Chapter 351: Envious Eyes

As the copper pot boiled, a large chopstick lifted a pile of sliced lamb, swirled it in dipping sauce, and shoved it into the mouth—meat flavor instantly flooded the entire oral cavity.

Li Li Dongling swallowed a big bite of meat, a light sheen of sweat broke on his forehead, then he downed a large gulp of liquor; everyone at the table did the same—the several large plates of lamb vanished before their eyes.

"Let's all drink up!"

Guo Guo Jingyun called out; everyone raised their beer or baijiu glasses, clinked them together, and after a few drinks, their stomachs were half-full, and they naturally grew more at ease.

Li Li Dongling glanced at Reibus, then asked Zhang Zhang Yufeng, "Mr. Zhang, are you old acquaintances with Manager Rei?"

Zhang Zhang Yufeng dropped another plate of lamb into the copper pot, unbuttoned a few collar buttons, and glanced at Lei Jun, who was chatting with Zhou Zhou Hongwei, his fellow Hunan native: "Fang Zheng and Jinshan have been dealing for a long time—we're one of Jinshan Software's biggest buyers!"

"His girlfriend works at Fang Zheng."

Lei Jun and Zhou Zhou Hongwei, Qianshi mutual rivals, were actually fellow townspeople, and both their wives worked at Fang Zheng—but seemingly born under incompatible stars, they'd never once found each other agreeable.

At the table, programmers Lei Jun, Zhou Zhou Hongwei, Zhu Zhu Chongjun, Zhou Zhirong, and others quickly bonded; Guo Guo Jingyun conversed with Yu Yu Minhong.

After speaking a few words with Zhang Zhang Yufeng, Li Li Dongling noticed the group beside them, already warmed by alcohol and hometown ties, had ignited—Zhou Zhou Hongwei's tirade began: "Jinshan's Pangu Office Suite is terrible—its gap with Microsoft is enormous!"

Upon hearing this, Lei Jun's expression darkened instantly, but he said nothing to Zhou Zhou Hongwei, merely turned his head aside and lit a silent cigarette.

At this time, Lei Jun had not yet endured the storms ahead, nor had he developed the broad-mindedness he'd later gain after fame and fortune.

Moreover, Jinshan was now locked in a bitter struggle with Microsoft; Pangu was Lei Jun's life's work—but it had failed, rejected by market and users alike. Zhou Zhou Hongwei had clearly struck a raw nerve.

Seeing this, Li Li Dongling couldn't help but sigh: sworn enemies are sworn enemies—time and space change nothing; they always spark the moment they meet.

"Manager Rei, let's drink!"

Li Li Dongling raised his glass toward Lei Jun.

Hearing Li Li Dongling speak—the host of tonight's gathering, and a man of reputation and standing—even though Reibus was irritated by his hometown rival's jab, he still raised his glass and clinked it with Li Li Dongling's.

The atmosphere finally eased; after downing a large cup of baijiu, Zhang Zhang Yufeng fixed his burning gaze on Li Li Dongling: "Mr. Li, is it true the media reported you invested two million U. S. dollars in Yahoo in Silicon Valley and made thirty-five million?"

Zhang Zhang Yufeng's voice wasn't loud, but it drew Yu Yu Minhong's attention—she, uninterested in tech, now stared at Li Li Dongling.

Two million U. S. dollars turned into thirty-five million—that's 280 million RMB. This year, New Oriental's revenue surged, yet its annual turnover barely reached twenty million, with profits under a few million.

Not just Yu Yu Minhong—even Lei Jun, Wang Wang Jizhi, and others who'd already read the media reports about Zhixing Foundation's Yahoo investment—all turned to look at Li Li Dongling.

Though the media had only just begun reporting it and the public outcry hadn't yet erupted, this was unquestionably today's biggest news in Zhongguancun—literally igniting public frenzy.

Especially on BBS forums—Ma Station, Shuimu Tsinghua, Changcheng, Paradise—all were buzzing about today's news; Zhixing Foundation's venture into Yahoo was simply too tantalizing to ignore.

Netscape and Yahoo had only just been founded—one just went public with a market cap over $2.6 billion, the other valued at over $500 million. This internet wealth effect stirred those in China's BBS circles to restless ambition; tech firms like Fang Zheng felt even sharper jolts.

For the first time, the term "internet" appeared in Zhongguancun, and its first impression on everyone was pure profit—a 200-fold return. Even selling contraband didn't yield such obscene gains!

Zhang Zhang Yufeng rushed over to meet Li Li Dongling precisely because of this: Fang Zheng had exhausted itself going public, raised 320 million HKD, was scorned and doubted by investors, and now needed Li Dongling High-Tech to rescue it.

But Li Li Dongling? He invested two million U. S. dollars, and in less than a year, turned it into a 200-fold return—this shock was overwhelming.

Lei Jun forgot his grudge against Zhou Zhou Hongwei's reckless tirade and leaned in, ears straining toward them.

Jinshan was now on the brink of running out of cash; the entire company was seething with determination, eager to challenge Microsoft, to wash away past humiliation, and to settle the score in office software once and for all.

But reality was cruel: though Lei Jun, Qiu Qiu Bojun, and others fixed their eyes on Microsoft, the gap only widened—Microsoft's office suite remained untouched, while Jinshan itself was running out of R&D funds; to secure financing, Qiu Qiu Bojun had mortgaged his villa. The state of Jinshan was obvious.

As the most profitable tech company of these past years, though Li Dongling High-Tech operated in electronics, Jinshan had still discussed Li Dongling High-Tech.

But no discussion had ever matched the shock of Zhixing Foundation's Yahoo investment—internet versus software industry was truly heaven versus earth.

"It was Zhixing Foundation that invested in Yahoo—not Li Dongling High-Tech. Zhixing Foundation is a charitable foundation!"

Li Li Dongling explained again before adding, "Based on Yahoo's current valuation, Zhixing Foundation has indeed realized these gains!"

"But these profits can only be cashed out after Yahoo goes public!"

Upon Li Li Dongling's confirmation that the media reports were true, Zhang Zhang Yufeng's breathing grew heavy; Yu Yu Minhong and Lei Jun's gazes toward Li Li Dongling shifted slightly.

The Li Li Dongling portrayed in media was entirely different from the real man before them—this was over 200 million RMB in profit, earned in one stroke. Now they understood why Li Dongling High-Tech was so wildly profitable.

He poured himself a large cup of baijiu, swallowed it in one gulp, and only then felt his restless heart settle.

"Mr. Li, are internet companies in Silicon Valley really that profitable…?"

"Brother Zhang," Li Li Dongling cut him off directly, "Silicon Valley isn't easy to navigate. Zhixing Foundation just got lucky this time. For every internet company that succeeds there, dozens, maybe a hundred—or more—collapse."

Li Li Dongling said no more; he wouldn't plead further. Kind words can't save those determined to die. If Fang Zheng or other domestic firms insisted on rushing to America to hand over their heads to Wall Street, he couldn't stop them.

The more you try to stop someone, the more they suspect you're blocking their fortune—even if it's poison, they'll taste it before they believe it's fatal.

Zhang Zhang Yufeng's expression flickered for a moment, then he sighed heavily: investing in Silicon Valley carried too much risk—if you got scammed, you had nowhere to complain, and he couldn't afford such losses. He could only reluctantly give up.

But then he smiled and asked Li Li Dongling, "What do you think about investing in internet companies within China?"

As for Li Li Dongling's investment vision—not only had Liu Lao and Duan Duan Yongji endorsed it, but after the Yahoo win, who dared question his judgment?

Li Li Dongling, having just devoured a large bite of lamb, looked at Zhang Zhang Yufeng's expectant face and finally understood his hunger for fame and fortune.

"There's opportunity."

"But you must keep your eyes open—not every internet company is Netscape or Yahoo. This is a nascent industry; no one knows how it will turn out!"

"Even if China's internet develops, it will likely take many years," Li Li Dongling said.

Hearing this, Zhang Zhang Yufeng had already made his decision: "Come, Brother Li, I toast you!"

As glasses clinked and drinks flowed, the veteran smokers lit up again—the atmosphere grew electric. Though Zhang Zhang Yufeng was ambitious, his sales background made him a master of networking; he shed all pretense and quickly bonded with everyone, calling them brothers, ensuring the table never fell silent.

(End of Chapter)