Stronger by Paying Salaries and I Have 1 Billion Employees

Dusk settled over Zhuxianzhuang Science and Technology Park, the last vestiges of autumn clinging to the air.

Mao Chaorong sat in the lounge of the Orange Technology headquarters, looking at Chen Yansen across from him. A barely perceptible flash of anxiety and frustration appeared in his eyes.

After returning to China, he had used Penguin’s summer startup camp to get in with Zhang Xiaolong, the father of WeChat. He then leveraged those connections to successfully score a meeting with Ma Wenteng, one of the three giants of BAT.

But Little Ma was completely uninterested in his "Little Red Skirt" project.

To his utter despair, the attitude of this business genius, Chen Yansen, was identical to Ma Wenteng’s.

He only wanted Mao Chaorong to work for him and showed no intention of investing in the Little Red Skirt project.

"President Chen, please give me one chance. I guarantee I’ll increase Little Red Skirt’s valuation tenfold within three years."

After a dozen seconds of deliberation, Mao Chaorong’s voice was firm and resonant.

"In three years, what’s your expected valuation for Little Red Skirt?" Chen Yansen shrugged and asked casually.

"One billion US Dollars." Mao Chaorong gritted his teeth and forced himself to say the outrageous number.

"Are you familiar with WeChat 4.0? Its Moments feature is practically identical to Instagram’s photo sharing, but it’s paired with a more efficient, real-time model for interaction. How is Little Red Skirt supposed to survive? Do you think Penguin will just sit back and let your app get big?"

Chen Yansen’s three-part question was like a series of daggers, each one plunging into Mao Chaorong’s heart.

One billion US Dollars?

’What a joke!’

After all, when Facebook acquired Instagram at the start of the year, the offer was just one billion US Dollars. And he’d heard from the head of Spotify that the actual closing price was only 710 million.

’And Little Red Skirt is currently nothing more than a business plan. With nothing but empty words, he expects it to become a unicorn company in three years?’

’He’s dreaming!’

’Mao Chaorong has probably used this line on Ma Wenteng, too. No wonder Little Ma rejected him; he likely thought the kid was too reckless.’

"President Chen, the e-commerce sector in China is developing at a blistering pace. New brands are popping up like mushrooms after a rain, and they need a platform for content-driven marketing. Little Red Skirt’s target demographic will be young women, and I already have a very well-developed plan for monetization..."

Mao Chaorong was left speechless. After a moment’s thought, he regrouped and explained in a sincere tone.

"So, you’d rather give up the chance to captain an aircraft carrier to go paddle your own little canoe?" Chen Yansen waved a hand, cutting Mao Chaorong off.

He paused, then continued, "Do you think Zhang Xiaolong could have made WeChat a success without joining Penguin? My expected valuation for Mimo is no lower than Orange Technology and Pinbei Mall. It’s your choice: be the head of a phoenix or the tail of a chicken. Think about it."

With that, Chen Yansen slowly rose to his feet and left Mao Chaorong with one last remark, "When Ma Liyun invited Zhang Yong to join Ah Li back in the day, he only gave him thirty minutes to think about it."

’Talented people are a dime a dozen. Is someone who fails to realize their potential still considered talented?’

’A smart person knows how to seize an opportunity!’

’If Mao Chaorong couldn’t even figure that much out, then he wasn’t the right person to head Mimo’s North America division.’

Seeing this, Mao Chaorong’s heart leaped with panic. He scrambled to his feet, hurried after him, and said, "President Chen, I want to give it a try."

"If I can grow Mimo’s user base to ten million, will you invest in Little Red Skirt?"

Hearing this, Chen Yansen stopped and looked Mao Chaorong up and down. He hadn’t expected the young man to try and make a performance-based wager with him.

But he knew perfectly well that once Mimo’s user base grew to tens or even hundreds of millions, Mao Chaorong wouldn’t give a second thought to some "Little Red Skirt" project.

It was just like Liao Wei. His stake in Cloud Speed wasn’t large, but it was worth over two billion Hua Yuan.

"I’ll give you six months," Chen Yansen said in a low voice. "If I’m satisfied with your performance, then if you still want to start your own business, I will give you my full support."

The implication was clear: Mao Chaorong was not irreplaceable. If his abilities weren’t up to standard, he wouldn’t even be able to hold onto the position as Mimo’s lead.

Mao Chaorong understood the subtext in Chen Yansen’s words. He gave a dry laugh and immediately nodded in agreement. "No problem."

Compared to Ma Wenteng, at least Chen Yansen had given him some hope.

"I have a business dinner tonight. You’re coming with me."

Chen Yansen said casually.

Mao Chaorong’s attitude shifted in an instant. After hesitating for only a few seconds, he hurried to catch up, opened the rear car door for Chen Yansen, and then dutifully sat in the front passenger seat.

"Xiaoli, to the Sky Garden."

Chen Yansen instructed, a faint smile on his face.

’Although Mao Chaorong’s resume and project experience didn’t make him a perfect fit for Mimo’s project lead, he was the best of the available options. He’d do for now.’

’If it doesn’t work out, I can always replace him!’

A black-and-white Rolls-Royce Gusteau sped out of the Science and Technology Park, heading toward the city center.

After accepting Chen Yansen’s offer, Mao Chaorong instantly felt a great weight lift from his shoulders.

’Getting scouted by Chen Yansen was, in its own way, a form of "successful entrepreneurship."’ He’d figured it all out in just a few minutes.

’First, I’ll get in good with Senlian Capital. If I can keep President Chen happy, then whether I get a promotion and a raise or leave to start my own company later on, getting funding will be much easier.’

’The bigger the platform, the more resources and opportunities!’

Halfway there, Mao Chaorong agonized for a good while, looking like he wanted to say something but didn’t know how to begin.

"If you have something to say, just say it. Don’t hold it in."

Chen Yansen glanced at him and said quietly.

"President... Boss, the Little Red Skirt project has another partner. She’s my... friend. She quit her job and came back to China with me for this startup plan. Could you possibly help introduce us to the heads of a few investment firms?"