ruijin Taxi Companies, paid them a promotional fee, and easily secured over 4, 00 dedicated ride-hailing drivers.

This was precisely why Chen Yansen insisted on bringing in Huake's business development team—negotiating top-down could solve the shortage of online drivers in record time.

Negotiating bottom-up? That would be far harder!

First, did taxi drivers even own smartphones?

Second, were they willing to download the app?

Third, taxi drivers were highly mobile, making grassroots promotion extremely difficult.

Imagine these 4, 00+ taxis scattered across Jin Ling's districts—how much manpower and money would it take to get them all to install KuaiDi Taxi?

In reality, without the Transportation Association's authorization and a hefty promotional fee, taxi companies had little interest in pushing drivers to go online.

Because whether drivers earned more or less, it didn't affect the companies' fixed monthly dues.

This situation was especially clear in the Jin Ling market.

Thus, Cheng Weixing noted in his work email that he planned to open driver registration to private vehicles, boosting order capacity while forcing taxi drivers to download KuaiDi Taxi voluntarily.

After all, once passengers got used to booking online, drivers who didn't use the app would inevitably lose orders and income.

This was exactly Chen Yansen's original plan!

But in his February Soul Fire value, he hadn't detected any Soul Fire contributed by KuaiDi Taxi's drivers.

That meant the system didn't recognize the income generated by drivers whose labor contracts were tied to taxi companies.

Unless KuaiDi signed formal labor contracts with its drivers!

But that would effectively create an "internet taxi company," inevitably clashing head-on with traditional taxi firms—extremely disadvantageous for KuaiDi Taxi in its early stage.

During this time, he had consulted Tao Jingwen and even Meng Yuanzhi about policy issues; both advised against it.

As a result, KuaiDi Taxi's relationship with taxi companies would shift from partner to competitor.

Take Lucheng as an example—many taxi companies had state-owned backgrounds and involved tens of thousands of ordinary families.

In Meng Yuanzhi's own words: "I can support you, but think about the consequences."

When taxi company licenses plummeted in value, thousands would probably want him dead.

More importantly, KuaiDi Taxi's operating costs would skyrocket, making profitability difficult.

First, he couldn't explain it to investors like Tencent, Ali, DST, and Huake; second, high labor costs and reduced expected returns would make future fundraising harder.

Investors put in money to make profits, not to do charity.

After a long while, Chen Yansen suddenly stood up, gazing out the window at the endless fields of oil tea flowers.

"Taxi companies thrive on fixed dues—how could KuaiDi Taxi, earning commissions, possibly go bankrupt?"

Chen Yansen murmured softly, eyes half-closed.

This was a super-industry capable of providing over 8 million jobs!

It could generate at least 80 million strands of Soul Fire for him annually!

If this world were to have only one "taxi company," I hope it's KuaiDi Taxi!

After making up his mind, Chen Yansen returned to his seat and replied to Cheng Weixing's work email.

"Sign labor contracts with ride-hailing drivers and pay five insurances and one housing fund?"

Upon learning his boss's new decision, Cheng Weixing's mind went numb.

He knew this would bring enormous operational challenges.

KuaiDi Taxi's current core revenue streams were only three: commission per order, information service fees, and advertising income.

He had to ensure driver income while protecting shareholder interests—he was stuck.

He dared not disobey his boss's order.

The next morning, KuaiDi Taxi announced in Hangcheng and Jin Ling that it would open registration to private vehicles and provide drivers with five insurances, one housing fund, and a guaranteed minimum wage.

The announcement immediately angered taxi drivers and taxi companies.

Weren't they stealing their business?

After one day, very few drivers came to join.

To private vehicle drivers (i. ., black car drivers), the cost came from the users themselves—KuaiDi Taxi dared to pay drivers an extra 1, 00–2, 00 yuan monthly? They must be taking a huge cut.

Some taxi companies did pay social insurance for drivers, but the share of contract fees or dues still started at 30% and could reach up to 60%.

After consulting Chen Yansen, Cheng Weixing changed the labor contract to optional—driver sign-ups surged instantly.

This left Chen Yansen speechless!

He had underestimated the complexity of human nature; he immediately dropped the mandate and handed the choice back to the drivers.

As private vehicle drivers increased, KuaiDi Taxi rigorously screened driver backgrounds, strengthened identity verification, and used technical means to monitor trips, offering users safety hotlines, audio recording protection, one-touch emergency alerts, and driving behavior feedback.

On March 21, KuaiDi Taxi integrated with Gaode Map's database.

On March 22, KuaiPao integrated with Gaode Map's database.

Only now did online news break: Sunlink Capital was about to fully acquire Gaode Map, and the Lighthouse Securities Association had approved its privatization application; Gaode Map would delist no later than the end of March.

When Zhang Xuhao saw this news, it suddenly clicked—he finally understood why Eleme's delivery route planning, order matching, and dispatch systems had always lost to KuaiPao.

The other side had already partnered with Gaode Map!

They had access to real-time, first-hand intersection data!

The publicly announced data access timeline was likely fake, meant only to ensure Sunlink Capital's smooth acquisition of Gaode Map.

They released the news selectively only after everything was settled.

Zhang Xuhao still had this basic level of business insight.

But now he no longer cared about these matters; he pushed his suitcase onto a plane bound for Yancheng.

Because he had accepted a job offer from Nuomi. om, preparing to step away from the food delivery industry and enter the group-buying sector.

…

…

Another ordinary weekend; along Xuelin Road at Xu Academy, a long line of interviewees stretched out.

Orange Tech, Orange Pay, Pinbei Mall, and Jinri Tech had all set up their spring recruitment booths on the open ground beside Pearl Lake.

Although interviews at these four companies were extremely difficult, their compensation was very high.

Starting salaries for operations, marketing, and sales roles were no less than 5, 00 yuan.

For computer programming, electronic information, and engineering design majors, the minimum starting salary was 8, 00 yuan.

It didn't seem like much, but for 2012 graduates of Xu Academy, it was an extremely respectable job.

Moreover, they received monthly housing subsidies (20% of salary), meal allowances, transportation subsidies, and quarterly bonuses.

"Big Sen, I never thought after all this back-and-forth, me and Qiangzi would end up as your subordinates."

Beside a stone bench in Liuxi, Song Yang sighed, and Wang Zhengqiang nodded in agreement.

After the Three Throughs and One Reach were crushed by Yunsu, Song Yang's courier station suffered heavily; without hesitation, he terminated partnerships with other courier companies and became Yunsu Express's campus agent.

Chen Yansen smiled faintly—others who were reborn gathered girls from their dorms; he, meanwhile, turned all his roommates into his employees.

"Being a courier agent isn't a lifelong career. You're different from me—you're a rich second-generation; someday you'll go home and inherit your father's dozen or so chain hotels."

At these words, Wang Zhengqiang's smile vanished.

That's right!

Chen Yansen was a rich first-generation; Song Yang was a rich second-generation; he himself was a worker's second-generation!

"I won't be that useless. I'll build my way up step by step to become a chain hotel tycoon!" Song Yang declared firmly.

"Will your girlfriend agree?" Chen Yansen asked.

"Why should she agree?" Song Yang was confused.

Chen Yansen smiled but said nothing—he had met Song Yang's girlfriend. Her intentions were painfully obvious: she was after Song Yang's position as campus courier chief.

After digging deeper, she discovered this guy was also a scion of the hotel industry—how could she possibly let go?

If Song Yang insisted on playing the foolish "I won't take a penny from my family, I'll build it myself" act, this girl would almost certainly not wait for him.

Still, Chen Yansen said nothing; they were in the heat of romance—no need to douse them with cold water.

People can't be taught by words; they learn by experience—and remember it for life.

"Keep chatting—I'm heading back to the dorm. See you tonight."

Chen Yansen stood up to take his leave.

Today was Tang Zhenzhe's birthday; he had reserved a private room at Shuangqing Restaurant and invited five fathers to dinner.

"See you tonight," Song Yang and Wang Zhengqiang waved.

As Chen Yansen walked toward Dorm 0418, he controlled a willow leaf floating three meters ahead of him.

To onlookers, the leaf swayed left and right in the breeze—nothing unusual.

This was Chen Yansen's self-devised training method; though his mental stat on the panel hadn't increased, the objects he could lift with his spiritual force had clearly grown heavier.

Before, it was one toothpick; now, five or six!

Just as he reached the intersection of Xuelin Road and Xuehai Road, a student with slightly darker skin and short hair suddenly stepped forward, blocking Chen Yansen's path.

(End of Chapter)