Stronger by Paying Salaries and I Have 1 Billion Employees

”No problem. Next time, it’s my treat. I’ll take you all out on the ocean for some abalone,” Chen Yansen replied with a practiced smile, adeptly playing along.

”And will this abalone be the... proper kind?” Xu Minggang asked with a suggestive look.

Tao Jingwen just smiled and shook his head, not joining in. After all, when out in public, he represented Meng Yuanzhi’s image and couldn’t afford to be as brazen as Xu Minggang.

”That mainly depends on President Xu’s preferences,” Chen Yansen replied with a grin.

”Alright, that’s enough. One of you is the chairman of a city construction company, the other is the CEO of a tech firm. If someone overheard you and posted it online, you’d be disgracing all the entrepreneurs of Huian.”

Tao Jingwen interjected, a look of exasperation on his face as he cut off the conversation between Chen Yansen and Xu Minggang.

Chen Yansen just smiled, bid the three men farewell, and got into his car to head back to the hotel.

The instant the car door closed, the smile vanished from Chen Yansen’s face. He lowered the window, letting the cold wind rush in.

’He didn’t for a second believe that a meal or two was enough to make him sworn brothers with the likes of Tao Jingwen and Xu Minggang.’

’Friendships forged at the dinner table aren’t worth a damn.’

’The world is a bustling place, with everyone coming and going for personal gain.’

’Chen Yansen knew this game all too well. Everyone was in it for their own benefit, and they would inevitably turn on each other for the very same reason.’

’Take Liu Qiangdong and Li Guoqing, Ma Liyun and Wang Xin, or Lei Yijun and Huang Zhang, for example.’

’At the end of the day, it was all just business.’

”Boss, are we heading back to Xucheng tomorrow?” Gao Weilin asked from the driver’s seat, turning his head.

”It’s still early. We’ll go back to the hotel and rest for a bit, then head back to Xucheng this afternoon.”

Chen Yansen said to Old Gao after a moment of thought.

”Understood, Boss.” Gao Weilin sighed to himself. ’Having such an energetic boss inevitably meant a lot more work.’

「Meanwhile.」

The news of Orange Technology acquiring a stake in Jingdongfang had been trending online for three hours.

While the vast majority of ordinary people didn’t grasp the strategic significance of the move, a handful of quick-witted investors seized the opportunity to buy Jingdongfang stock, sitting back to wait for it to hit its trading limit.

But in the eyes of Chen Yongming from OPPO, Huang Zhang from Meizu, and Yu Chendong from Huawei, Chen Yansen’s ambition was far greater than they had imagined.

In 2012, phone manufacturers who were already making strategic moves to secure their supply chains were few and far between.

After learning the news, Lei Yijun was silent for a long moment. He couldn’t help but wonder, ’Should we also invest in a screen supplier?’

Xiaomi’s current supplier was Sharp, and their prices were not low.

With this in mind, Lei Yijun called Li Wanqiang and told him to go to Luzhou to investigate Jingdongfang. If everything checked out, they would switch the screen supplier for Xiaomi’s new phone to them.

Far away in Chunshen, Chen Guobin was squatting at the entrance of his bookstore, holding an Orange C1 Mobile Phone and scrolling through the news.

”Good News! Orange Technology Officially Invests in Jingdongfang, Enabling Vertical Integration!”

”Orange Technology CEO Chen Yansen signed a share transfer agreement on January 10th. According to an inside source, in addition to Jingdongfang, Orange Technology has also invested in Desai Battery...”

”Jingdongfang Reveals New Shareholder List; Senlian Capital Ranks Third!”

Chen Guobin stared at the photo of Chen Yansen. His mouth opened, but he was at a loss for words.

’Was that young man in the news—the one wheeling and dealing in the business world, surrounded by a crowd of titans from state-owned enterprises—was that really his son?’

Remembering how he used to kick Chen Yansen as a child, Chen Guobin was suddenly filled with regret. ’If only I’d kicked him a couple fewer times, maybe he would have come to his senses sooner.’

”Uncle Chen, can I get a copy of *Reader*?”

”Boss Chen, I’d like to buy a copy of *Youth Digest*.”

Just as Chen Guobin was lost in a daze, two young girls in Chunshen Second Middle School uniforms walked up.

Thanks to Chen Yansen’s influence, Lao Chen’s business was bustling with a steady stream of customers, even during the winter break.