Stronger by Paying Salaries and I Have 1 Billion Employees

Chapter 99: Chapter 94: A 560 Million Series A Financing, Rejecting Little Ma Again

January 14th, Hu City. The top-floor banquet hall of the Pullman Hotel.

After a full morning of detailed discussions, Chen Yansen, along with Wang Zihao, Song Yuncheng, and their finance and legal staff, found no objections to the contents of the investment agreement, shareholder agreement, equity transfer agreement, and employee stock option plan. Only then did they sign their names and stamp the documents with Senhai Technology’s official seal.

A 20% stake in exchange for 560 million in funding, for a valuation of 2.8 billion!

Once this news got out, the entire e-commerce industry would be shaken.

Chen Yansen shook hands with the three investors one by one, exchanging simple pleasantries. ’I’ve barely reached half my net worth from my past life,’ he thought. ’Guess this rebirth wasn’t for nothing after all.’

”President Chen, congratulations! With this funding, FoxTao is sure to make a qualitative leap in talent recruitment, market promotion, and technological upgrades.”

Zhang Jiancheng said with a smile, still shaking Chen Yansen’s hand.

His words also served as a subtle reminder that the money had to be used according to the provisions of the investment agreement.

Young entrepreneurs are easily dazzled by money, sometimes using investment funds to buy cars and houses, or establishing third-party companies to embezzle venture capital.

”Thank you for your trust, President Zhang.”

Chen Yansen heard the unspoken meaning but paid it no mind.

He’d noticed Chen Yansen wasn’t interested in Lotte and SIG, so he immediately ditched SIG and joined forces with IDG Venture Capital Fund to successfully secure FoxTao’s Series A funding.

’Decisive, unscrupulous, with no bottom line. A man like that will go far.’

”President Chen, could we have a private word?”

Just then, Liu Zhiping walked over and interjected.

Zhang Jiancheng gave a slight smile and tactfully excused himself, leaving them to talk.

He was just an investment manager. He could put on airs in front of small-time entrepreneurs, but Liu Zhiping was a true titan.

He couldn’t afford to offend him.

”Thank you, Brother Martin. If Penguin hadn’t provided a safety net, IDG and Siwei would never have offered such a high price of 2.8 billion,” Chen Yansen said in a low voice.

”The higher the Series A valuation, the better it makes Mr. Ma’s judgment look. But if you didn’t have the skills to back it up, it wouldn’t matter how high a price I quoted. Senzai, you really are something else.”

Liu Zhiping nodded, switching to a more familiar form of address.

The two of them walked out of the banquet hall and into a meeting room. A business hotel like the Pullman had long since anticipated all sorts of commercial needs; on the same floor, besides meeting rooms, there was also a multimedia hall that could accommodate fifty people.

”Pony wants you to take over Paipai Network,” Liu Zhiping said, getting straight to the point as soon as they sat down.

”Brother Martin, I’ve said it before. I don’t want to work for anyone,” Chen Yansen said with a faint smile, his refusal firm.

’If Ma Wenteng wanted to come work at FoxTao, Chen Yansen might be willing to save a customer service position for him.’

’As for him working for Xiaoma? Forget it.’

”Don’t be so quick to refuse! Before I came, Pony made it clear: as long as you join Penguin, Paipai Network can operate independently. You’ll have the final say on all matters. The salary is thirty million a year, plus two hundred million in stock options.”

Liu Zhiping said, full of confidence.

’An offer like this could easily sway even Zhang Xiaolong, let alone Chen Yansen.’

Chen Yansen was stunned. He hadn’t expected Ma Wenteng to be so determined about e-commerce. After a moment’s thought, he understood. WeChat, the Tier-0 application that Ma Wenteng was betting on, hadn’t been launched yet.

Ma Wenteng, intent on perfecting the Penguin ecosystem, naturally wouldn’t give up on the e-commerce sector so easily.

’Two hundred million in stock options?’

He knew that in 2011, Penguin’s market value was far from its peak. If he accepted, cashing out at a high point ten years later would net him at least 8 billion.

This was a colossal fortune that Chen Yansen had never seen in two lifetimes!

”Brother Martin, I’m sorry, but could you please tell Pony for me that I’m not interested in Paipai Network, nor do I want to join Penguin to run their e-commerce.”

Chen Yansen took a deep breath, but still refused.