The Birth of Shanghai's First Conglomerate

Tencent Entertainment is selling 10% of its shares for 6 billion.

Just as the vice president of Big Penguin was preparing to bargain with him, and even try to lower the price a bit.

The president of Alibaba's entertainment division has already come to contact us.

Seriously speaking, Tencent and Alibaba have been neck and neck for the past two years.

They are each other's kings.

Baidu, which is on par with them, has already seen its stock price plummet this year due to the Wei Zexi incident.

They're not even in the same league.

For Tencent Entertainment, bringing in Tencent is a strategic goal, but it doesn't seem to be necessary for Alibaba.

I heard that after Alibaba contacted Tencent Entertainment, Tencent reported this to Jack Ma overnight.

The next day, I rushed to Shanghai to prepare for the signing.

Six billion is nothing to a major internet company.

Chen Pingsheng didn't try to please either side; he simply and frankly refused.

Introducing Tencent Pictures as a strategic partner.

The news caused an uproar in the entertainment industry.

This is undoubtedly the largest share transfer in the industry, and it fully demonstrates the unparalleled influence of Tencent Entertainment.

Three years have passed, and Tencent has truly grown into a behemoth in the entertainment industry.

It's not just in movies, but also in TV series.

It has become the most popular entertainment group among top celebrities in the industry.

Its unique artist signing and cooperation model has received widespread praise within the industry.

Now, they've even sold 10% of their shares for a staggering six billion.

Whether Tencent will be the one to take over the company only shows that Tencent Entertainment's market value of over 50 billion yuan has not yet peaked.

The happiest people after this deal was completed were Tong Zhelan and her group.

After all, she had paid 5 billion to acquire about 18% of the scattered shares of Tencent Entertainment from him.

These scattered shares are now worth tens of billions.

It doubled in just one month.

How can I not be happy?

Chen Pingsheng had nothing to regret, mainly because he was indeed short of money at the time.

When short of money, assets will definitely have to be sold at a discount.

Even if you receive this six billion yuan, you still have to pay taxes.

If the shares are held by an individual, the payment standard is the difference between the transfer transaction price and the original investment price and fees.

Pay 20%.

He holds shares through Teng Hui Capital, and the annual corporate income tax is 25%.

Instead of paying a quarter of the total amount, it's only 25% of the profit.

There are many legitimate ways for businesses to avoid taxes, and the most legitimate way is naturally to spend all of that money.

You can buy a car or a house.

Chen Pingsheng transferred 3 billion yuan of it to Tengfei New Energy, specifically to establish a research and development team for motors and electronic control systems.

He now owns a super factory with integrated production, Tengfei Ecological Park, and the largest lithium battery R&D factory in China.

It can be said that in terms of new energy development, only intelligent driving is missing.

We are still recruiting teams in this field. If we start developing from scratch, it will be too late to start developing intelligent driving systems.

Artificial intelligence from abroad can already easily beat world champions at Go.

If he wants to catch up and surpass others in the field of intelligent driving, the best way is to directly purchase some AI artificial intelligence technologies in related fields from abroad.

If you want to buy patented technology, you have to pay a high price.

Chen Pingsheng asked Lao Yan and the others to contact potential AI teams for sale overseas.

Or it could be technology.

If we're talking about the best technology in this area in China, it has to be Baidu.

Unfortunately, Baidu's core technology is not something that can be sold, and he can't afford it either.

Intelligent driving, also known as driverless driving in the future, is definitely a key core technology for new energy vehicles in the next five or ten years.

Chen Pingsheng also plans to invest several billion yuan each year in research.

Technology is truly a bottomless pit; no wonder major domestic manufacturers prefer assembly. It's only been a short time.

They have already invested over 10 billion yuan in technology research and development or team recruitment.

At least 40 billion yuan will need to be invested in the next few years.

It's not that you can master core technologies just by spending money, but it's absolutely impossible to do so without spending money.

Chen Pingsheng allocated another 2.5 billion yuan to increase investment in battery research and development.

This thing either doesn't break through, or once it does, its future value will be absolutely astonishing.

He is a typical example of someone who has invested heavily in this area.

In the technical fields, there are dedicated presidents who are in charge, so he doesn't need to manage them.

What he had to do was keep raising money and pouring it into this project before the research and development results were available.

The thought that success would bring both pain and joy is palpable.

Chen Pingsheng didn't know what to do with the remaining few small goals.

They simply provided each of the group's senior executives with a Range Rover Autobiography Long Wheelbase.

He also bought a burgundy one himself.

The money spent on the cars could be used to offset taxes, and I bought about thirty-five cars at once.

With the discounts, it would amount to 100 million.

Chen Pingsheng stated that the group's main business performance this year has been very good, and he hoped they would continue their efforts.

……

Time flies.

It's almost the end of July, and Yang Qian's best friend, who is also his classmate, is officially holding a reunion of Wangcai's 1997 junior high school classmates in Shanghai.

To be honest, most student reunions start in high school or college.

It's really rare to see a junior high school reunion like this.

The main issue is that Chen Pingsheng only graduated from junior high school.

Chang Fu was similar; of the four, only Zhang Tao completed a year of vocational school.

Gao Hu went to learn to be a chef right after graduating from junior high school, so how can he have a high school reunion?
Chen Pingsheng drove his own Range Rover to the event; it was a burgundy extended version, which looked very imposing from the outside.

It looks very high-end from the inside.

Although Land Rover doesn't have a great reputation, so many wealthy people still choose it even though it costs over three million yuan. How bad can it be?

He still brought his son Chen An'an along, but his wife couldn't come because of other commitments.

Changfu called him halfway there, saying there was a surprise, but he didn't know what it was.

Most of them are in their thirties and have already started a family.

Since they are all financially independent, no one would be foolish enough to deliberately compete with each other when holding a class reunion.

If you say it's simply about strengthening relationships between classmates, then it's not.

Take Yang Qian, for example. She runs a small company in Hangzhou.

Because I wasn't very familiar with them when I was in school.

Even though she heard her old classmate's name every day in Hangzhou, she had no excuse or reason to come and see Chen Pingsheng.

Based on the friendship between junior high school classmates, it's simply not possible.

After all, at that time, Chen Pingsheng and his classmates' grades were among the worst in the class.

She consistently ranked among the top three in the entire school.

When Chen An'an arrived, the best news she heard was that her father's grades were the same as hers.

It turns out it wasn't that she did poorly on the exam, but rather that her genetics dictated it.

That's why it's been counting down.

Okay, the long-standing knot in my heart has finally been untied. From now on, I can focus on getting into the bottom three in exams without worry.

Anyone who says that her sister An'an's grades are bad will be silenced.

She'd say it's because of my genes, what, you want to rely on your dad's connections?

One sentence is enough to shut someone down.

Haha, I'm so happy!

Yao Anni managed to invite Chen Pingsheng and the others over by taking advantage of Yang Qian's opportunity; she really went to great lengths.

It's not easy to get so many old classmates together after twenty years.

"Old Chen, you're a frequent visitor to the Finance Bureau these days. It's an honor for us old classmates to be able to invite you here."

Yao Anni took the initiative to offer a toast, and Chen Pingsheng politely drank a glass. He thought that Yang Kang would also come.

In the end, he still didn't appear.

This guy used to follow them around when he was in junior high school, but now that so many years have passed, he probably isn't doing so well.

Chen Pingsheng asked curiously, "Isn't Yang Kang in Hangzhou just like you? Why didn't you invite him over?"

Yao Anni was surprised, not expecting Chen Pingsheng to still remember that guy. Yang Kang's luck was about to change.

“His family went bankrupt ten years ago due to an accident. Now he mainly relies on his wife's work as a live streamer to make money, and he rarely contacts us old classmates anymore,” Yao Anni explained.

It turns out it was an inferiority complex.

Chen Pingsheng understood; when things aren't going well, you don't want to contact anyone.

Only after things have gone well will they think about going back to their old buddies.

That's probably what men are like.

Turning the cup in his hand, Chen Pingsheng said, "That guy used to be pretty good. He was the one who bought us cigarettes when we ran out."

Yao Anni smiled calmly on the surface, but inwardly she was filled with envy.

If an ordinary person said this, it wouldn't be a big deal.

But for Chen Pingsheng to say these words was truly extraordinary.

Yao Anni secretly planned that she would definitely go to see Yang Kang when she returned to Hangzhou this time. She was determined to build a good relationship with him no matter what.

She can figure out which way a hair on a rich person is blowing if it even moves.

Yao Anni had originally intended to pay for the class reunion, but with Chen Pingsheng here, it was none of her business to spend money.

After having dinner at the Peace Hotel, Chen Pingsheng took them to a top-tier private club in Shanghai.

It has everything; you can play whatever you want.

Yao Anni didn't speak about her own affairs because she felt the timing wasn't right.

If we speak up now, it will only result in minor trouble.

She still has some money, and over the years she has managed to build a small business on her own, even among men.

If it weren't for Yang Qian, she wouldn't have been able to get a date with someone of Chen Pingsheng's caliber at all.

The more I'm in the business world, the more I realize the immense influence my old classmate now wields.

Let's put it this way: you were originally a pretty good multi-millionaire.

Suddenly one day, this old classmate of yours glanced at you a couple of times and even had a couple of cups of tea with you.

You might become a billionaire in no time.

This is no exaggeration at all.

Social status, social circle, wealth—everything must be extraordinary.

Yang Qian used to be so miserable, she was completely suppressed by her husband's family.

After the divorce, he had nothing left.

If you want to know how capable she is, Yao Anni has known her for so many years, doesn't she know?
He's definitely not much better than her.

What's going on now?
President of Deer Antler Coffee.

The female CEO of a listed company with a market value of tens of billions.

With that kind of status, as long as Chen Pingsheng doesn't come, he can sit there.

She was definitely the most eye-catching person in the crowd.

And her husband, Chang Fu, Yao Anni knows even better, although he used to drive a Mercedes-Benz.

There wasn't much money in my pocket at all; it was all just a forced amount.

After being summoned to the capital by Chen Pingsheng, it hasn't been long since then, and his net income has been several hundred million in a year.

They even travel in Rolls-Royces with bodyguards.

Then there's Gao Hu, who runs a hot pot restaurant in Shacheng. Although his business is doing well, it's nothing compared to the current CEO of Boiling Sheep.

This is what circles and connections are all about.

Those who caught Chen Pingsheng's eye were basically all promoted by him.

Yao Anni wasn't sure she'd be next, but she had to keep trying.

She remembered that Yang Kang lived in a small house, which his parents had bought before the accident.

After all these years, this house is the only one that hasn't been sold yet.

Yao Anni searched through her phone's contacts for a long time, and after confirming that she couldn't find his contact information, she finally found Yang Kang's exact location through several classmates.

They drove over that very night without delay.

Yang Kang's wife was doing a live stream at home, and he seemed quite impatient.

After hearing someone knock on the door, he comforted the viewers in the live stream for a few words before opening the door.

Yao Anni is also very good at interpersonal relationships. After all, she is a businesswoman, and her interpersonal skills are far superior to those of the average person.

She went downstairs and bought two large durians, then brought them up, and also bought a lot of imported fruit.

All the miscellaneous expenses added up to 1,500.

"you are?"

"You must be my sister-in-law. I'm Yang Kang, we've met before."

I have some impression of Yang Kang's wife, Zhang Cuicui, but I'm not very familiar with her.

However, seeing her bring so many gifts into the house, she still beamed with joy.

After entering the house, Yao Anni took a quick look around. It was a two-bedroom, one-living room apartment in the main urban area of ​​Hangzhou.

I'm so glad I bought the house early, otherwise I wouldn't be able to afford a house in this location at all.

Zhang Cuicui married Yang Kang because of his good family background, but who knew that his family would go bankrupt in less than two years.

As all married couples know, things are fine when you have money, but if you're short on cash and end up with a materialistic wife, life becomes a complete mess.

This is Yang Kang's current situation.

He was still out driving for Didi and hadn't come back yet. Zhang Cuicui asked Yao Anni what she was doing there, and Yao Anni only said that she had something to discuss with Yang Kang.

When Yang Kang returned, it was already 11 p.m.

Zhang Cuicui said irritably, "Why are you back so early again? Your classmate is looking for you."

Yao Anni stood up.

That's how men are. No matter how hard you work outside, if you don't earn enough money, your materialistic wife won't show you any pity.

They'll just look disgusted.

"Mr. Yao, what brings you here?"

Yang Kang was somewhat surprised. Although he no longer took the initiative to contact his classmates, he still knew those who were doing well.

"I went to Shanghai for a class reunion today, you probably already knew that, right?"

"I know, I've heard a little bit about it."

"Do you still remember Chen Pingsheng?"

"Him?" Yang Kang said, somewhat disappointed. "What difference does it make whether I remember or not?"

"It seems you've heard about him from your classmates. I'm wondering why you haven't gone to see him?"

Yao Anni asked directly.

Yang Kang smiled bitterly, "What am I supposed to use to go find him? Rely on that old classmate relationship from twenty years ago?"

"He brought you up today, you know what I mean?"

"Are you saying he still remembers me following him around like a shadow?"

After listening to their conversation for a couple of minutes, Zhang Cuicui asked impatiently, "You keep talking about this Chen Pingsheng, who exactly is he?"

"Just a former brother."

Yang Kang countered, "Are you still going to see those big spenders in your livestreaming rooms so late?"

"If I don't go to see them, will they be so generous as to give me a tip?"

Zhang Cuihui said with a disdainful look, "Don't look at me like that. Your daughter's tutoring fees alone cost seventy or eighty thousand yuan a year. With your meager income, my daughter and I would starve to death."

"So you can stay away all night?"

"That's because you forced me to do it."

Zhang Cuicui said disdainfully, "Don't say I don't give you face because your classmate is here. A man who can't even earn 100,000 a year, what's the difference between him and a piece of trash?"

Yang Kang was probably used to it; he clenched his fist for a moment, then loosened it.

After getting dressed, Zhang Cuicui went out.

She wasn't worried at all about what her man would do at home. He was just a Didi driver; who would want him?
I was so blind back then. If it weren't for the fact that he at least had a house, I would have divorced him long ago.

Do you really think you can get the big brother to give you gifts in the live stream just by calling him "brother" a few times?

In private, we should always be open to each other.

Otherwise, who would keep giving you tips?

Of course, idiots are an exception.

Yang Kang knew very well that his wife's income was much higher than his.

He must earn over 200,000 a year, but where does that money come from?

You can only turn a blind eye to one thing and a blind eye to the other.

It's the kind of thing that makes me cry when I think about it at night.

She was too ashamed to mention it in front of her daughter and could only speak well of her mother.

Yao Anni, being the kind of person she is, immediately understood. She asked in surprise, "Aren't you going to do anything about her being like this?"

"What can I do to control this? If it really comes to the point of divorce, it will only hurt my daughter."

Yao Anni was speechless. No man could be this despicable.

"Chen Pingsheng asked you twice at the class reunion today and even asked me to keep an eye out for news about you. Given his current social status, I don't believe you haven't heard of him."

"How could I not have heard of it?"

Yang Kang said helplessly, "The fresh food store he owns is downstairs, and there are also milk tea, coffee, and snacks. I still can't believe that this was done by my brother."

"Then why don't you go find him? I want to hear the truth!"

Yao Anni stared into his eyes and asked.

"You think I didn't think about it, that I just went downstairs and came back down?"

Yang Kang said, "When he first went to Shanghai, their advertisements were everywhere. My daughter even insisted on going to a concert organized by their group. Later, I lingered downstairs for three days. When I finally mustered up the courage to go up, I ran into another classmate. He had just come down from the top floor and was holding 100,000 yuan in cash."

"You know, this classmate's mother was seriously ill, so he went to see Old Chen, but he didn't see Old Chen at all. He only met his secretary, who was as beautiful as an angel. After hearing that he was the boss's junior high school classmate, she took out 100,000 yuan from her drawer without saying a word and then told him that the boss was not here."

Yang Kang shook his head and smiled bitterly, "I thought about it for a long time. I thought I could get 100,000 if I went up there. I hesitated for three days about whether to take advantage of this opportunity. I don't know when I became like this."

Yao Anni understands him quite well; he should still be the rich second-generation heir he used to be, someone from a well-off family.

They'll definitely go straight up.

Nowadays, people are poor and lack ambition; before they go up, they no longer think about the brotherhood they used to have.

It's not that they can't get 100,000 yuan.

This temptation is something most people simply cannot resist.

Yang Kang blocked most of his classmates, perhaps in order to preserve his last shred of dignity.

My former brother, you could have gotten 100,000 just by going up there.

To go or not to go, that is the question.

Seeing your brother doing so well, you can only understand that feeling if you've experienced it yourself.

And my wife is like this too.

Yao Anni didn't know whether she should sympathize with her or not.

(End of this chapter)