Stronger by Paying Salaries and I Have 1 Billion Employees

”The visual impact short videos have on users far exceeds that of animated GIFs. We’ve been at this for two years, and our user count isn’t even at one million. Lately, I’ve been wondering if we took the wrong path.”

Chen Yixiao stroked his chin as he shared his thoughts.

Two years ago, after leaving Renren Network, he had used his gift of gab—a trait common among people from the Northeast—to successfully convince Yang Yuanxi, who was also a client-side R&D engineer, and his college roommate to embark on the path of entrepreneurship with him.

But two years later, the few of them were still crammed into this three-bedroom apartment. GIF Kuaishou was making money, but not much.

It was better than working a regular job, but not by much.

”Brother Xiao, are you saying we should copy that foreign software?” Yang Yuanxi pressed.

In the eyes of most Chinese people, Mimo was a genuinely foreign-made application.

”It’s called ’drawing inspiration’! What’s all this talk about copying? Besides, Mimo isn’t a foreign app. Its parent company is Senlian Capital,” Chen Yixiao said, rolling his eyes.

”Senlian Capital?”

The others looked at each other, their faces filled with shock.

”But how can we possibly compete with Senlian Capital?” Yang Yuanxi shrank back, feeling like the moment Senlian made a move, their small group would be snuffed out.

”What the hell is there to be afraid of! The market is huge. They can eat the meat while we drink the soup, and we’ll still make a fortune. I’m not asking for much—I’ll be happy with ten million a year.”

Chen Yixiao said, full of hopeful anticipation.

He paused, then asked, ”Are we doing this or not?”

”We’re doing it! The barefooted aren’t afraid of those with shoes. What if we actually make it?” Yang Yuanxi didn’t overthink it, grinning as he spoke.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK! A knock sounded at the door.

”Brother Xiao, we just had lunch. Did you order afternoon tea already?” Yang Yuanxi assumed it was a delivery person.

”I didn’t order anything!” Chen Yixiao said, stunned.

”I didn’t either!”

”Don’t look at me, we haven’t even gotten paid this month!”

The rest of them shook their heads.

Chen Yixiao rubbed his nose and grumbled, ”What’s the damn hurry? Wait for the advertising revenue to come in.”

This was the state of Kuai Shou in 2013: often going from feast to famine, unable to even afford renting an office. The seven of them were crammed into Chen Yixiao’s apartment.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

”Coming!”

Yang Yuanxi shouted, hurried out of the living room, and twisted open the light-yellow solid wood door.

Standing outside was a middle-aged man in his thirties. He wore a sharp suit and leather shoes so polished they gleamed, an outfit that was clearly expensive.

He was nearly 1.8 meters tall, with a medium build and a plump, prosperous-looking face.

”Excuse me, is this the headquarters of GIF Kuaishou?” the middle-aged man asked first.

Yang Yuanxi gave a dry laugh and shamelessly confirmed it. He then asked, ”And you are?”

”An investor, here to give you money,” the middle-aged man said with a smile. He had a strange accent, sounding like it was from the Hong Kong or Macau region.

Oh, an investor.

Fuck!

A sugar daddy!

Yang Yuanxi’s expression changed dramatically. As he led the man inside, he yelled, ”Brother Xiao, our dad is here!”

The middle-aged man was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled. He glanced around and immediately understood why the young man was being so eager.

”’My dad?’” Chen Yixiao was completely bewildered as he walked out of the bedroom that doubled as their office.

...

...

「One day later, in a spacious and bright conference room at Zhuxianzhuang Science and Technology Park.」

”Since the data plan cards are about to be launched, it’s time to put the domestic version of Mimo Short Video on the agenda.”

Chen Yansen instructed Liang Bo.

’That guy Ma Wenteng is shameless. He’s probably already greenlit a project and is having his team work overtime to develop a short video app.’

’In any case, ’Douyin’ will have to be launched eventually. Releasing it a year or so early won’t hurt. Plus, by supporting another project, I can earn another stream of Human Dao Fire income.’

”Yes, Boss. We have R&D experience from Mimo, so I estimate we can get it done in a month,” Liang Bo said, full of confidence.

’Douyin’ would just need to use Mimo’s underlying framework, and the recommendation engine technology could be shared as well.