Chapter 88: 086 Learn One, Understand Three (5k)

The semi-natural growth of website registered users was highly encouraging.

Even more encouraging was that these users, after seeing information shared by the “Bai Xiaoshengs,” also uploaded their own related knowledge, thus forming an initial positive feedback loop.

Compared to the website proactively providing content, users voluntarily contributing valuable information was far healthier.

By midnight that day, Song Yufeng, too excited to sleep, quietly got out of bed, checked the data on his laptop, and found the website had 1,256 registered users.

Now he couldn’t sleep at all!

The next morning, Song Yufeng swapped his breakfast for Red Bull to forcibly jolt his foggy mind into alertness, insisting on working frontline as chairman, constantly switching online identities to spread awareness of the Bai Xiaoshengs.

One moment he was a freshman girl, the next a third-year student whose internship got canceled, then someone torn between graduate school and a job, then comparing salary packages from different companies…

Song Yufeng had been banned from Tieba yesterday, so today he became smarter, using multiple accounts to operate.

In the morning and afternoon, two more batches of part-time college students arrived, bringing the total to fifty, including yesterday’s thirteen; Yu Xing still handled the briefing, and the process was nearly identical to before—both batches of students smartly voiced concerns, which were promptly dispelled by the value of the project.

Compared to yesterday, the Bai Xiaosheng website added even more related information today.

— Zhongxing, Ericsson, China Merchants Bank, Agricultural Bank of China, Shanda, NetEase, Google…

Not only internet industry data, but the latest information primarily coming from phone feedback covered companies across all sectors, and the content went far beyond salaries—it was wildly diverse.

— Software development, business training, city subsidies, overseas opportunities, hukou issues, written exams and interviews, company red flags…

Yu Xing found these entries overwhelming, but they would certainly help retain website users.

At five p.m., Yu Xing, still posing as a user but mostly mingling among them, stepped out of the office and, as yesterday, announced quitting time. But before he could return, he heard a faint objection from an employee.

“Boss Yu, I’ll head back a bit later—I need to communicate further with the outsourced operations team.” Programmer Yan Haoran spoke loudly, referring to the external maintenance contractor.

Yu Xing glanced skeptically at this employee, whose behavior differed from yesterday, and asked directly: “Is there real work, or are you just trying to impress me?”

Yan Haoran felt awkward—it wasn’t even over yet, and the company’s user registrations had surged past 2,000; the website truly seemed viable, so yes, he really should show initiative…

Chairman Song Yufeng smoothed things over: “Xing Ge, why can’t it be both? Can’t you have ambition at work? My own excited, ambitious heart is almost hurt by your words.”

“Ah, I’m just a college student,” Yu Xing eased the tension, then spoke bluntly: “Our company isn’t big yet, and everyone’s young—just say what you mean. I’m the kind who acts like a petty person first, then becomes a gentleman—I don’t want to play rigid corporate games with you.”

He continued: “I don’t want to bring up how my last company sold for over two million, but I’ll mention it today—I believe our company’s potential is even greater than my last one. Next month we’ll complete our angel round funding, and by year-end I’ll likely meet with Series A investors. If everyone does their job well, we’ll issue stock options. I’m genuinely looking forward to us building this company into something great together.”

Chairman Song Yufeng led the applause.

Yu Xing smiled and returned to the office.

Yan Haoran hesitated for a few seconds, then turned his gaze toward Chairman Song Yufeng.

“No problem—go home when you’re done. The website has no issues,” Song Yufeng understood the look, “Relax—Xing Ge means every word he said. We just need to get our work done.”

The four employees finally left.

A while later, Song Yufeng invited his boss downstairs for dinner and proudly touted his own work: “Xing Ge, we gained 1,500 users today—I’m responsible for at least 500 of them!”

Yu Xing praised: “Good. Then keep doing this after we’re done.”

“Xing Ge, it’s after work now…” Song Yufeng was truly exhausted—poor sleep yesterday, and he’d spent the whole day straining his brain, “Didn’t you just say doing your job was enough…?”

Yu Xing kept his expression calm: “You’re the chairman. You’re a shareholder. You’re working for your own company—why so many complaints? When’s your girlfriend coming? Then I’ll give you more face.”

Song Yufeng couldn’t utter a single rebuttal—Xing Ge was too good at controlling people…

That night, he didn’t jump out of bed again to check the data—he slept like the dead.

But the next day’s results were still outstanding.

In just over two days, Bai Xiaosheng’s registered users reached 4,159—far exceeding the employees’ expectations and even Yu Xing’s own.

If growth continued at this rate, wouldn’t they hit their monthly target of 50,000 registered users in just one month?

Yu Xing’s thought flashed briefly—he knew such growth couldn’t last—but now he hesitated: the feedback was so strong, should he expand the website’s scope further?

He had ideas and learning targets, but this was his first website, and their environment and setup were utterly different.

Yu Xing believed “Maimai”’s first steps must have differed from his own—so couldn’t he make more tailored adjustments?

He tentatively discussed it with Zhong Zhiling and Lu Haiying; their feedback was that they had absolute faith in their own judgment and strategy, so he abandoned communication with Song Yufeng and instead called Liu Wan.

Xiao Ying was still the better choice.

Even the Xiao Ying who wouldn’t show him her cat remained a seasoned consultant with broad experience.

“Four thousand users? Without any hard promotion, this is already excellent,” Liu Wan, who had just flown from Xiangjiang to Jin Ling that afternoon, was delighted by Bai Xiaosheng’s results, “I think it’s time for some promotion.”

Yu Xing said: “The website’s gained tons of new information across different industries, and the response has been extremely enthusiastic—I see users generating valuable discussions among themselves. Should I promote across multiple industries or focus solely on the internet?”

“Wait, wait,” Liu Wan said upon hearing this, “Let’s talk in twenty minutes—I’ll make coffee, turn on my computer, check your site, and think through your point.”

Yu Xing couldn’t help laughing: “So formal?”

“Feels like a jobless vagrant looking for work,” Liu Wan replied, then ended the call.

She brewed a strong cup of coffee, pulled out her laptop, and carefully examined today’s Bai Xiaosheng.

Liu Wan had been busy these days—she’d said goodbye to familiar colleagues and friends, arrived in Jin Ling, and visited her sister-in-law in the hospital for her pregnancy checkup, leaving no time to monitor the website’s progress.

This time, compared to the earlier beta, the relevant posts had completely filled the page.

Liu Wan first skimmed everything, then clicked into the most discussed threads, closed her laptop, and took out a pen to jot down her initial thoughts.

Exactly twenty minutes later—no more, no less—Yu Xing’s phone rang again.

“The site is good, lots of information, and it’s definitely content that attracts future professionals,” Liu Wan began, then added, “But the interface is messy, not clean enough.”

“If you’re not in a hurry to sell this, do similar events every year at this time—students who got useful info from here will gladly help promote it again; this kind of chain reaction is a great growth channel.”

She chuckled: “You really like exploiting college students’ urgency, don’t you—either emotional or material.”

Love satisfies emotional needs; work ensures material necessity.

Yu Xing replied seriously: “I want to bless college students’ love lives and safeguard their careers!”

“Hmm, I’ll take that at face value. If you consistently provide this kind of information every year, the site’s influence will surely grow—but it’s still only relevant during a specific time of year,” Liu Wan continued her thoughts, “All these industry details are temporary. Ultimately, you’re still approaching this with a vertical niche strategy, right?”

Yu Xing agreed: “Yes, Xiao Ying. Workplace socializing and workplace topics—this doesn’t exist on the market yet. Companies like Tianji.com are just doing recruitment; they’re copying LinkedIn.”

LinkedIn was a successful overseas social recruitment platform, but it hadn’t entered China yet. Domestically, there had been attempts—Tianji.com, for example, was founded early, operating since 2004.

Tianji.com’s founder was Lin Tinghan, former vice president of Sina—capable and well-connected—but Tianji.com was reportedly negotiating a merger with a French company.

Honestly, when Yu Xing was preparing Bai Xiaosheng, he hadn’t even noticed this so-called “million-member” workplace social platform—he’d only recently learned of its existence.

He guessed Tianji.com’s merger talks were triggered by the financial crisis, and the merger’s direction…

Since he’d never heard of it, it must be dead.

Backtracking from this “dead” outcome, he re-examined Tianji.com’s operations—it could almost serve as a textbook example of what not to do.

— Targeted high-end professionals; technically didn’t reject students, but strictly limited their proportion.

— Called itself workplace socializing, yet still focused on recruitment and ads—no different from competitors.

Even someone as smart as Lin Tinghan recognized the potential of vertical niche markets, yet everyone’s approach to such niches still varied greatly.

“Don’t rush into recruitment—first solidify your content foundation, first grow your user base. That’s my priority,” Liu Wan agreed with Yu Xing, “As for your earlier idea of expanding into multiple industries…”

She cautiously offered her thoughts: “If you’re targeting internet dating and workplace topics, your audience naturally aligns with internet companies.”

“Compared to internet firms, companies in other industries—whether work environment or attention—are inherently weaker.”

“A vertical niche benefits from its focus, but is also constrained by it.”

“If you don’t first master your core vertical audience and establish your brand identity, expanding into multiple directions now would be… inappropriate.”

Liu Wan found a word to describe her impression.

Not impossible to succeed, but simply not “appropriate.”

She finished speaking and waited for Yu Xing’s response.

Yu Xing thought long and slowly replied: “Very logical. If so, Bai Xiaosheng’s priority users should remain focused on the internet industry, and our promotional resources should concentrate on first-tier cities.”

“Internet companies are mainly in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou.”

“Steel should be used where it cuts best—our next promotions will focus only on these five cities. Even if we raise new funds, we won’t expand to other cities.”

“Once major and mid-sized internet companies cluster on Bai Xiaosheng, other cities’ internet firms will naturally be drawn in.”

In a vertical niche, the highest-priority user group determines where the company invests—only then can resources be fully utilized to steadily widen the gap with competitors.

Liu Wan had only spoken half her point, but hearing Yu Xing’s reasoning, she exclaimed: “Boss Yu, do you know what surprises me most about you?”

Yu Xing ventured: “My sincerity?”

Liu Wan: “Pfft!”

Yu Xing said seriously: “You can scoff at me, but not my sincerity!”

“I’m amazed by your ability to infer multiple insights from one point!” Liu Wan said. “I raised one issue, but you derived answers to others. Yu Xing, what you just said is absolutely right! If you raise more funds, don’t waste them.”

Yu Xing laughed: “One question, two answers—ah, Xiao Ying, this kind of exchange is truly joyful! How can I share this joy with you? It’s so joyful!”

Liu Wan smiled warmly: “Really? So am I.”

“Ah, so joyful—I really want to fall in love!” Yu Xing beamed.

“Really? I… hmm?” Liu Wan caught on, feigning ignorance: “Which junior are you eyeing? Are you staring at all those youthful, pretty girls every day?”

“Xiao Ying, stop thinking about nonsense—let’s finish our first short-selling target first!” Yu Xing mentioned their earlier conversation, “Don’t rush.”

Liu Wan: “…”

Yu Xing changed topics quickly: “I realized advertising is crazy expensive. Seeing how well users register naturally, I’m reluctant to spend the hard-earned money.”

Liu Wan followed along, advising: “You still have to spend—it’s the more you spend, the more you raise.”

“Alright,” Yu Xing asked, “Then when are you transferring your 500,000 to the company account?”

Liu Wan paused for two seconds, then laughed: “Fine, fine—you’re stingy with your own money, but not with mine, right?”

Yu Xing replied confidently: “Of course! What else?”

Liu Wan: “…”

She pretended to scold: “Boss Yu solved the problem and’s suddenly energized again.”

“I can be even more energized—I’m driving to Jin Ling to see you now,” Yu Xing said.

Liu Wan was startled: “Don’t be crazy!”

“Just kidding.” Yu Xing laughed. “I don’t have a car, and my e-bike’s battery is dead.”

Liu Wan gave a scoff.

Yu Xing added: “Though, I really did want to come see you.”

Liu Wan fell silent for a few seconds, warning: “Don’t try that crap on me.”

“Alright, goodnight. Don’t forget to send the money.” Yu Xing ended the call swiftly.

Before Liu Wan could say anything, she heard the dial tone.

She gripped her phone, feeling a strange itch in her teeth.

Turncoat. Turncoat…

Liu Wan quickly calmed herself. She needed to invest in exactly this kind of turncoat entrepreneur.

She curled up on the sofa, turned on the TV, and unconsciously replayed their earlier conversation.

Regarding the company’s promotional strategy, this point was undeniably crucial—she hadn’t thought of it at all. Looking back now, she felt a quiet satisfaction from the discussion.

Liu Wan brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, a faint smile crossing her lips.

…

On November 17, JD, having secured new funding, regained its footing and continued firmly on its development path; the intern program previously shelved due to lack of funds was swiftly relaunched.

Unlike the original plan of eight people, this time the scale was expanded to twenty.

As JD’s Deputy Director of Human Resources, Zhai Chengmei announced the new program through multiple channels and the official website.

—JD’s Second Intern Program to Recruit Twenty Candidates.

The news spread rapidly across the performance website Baixiaosheng, stirring up a wave of newly arrived users.

“Huh? JD still has an intern program?”

“Wait, really twenty? Last year there were only two!!”

“What’s going on? The forum posted this days before JD did…”

Could he really know Liu Qiangdong?

JD wasn’t a particularly large company, but many college students aiming for careers in e-commerce were familiar with it.

Some found the situation suspicious and directly called the contact number listed under the intern program.

Baixiaosheng? Never heard of it.

Earlier and more accurate recruitment numbers? Impossible!

Zhai Chengmei confidently responded to the public’s doubts over the phone, telling the caller: “This was only confirmed in our meeting this morning. There’s no way there’s any insider deal.”

“But the forum already leaked it days ago—earlier than you. Are you sure this isn’t an insider deal?”

Zhai Chengmei again confidently denied it, but puzzled, she logged onto the college students’ so-called “Baixiaosheng” website.

The first post was glaringly obvious.

Zhai Chengmei saw the time and content, then the replies beneath, and, bewildered, posted: Did you really ask Liu Zong?

She had registered under her real name, and, amused, added a second reply: I’m suddenly not sure—whose JD is this, yours or mine?

Zhai Chengmei was certain the decision had been made that morning.

About half an hour later, Yu Xing noticed the flood of replies referencing him, and realized the JD Deputy Director of HR had been identified.

He replied: No, I didn’t ask Liu Zong. Liu Zong asked me.

Zhai Chengmei: …

Yu Xing added: Just kidding, Director Zhai. Feel free to pick candidates on-site. Our forum is full of hidden talents—there must be perfect interns for JD.

The thread’s replies surged—some for entertainment, others genuinely applying.

Yet one question lingered in many minds: Who’s behind this website?

By nightfall, a clear answer emerged.

Yu Xing posted his speech from the Internet Conference on industry phases as a new thread, pinned and marked it as essential, hoping to benefit the nation’s youth.

Alongside it, he immediately replied to his own post, revealing the goal of this venture.

—I will build China’s number one workplace social platform.