The Birth of Shanghai's First Conglomerate

Chapter 674 Black Tie
Song Yanxi tied a black tie for Chen Pingsheng at home.

It's already December, and the temperature is still a bit chilly, so you have to wear a light down jacket when you go out.

Fortunately, their house has constant temperature air conditioning everywhere, so it's only a little cold in the short stretch outside.

Her husband has decided that at least half of Nvidia's revenue will be donated to Shanghai, and the other half will be invested domestically.

Song Yanxi thought this was a great thing. Don't be fooled by their family's seemingly glamorous appearance; only those who actually sit in that position will know the feeling of loneliness at the top.

It's hard to describe what this feeling is like, and she's increasingly understanding why so many wealthy people of similar means are choosing to settle overseas.

In short, if you have too much money, there will be just as many people eyeing you.

If nothing goes wrong, all will be well; but if something does go wrong, countless people will flock to the scene.

They wished they could stomp on it, as for the online comments, including the praise from the employees.

In the face of the true trend, all of these are meaningless, just as Chen Pingsheng himself can control online public opinion to a certain extent, including the headlines of major media outlets.

Those who are even more capable than him can naturally be controlled as well.

With Nvidia inventing the world's most advanced computer chip graphics card technology, as well as AI artificial intelligence technology.

Its stock price is still unknown how high it will rise in the future, and too many people are eyeing such a hot commodity.

It's hard to say whether their family can hold on to their assets; at least for now, it's very difficult.

Xiao Ya has just completed her marriage, and her own new energy vehicle is by no means irreplaceable.

Aside from its millions of employees, nothing in the massive Tencent Film Group is truly irreplaceable.

Even if something is completely irreplaceable, rules can still be broken in the face of overseas funds worth three or four hundred billion.

Reaching his level, maintaining a business is more than ten times harder than starting one, especially for those who have been among the richest people in the country.

Apart from penguins, horses have all had some kind of trouble.

Without a doubt, Tengying Group has officially transitioned from the startup phase to the maintenance phase.

"Honey, are you going to give a public speech at the university later?"

"I guess so. I'm quite nervous myself. You know, none of us went to university, so what are we supposed to talk about when we give a speech at a university now?"

"Are you alright? You were once a visiting professor at a university, and now you're donating 5 billion yuan to three universities in Shanghai every year. I bet those students asking questions below were all pre-arranged."

"No need to estimate, it was all arranged in advance."

Chen Pingsheng said, "Tang Jingdu sent the questions to my phone in the form of a document. Now that he has a big reputation, he won't be as free to say or do anything as he used to."

"I never imagined that my family would end up like this."

Song Yanxi said gently, "You're going to give a speech at a university this month, and it will be publicly released online. Although I know the meaning behind what you're doing, I still feel that becoming famous isn't a good thing."

"It's not that we want to be famous, but that in this day and age, some people want us to be famous."

Chen Pingsheng said, "Isn't there going to be a glittering night for the entertainment industry this month? You can represent me at the event. Also, we should probably consolidate the shares and businesses in the entertainment industry."

"You're going to sell Tencent Entertainment?"

"It's not exactly a sale, but rather a merger into Tengyou Media. Rather than letting it languish like this, it's better to merge it into Tengyou Media. Once the two are combined, Tengyou Media will truly dominate the short video field in the future. Add to that our newly acquired Wanda Commercial Management, and the industry chain will be quite complete."

The entertainment industry these days is all about outward appearances and a plethora of beautiful women.

For real capital, however, this is just a small industry.

In the past decade, the highest domestic box office was 642 billion yuan in 2019.

This is still a year that can never be returned to.

The total for the entire year of 2020 was only 204 billion, a drop that was beyond imagination.

It's important to understand that box office revenue isn't solely taken by the film production company; it's also shared by the marketing, distribution, and theater chains.

This plate can only be described as pitifully small.

The few movie roles that celebrities fight over are nothing to them.

This is also why Tencent Film Entertainment has been declining in recent years. There's no way around it; the film industry has shrunk too much.

Short dramas had a period of popularity before, but with the introduction of free short dramas, the industry was quickly wiped out.

If Tencent Entertainment is not merged into Tencent Media soon, its market value will definitely drop below 80 billion.

Whether they can maintain 60 billion is a big question.

After his illness subsides, Chen Pingsheng will also need to quickly reorganize his traditional businesses.

Sell ​​when you need to sell, merge when you need to merge; there can be no ambiguity.

How to integrate these two large companies is a skill in itself.

When Chen Pingsheng went to Shanghai University, the welcoming party was incredibly large.

Just like the speech document Tang Jing sent him, all the questions from the audience were prepared in advance.

Just like a leader's speech, it is meticulously edited by a specialist.

It's impossible that he donated so much money and then some clueless kid suddenly popped up.

Ask him why he drives a Maybach.

Shouldn't business owners be supporting domestic products even more?
It's hard to say that there won't be such people in top universities.

Just like some graduates who, after joining Tencent Film Group, enjoy doing what they like best: giving advice and teaching others how to run a business.

Such people may not be good at their own job, but they are very clear about what the boss wants them to do.

Then came the ruthless dismissal, and I realized my mistake as I left.

Chen Pingsheng's speech, delivered while seated, was merely adequate.

For him, being conventional is perfectly sufficient.

For example, when someone asks him about the significance of donating money?
He said it was to give back to society, and that universities are the best places to cultivate talent, and talent is the driving force for future development.

For example, when others ask him why he had such foresight in investing in Tesla and Nvidia.

He only said that because he was also involved in the new energy industry, he was very familiar with it and also knew very well that AI would become the core technology of the future.

Everything in the speech was arranged in advance.

Just like all his answers, Chen Pingsheng would not tell outsiders what he was thinking.

They only say what most people want to hear.

All sensational statements are either uttered in moments of despair or are deliberate attempts to attract attention.

It's obvious he doesn't need to do that.

He only needs to answer some questions conservatively and honestly, just as he wouldn't answer how to quickly earn a small fortune.

Because these kinds of questions always vary from person to person.

For the children of the wealthy, everything is within reach. For ordinary people, no matter how many methods they know, even a small goal is the highest achievement they can never reach in their lifetime.

Since any answer will be wrong, you might as well just tell others to be born into a better family.

These past few days he's been going around giving speeches at universities and appearing on various online public platforms.

He will only limit his data usage after this period has passed.

For him personally, traffic is meaningless; it's a classic case of doing more harm than good.

……

Mid-December, a high school in Shanghai.

The bell rang for evening self-study, and Chen An'an, carrying two books, was preparing to go back to her dormitory to review. Dormitory management at her school wasn't too strict; at least students were allowed to use their phones.

There are four girls in the dormitory, two of whom are local girls. They're not exactly smart, but they're not that smart either.

One of them found a boyfriend just a few days after entering the school, because the boy was really handsome when he played basketball.

He likes to take three steps and then look back while making a shooting motion, trying to look cool.

Every time Chen An'an saw it, she felt extremely embarrassed.

By high school, it's not unusual for students to date.

Many people experience a rapid decline in their grades during this stage.

Apart from the girl who is in a relationship, the other two are much more normal and have clearly stated that they will not have boyfriends during high school.

That's a different story after university.

The first thing Chen An'an did after returning to her dorm was to kick off her shoes and lie down on her comfortable little bed for a while.

Wait until you feel too tired to move your limbs before washing your face, brushing your teeth, and getting ready for bed.

"An'an, can't you wash your face before you go to sleep?"

"No way, I'm calling it sleeping twice, you just don't understand!"

"Your logic is beyond my comprehension! And today, for some reason, the teacher told us so many of her inspirational stories!"

"It encourages us to study hard, strive for progress, and become outstanding people in the future."

"If you could become a superior person just by studying, college graduates wouldn't have such a hard time finding jobs. If you could earn money by working hard, migrant workers would be the richest group."

The short-haired girl from out of town said, "My brother is a college graduate. He told me that. He graduated almost half a year ago and still hasn't found a suitable job. My mom's hair is almost turning white from worry."

"Your brother is having a really tough time right now."

Another local girl said, "My mom has already arranged everything for me. After I graduate from university, I will take over her job and work in a state-owned enterprise or public institution. My most important thing now is to work hard to get into university."

“An’an, what about you? You’ve never talked about your family situation.”

“My family is just an ordinary family, what's there to say? I have a younger sister who is in fifth grade. She is quite smart and has been exceptionally talented since she was little. Even if she wears sunglasses and sleeps in class every day, she can still get first place. I also have a younger brother who is only five years old this year. He is a bit slow and not very smart, but he is also very honest. That's about it for my family.”

"What do your parents do? You've never told us. Of the four girls in our dorm, you're the most mysterious. Everyone else knows everything about them."

"Wow... come and see!"

The girl in the relationship was scrolling through short videos on Douyin (TikTok), then suddenly stopped and called everyone to come and watch.

"This is the big boss of my dad's company. He's a really powerful figure with connections everywhere. I saw him once from a distance before. I wonder if he still remembers me."

"He's the big boss of your dad's company, how come he's on Douyin!"

"You're so ignorant. My dad's company is huge. The boss is the richest person in Jinshan. What's so strange about him being on Douyin?"

After a pause, the girl asked Chen An'an, "An'an, didn't you say your family lives in Jinshan? Then you must know him, right? He has the same surname as you. Your parents don't work at his company, do they?"

Chen An'an glanced up and saw that the person sitting calmly on the stage in the video was none other than her father.

“I not only know him, but I’m also very familiar with him.”

"You're kidding. My dad earns over a million a year, and I've never even had the chance to meet him up close. How could you possibly be familiar with him?"

"Believe it or not, I know him pretty well. He's not that great, he likes to make little jokes in his daily life, and he's very tolerant of his daughter."

"Pah..." The girl in love wanted to roll her eyes at her a hundred thousand times.
"You're really exaggerating without thinking. He's nothing special. My dad said he's definitely one of the greatest businessmen in the country. It's just that he's low-key and doesn't bother with hype or online exposure. Otherwise, with his achievements, he would definitely inspire millions of people to admire him!"

Chen An'an shook her head, "He's not as amazing as you say, but he is indeed a very good father. Being his daughter must be the greatest happiness in this life."

"Chen An'an, how could you say he's not good?"

The girl in the relationship felt that her idol had been insulted, so she stood up and challenged her to a duel.

“My dad started working at his company in 14, and that's when our family's life gradually improved. No matter what happens outside, he always makes sure his employees receive their benefits as soon as possible, and even former employees receive at least N+8 in compensation.”

“He built my house and sold it to us at cost price. It’s 128 square meters with no common area and includes decoration. It only costs 130 million yuan in the core area of ​​Jinshan. If employees can’t afford to buy a house outright, they can apply to the company and get a ten-year interest-free loan. How dare you say he’s nothing special? Chen An’an, stand up. I want to duel with you.”

"You still want to duel me? Have you forgotten that I can take on all three of you by myself?"

Chen An'an didn't want to have a women's doubles match with her so late at night. "Even if he's good, it doesn't have much to do with you. Do you really need to fight me over this? Besides, do you know how much you admire him? Didn't you say you'd seen him before? Haven't you seen the little girl next to him?"

"Of course it's necessary. My dad said that without him, our family wouldn't have the peaceful life we ​​have now."

The girl continued, "An'an, you might not understand how people like us feel, just as you can't understand my dad's admiration for him. Don't be fooled by my dad's million-dollar annual salary; there are countless people in this company earning that much, and even many older people with limited abilities can still earn hundreds of thousands. As he puts it, every company grows from small beginnings. Without the hard work and dedication of those senior employees, their company wouldn't be where it is today. So, whenever their company does layoffs and optimization, it targets the management. No matter how the company optimizes, they need a very good reason to fire someone who has worked for them for more than five years. My dream is to become an ordinary employee at this company."

"You call this a dream? Can't you be a little more realistic?"

"How is it unreliable? Not everyone is born to be in management. Being a regular employee at their headquarters is guaranteed to be better than being a manager at a large company. The benefits are top-notch, and you don't have to worry about being laid off for no reason when you turn 35. You can enjoy normal weekends off, and the hard standard for working hours is no more than nine hours a day. If you work more, you get high overtime pay. You can also take 25 days of personal leave a year. The salary plus the year-end bonus is at least 150,000 yuan. That's the salary and benefits of a regular employee at their headquarters. What more do you want? Anyway, my dad told me not to go anywhere after graduating from university. He will definitely find a way to get me in."

The other two girls also came over curiously and asked, "Is the treatment really that good?"

"That's for sure. Which local in Jinshan wouldn't want to send their child here? You'll understand when you actually get to university."

Finally, the girl said helplessly, "But my dad also said that their group is hiring fewer and fewer people with higher salaries. In the future, they will mainly recruit R&D personnel and AI-related talents. When you choose your major in your senior year of high school, you must choose AI. Don't say I didn't warn you. It's easy to find a job after graduating from a university in this field. If you choose an unpopular major, you'll be crying after graduation!"

To be fair, she does have some skill.

Even the majors chosen in the senior year of high school have been revealed. Any major related to AI will be just like choosing an internet major in the early 2000s.

You can get a high salary right after graduation.

This is forward-thinking advice from parents.

Chen An'an was also watching her father's video. She had never known before that her father would have a high school student of the same age as her who admired him.

I used to hear my father say that inheriting the family business was not just about making money, but also about a social responsibility.

She thought she understood when she worked at a restaurant in an urban village with her father, and later participated in several special activities arranged by her father during the summer vacation.

She had different feelings each time, and this time was no exception. Just imagine, the business empire her father built was not built by just one or two ordinary employees.

It's not just hundreds of thousands, but millions, and countless others have been growing and working hard alongside her father since their youth.

If the company goes bankrupt, all the youth and hard work of everyone involved will be wasted.

There are even countless long-time employees of the group who hope that their sons and daughters can also join the group when they grow up.

This is both inheritance and responsibility.

She is now arguably the richest woman of her age in the entire country.

The reason is that she inherited Tengchao Commercial Management from her father.

This company earns three to four billion yuan in net income annually just from rent collection, and has a net worth of over 100 billion yuan.

Tengchao Commercial Management was the best fallback option her father could offer her; it didn't require much brainpower or intelligence.

Whoever acquires such assets can live a life free from gambling and avoids anything that is off-limits.

You could never spend all this money in eight lifetimes.

As for the family's businesses, her father will probably only let her try to get involved in them gradually once she truly has the ability to take responsibility.

After all, for her it might just be a matter of making or not making money, but for ordinary employees, including the elderly who have worked hard with the group for half their lives, it's a different story.

This is their only place to live and make a living. If this place is no longer viable, tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people will face unemployment again.

This is even more outrageous than her losing a billion or even more.

For the second generation to inherit the family business, the prerequisite is that they can bear this responsibility.

Otherwise, it would really be a disservice to the long-time employees who have contributed to the group for many years.

(End of this chapter)