Stronger by Paying Salaries and I Have 1 Billion Employees

Wang Xin’s heart sank. He secretly mulled over Ma Liyun’s attitude. He knew Ah Li had invested in Kuai Pao; perhaps Ma Liyun hadn’t yet decided who to ultimately back.

Left with no other choice, he then called Shen Nanpeng.

”Redwood Capital can make a follow-on investment, but you have to promise me that you’ll merge with Dianping once the time is right,” Shen Nanpeng said, seizing the opportunity to state his terms.

”I have no objections,” Wang Xin agreed through gritted teeth. He had no other choice.

Ah Li had refused him. If Redwood Capital also turned him down, his only option would be to seek other financing opportunities.

But in 2012, after a year of brutal competition, the Group Buy market was not viewed favorably by investment firms. Even if he did secure funding, the terms certainly wouldn’t be any more lenient than Redwood Capital’s.

The initial sunk costs were too high. Shen Nanpeng could either cut his losses and let the 40 million US dollars he had previously invested go down the drain, or he could double down and trust in Wang Xin’s ability to run the company.

In early September, the great war began. The chaos in the food delivery industry was no less intense than that of the Group Buy and ride-hailing markets.