Chapter 95: The Opportunity to Enter the Express Delivery Industry, The Home Decoration Festival Concept

Yunsu Express? Chen Yansen had never even heard of it; it was obviously a small fry that would either go bankrupt or be completely swallowed up by the "Three Tongs and One Da" within two or three years.

This proved that Liao Wei had neither a financial backer nor a powerful patron behind him; otherwise, how could he have died on the eve of e-commerce taking off?

After clarifying Liao Wei's intentions, Chen Yansen waved his hand and said, "Liao Zong, there is nothing for us to discuss. Your employees swapping out Feitian Maotai is a fact, and causing major losses to Fox Tao is also a fact..."

"President Chen, this matter has caused trouble for you and your esteemed company. I will compensate for all losses, but you criticize Yunsu on Weibo every day; I can't do business like this."

Liao Wei pleaded with a bitter face.

Chen Yansen's Weibo had 3.7 million followers; he did only two things every day: recommending brand group flash-sale items and criticizing Yunsu Express's management loopholes.

If this continued, Yunsu would inevitably perish!

His commercial disputes with Wine God Network and Fox Tao would, by procedure, take at least three to five months to resolve; by then, it was uncertain whether Yunsu would even still exist.

Recent feedback from stations indicated that many merchants refused to use Yunsu Express, fearing that couriers would play dirty tricks and increase the store's complaint rate.

"I am simply stating the truth."

Chen Yansen shrugged, not taking Liao Wei seriously at all.

This kind of boss, risen from the rough streets, might use some underhanded tricks, but he was now the favored student of Tang Qingshan from Xucheng Academy and the Star of University Student Entrepreneurship in Huian Province.

If Liao Wei dared to act tough, he wouldn't be allowed to leave without shedding a layer of skin.

"President Chen, name your conditions; I will accept them all. I only beg you to spare Yunsu."

Hearing this, Liao Wei was so angry he almost cursed, but thinking that this was at the school, on their turf, he softened his tone and spoke the words he had prepared.

"Liao Zong wants me to withdraw the lawsuit, but what benefit can I get from it?"

Chen Yansen looked down at him, his tone flat.

"I can have finance transfer the compensation amount listed on the lawyer's letter immediately. In the future, if Fox Tao has any express delivery business needs, Yunsu will fully cooperate."

Liao Wei's words were beautiful, but in reality, aside from the compensation money, it was just an empty promise.

"How many vehicles, how many stations, and how many couriers does Yunsu Express have?"

Chen Yansen raised an eyebrow and asked casually.

Liao Wei didn't understand why, but since he was asking for a favor, he naturally answered every question: "Approximately 100 heavy trucks, 300 medium trucks, over 400 stations, and more than 3,000 employees."

Over 3,000 people?

Chen Yansen's eyes lit up; if he could have these 3,000 employees, wouldn't the monthly Humanitarian Fire and Kindling yield several thousand points?

Fox Tao was an asset-light model with rapid development, but it created few positions, whereas express delivery companies were different, with employees often numbering in the thousands.

The "Three Tongs and One Da," Jingdong, and SF Express had employee counts ranging from ten to twenty thousand on the low end to fifty to sixty thousand on the high end.

"I'm going into the express delivery industry too!"

Chen Yansen pondered silently, thought for a moment, and then said to Liao Wei, "Forget the compensation; let's just consider it making a friend. You can convert the compensation amount into equity in Yunsu."

Hearing the first half, Liao Wei's face immediately filled with smiles, but the second half made his expression freeze, leaving him stunned on the spot.

According to Fox Tao's litigation request, the losses to reputation, valuation, and revenue caused by the fake wine incident totaled 6 million.

If this lawsuit dragged on for a while, it might be resolved for one or two million in the end.

Chen Yansen wanted to get something for nothing, but how much equity should he give?

Liao Wei frowned, not knowing how to respond; it wasn't that he was unwilling to give up equity, but he didn't know how much to give.

If he gave too little, Chen Yansen wouldn't agree; if he gave too much, his heart would ache.

"How much does President Chen want?" After struggling for a long time, Liao Wei decided to hand the choice over to Chen Yansen.

"Liao Zong, I don't have time to waste with you." Chen Yansen snorted coldly and said without hesitation.

"2%, how about that?" Liao Wei asked tentatively.

Yunsu Express's total assets were about 150 million, with venture capital firms valuing it at 270 million; 2% was exactly worth 5.4 million, which was more cost-effective than paying cash.

"I will handle the lawsuit from Wine God Network for you." Chen Yansen shook his head, speaking noncommittally.

"3%!" Liao Wei gritted his teeth and said.

Yunsu was built by him from scratch; giving up even a fraction of a percent of equity felt like cutting his own flesh.

"Fine, 3% it is! President Liao, from now on, we are our own people." Chen Yansen smiled freely and patted his shoulder.

"This thing is nineteen years old? Which nineteen-year-old university student can be so scheming and shameless?"

Liao Wei forced a smile, but inwardly he was secretly complaining.

After the terms were settled, Chen Yansen's attitude softened considerably; he pulled Liao Wei into the office and, while drinking tea, inquired about the current development of the express delivery industry.

Half an hour later, Chen Yansen finally had a general understanding of the current express delivery industry.

Simply put, among private express companies, SF Express was the undisputed leader, the "Three Tongs and One Da" were the second tier, and Yunsu was the third tier, able only to scavenge leftovers to make a living.

"No wonder I haven't heard of Yunsu in over ten years; it was probably squeezed out by other express companies before 2013."

Chen Yansen pondered silently.

The original thought of pulling some resources for Liao Wei and helping him out was instantly abandoned.

Let him die or not!

It would be best if, when he was half-dead, he could acquire him at a low price and get a bargain.

The two finalized the details of the equity transfer and agreed to bring legal and finance teams to sign the contract on the second floor of the Entrepreneurship Park tomorrow.

"President Liao must be visiting Xucheng for the first time; I will arrange everything for tonight." After achieving his goal, Chen Yansen immediately switched to a warm, enthusiastic smile.

"If President Chen is treating, I will definitely be there; let's meet tonight." Liao Wei smiled, put his arm around Chen Yansen's shoulder, and the two walked out of the Entrepreneurship Park in a friendly manner.

Anyone unaware would think they were old friends of many years.

Liao Wei calculated in his heart that although he had lost 3% of equity, it was worth it to make Chen Yansen's acquaintance.

Having an extra friend is always better than having an extra enemy.

Chen Yansen saw Liao Wei off to his car, sent him the address of the Sky Garden, and then waved goodbye.

Returning to the second floor, Chen Yansen called for Wang Zihao.

"Going to Galaxy Star tonight?" Wang Zihao's eyes lit up, his mischievous grin impossible to hide.

"Yeah, I'll introduce you to a new friend, Liao Wei, the boss of Yunsu Express," Chen Yansen mentioned briefly.

"Brother Sen, why do I feel you're losing out?" Wang Zihao compared the 6 million compensation with the value of the 3% equity and muttered quietly.

In his view, the value of Yunsu's 3% equity was simply not worth 6 million.

"You think getting 6 million means you'll actually get it in hand? Getting one million would be good enough," Chen Yansen said, rolling his eyes at him.

To make Wang Zihao understand, Chen Yansen cited several commercial reputation lawsuits; generally, being able to enforce 20% of the litigation claims was already the upper limit.

"So that's how it is," Wang Zihao said thoughtfully, nodding his head.

What Chen Yansen cared about wasn't that 3% equity, but the opportunity to step into the express delivery industry through it.

That night, Chen Yansen and Wang Zihao first hosted Liao Wei at the Sky Garden, then moved the venue to Galaxy Star.

After three rounds of drinks, Liao Wei called him "little brother" repeatedly, slapping his chest until it thumped loudly, shouting that next time he went to Yanjing, he would definitely take Chen Yansen and Wang Zihao to try the big Western horses up north.

This made Wang Zihao restless with excitement!

The three played until dawn, and Liao Wei, supported by his assistant, staggered into the hotel.

Wang Zihao got into the driver's seat and drove Chen Yansen back to the school.

The next morning, the third day of the New Year's Day holiday.

Chen Yansen, in his personal capacity, spent 10,000 yuan to purchase 3% equity in Yunsu Express.

Subsequently, the conflict between Fox Tao and Yunsu Express was resolved; Chen Yansen deleted his Weibo post and withdrew the lawsuit, and the fake wine incident was completely settled after an exchange of interests.

After finishing these tasks, Chen Yansen began to organize Fox Tao's business plan, covering business models, market opportunities, team backgrounds, financial forecasts, and so on.

For entrepreneurs of the same age, these were complex and difficult to understand, but for Chen Yansen, who had gone through multiple financing rounds and successfully listed, it was merely taking previous proposals and copying and modifying them.

The rest of the Fox Tao team were busy with the New Year Goods Festival promotion, and the number of brand groups going online continued to increase.

On January 9, the number of new brand groups reached 100, with up to 300 flash-sale items, almost on par with major promotions like Double Eleven and Double Twelve.

Chen Yansen immediately decided to move some flash-sale items with low promotional intensity to the 8 PM session; Super Return would henceforth feature two flash-sale sessions daily, at 10 AM and 8 PM.

However, evening traffic was far inferior to daytime traffic; to acquire traffic and increase output, competition among merchants submitting similar flash-sale items became increasingly fierce.

An Aux air fryer priced at 499 yuan, originally with a commission rate of 45%, reached a terrifying 70% after several rounds of bidding competition, with the user's final price being only half off.

Chen Yansen knew clearly in his heart that these merchants were participating for two reasons: first to join Juhuasuan, and second to boost sales rankings in their specific categories.

Just like when users search for air fryers on Taobao, even without advertising, the first row on the first page of search results can generate tens of thousands of natural traffic daily.

Although the brands lost money on Fox Tao, they could earn back ten or a hundred times the lost amount on the Taobao platform.

Moreover, the Super Return model was a cashback model where the user's actual payment price was the front-end selling price, satisfying the brands' price control needs, which made merchants flock to it even more.

"Brother Sen, a JD store selling Shao Kang range hoods and stoves wants to pay 100,000 yuan to buy the first spot in the Super Return flash sale."

Just as Chen Yansen was perfecting the business plan, Zhang Yifeng came to report.

Super Return had been online for just over a month, and the project team had not previously priced such resource slots.

"Not selling!" Chen Yansen didn't even look up, refusing decisively.

Although 100,000 was a lot, compared to user experience and long-term platform revenue, casually selling the first-row flash-sale slot would only result in a net loss.

Zhang Yifeng felt somewhat disappointed, sighing inwardly at the pity; this 100,000 yuan in advertising fees would have earned him a commission of at least 3,000 yuan.

"Change the approach; talk to several more stores. Besides range hoods and stoves, fill in kitchen and bathroom small appliances, large appliances, sanitary ware, and furniture categories to create a Home Decoration Festival."

Chen Yansen looked up at Zhang Yifeng and said lightly.

This kid had good ability and insight, but his experience was too limited, restricting his thinking.

"Thanks, Brother Sen, I'll go right away," Zhang Yifeng said happily; if successful, even if he couldn't replicate Meiters' sales of over 40 million, making 20 million in revenue would still earn him a commission of over 100,000 yuan.

Money moves people's hearts; Zhang Yifeng instantly got energized, grabbed Yuan Wei, who had the most merchant resources, and dove headfirst into the conference room.

On the other side.

Due to the fake wine incident, Fox Tao's fame in the e-commerce circle grew significantly; combined with commissions for merchant recruitment and high base salaries plus generous bonuses for category operations, it suddenly attracted many interviewees.

Among them were many experienced industry veterans.

Some of these people came for Fox Tao's high salary and benefits, while others, having heard Fox Tao was about to launch Series A financing, came for development opportunities.

The technical department added several engineers responsible for search and algorithms, reorganizing the original underlying architecture, setting up algorithmic sorting functions for the Super Return product pool, running every 15 minutes based on data operations to reduce human intervention.

The merchant recruitment team expanded from 10 to 26 people, including Hu Yongfan, whom Chen Yansen met at the gym.

On the day of the interview, he actually brought his girlfriend along.

Chen Yansen felt both angry and amused, but ultimately hired him.

The category operations team also added 5 people, reaching 11, with basically one person responsible for each major category.

With more personnel but limited traffic, the number of brand groups each person could launch daily decreased, and open and covert struggles among recruitment staff increased.

Having too many resources in the hands of recruiters was not necessarily a good thing.

This current situation was exactly what Chen Yansen had intentionally fostered.

One week later.

After communication, Tencent, IDG Capital, and Siwei Capital jointly decided to participate in Fox Tao's Series A financing plan.

As soon as the news broke, it caused a sensation in the e-commerce circle, with everyone speculating on what Fox Tao's Series A valuation could reach.

(End of this chapter)