2003: Starting with Foreign Trade

Chapter 824 Good News After the Spring Festival

"How about it?"

On the seventh day of the first lunar month, Boss Tan stared at the family doctor with a nervous expression, like a novice. Gu Qingqing, who was lying next to him, found his expression both amusing and heartwarming.

When it comes to taking care of his family, Tan Jincheng is not a good husband, a good father, or a good son, mainly because he is too busy.

But when it comes to lovers, Tan Jincheng is qualified.

Having known each other for over ten years, from lovers to husband and wife, Tan Jincheng, despite being busy with work, would spend time with her whenever he had free time, and would also bring her along to work if it was convenient.

He took great care of her and was able to stay true to himself when faced with countless temptations.

"It's confirmed. Congratulations, Mr. Tan. Be careful during this time. If anything happens, Mr. Gu can contact me anytime."

"Hahaha, thank you, thank you. Then I'll have to trouble Dr. Li."

As usual, Tan Jincheng didn't have much time to spend with his family during the Spring Festival. His social circle had already expanded from Beicang to the entire Ningbo area, and he couldn't refuse many of the activities in Ningbo during the Spring Festival.

Similarly, whenever he spends the Lunar New Year in Beicang, the only quiet villa area in the center of Beicang District will be bustling with luxury cars and all kinds of official vehicles, making the area around the Tan family villas lively and bustling.

Today, Tan Jincheng was out socializing when he received a call from his mother saying that Gu Qingqing was experiencing morning sickness, so he rushed home.

"Hehe, it's good to be young, you got pregnant so quickly."

Once only the young couple remained in the room, Tan Jincheng chuckled. They hadn't been trying to conceive for very long, and didn't spend much time together normally.
"Stop being silly. I can't work now. You'd better find me a job."

"It's a minor matter. I'll arrange for Zeng Jixiang to manage it, and I'll take over a portion of it myself, and that should be enough."

A successful entrepreneur must be energetic, that much is certain. Boss Tan is known for his boundless energy. Gu Qingqing's current work mainly involves the family investment business, as well as Tianmei Studio.

With Yao Xiaoguang at TiMi Studio, there shouldn't be too many problems. As for family investments, at worst, we can just reduce investment this year.

In fact, there's not much to invest in; managing existing assets is enough. Currently, the family foundation mainly manages stocks and real estate, with little investment in the primary market.

In addition, I also hold some cryptocurrencies, which may not seem significant now, but could become a huge fortune in the future.

Holding assets offshore makes it easier to sell them later. In addition, there are gold and US dollar assets, which have a very high value preservation rate.

For example, gold was only about 100 yuan per gram when Tan Jincheng was reborn. Even 10 years later, it's only about 200 yuan. It's even more cost-effective to exchange it for US dollars now. Around 2014 was the cheapest time for US dollars to exchange for RMB.

In terms of stocks, I only invest in those that I remember have good growth potential and high dividends. I just need to manage these assets well and I don't need to do anything else.

Gu Qingqing was both amused and exasperated: "You really are something else. Zeng is practically your donkey now. You make him keep an eye on everything."

"There's no other way. There are some things that others can't do. I'm considering whether to transfer Zhao Yixin back. What do you think?"

Zeng Jixiang was indeed extremely busy. Although Li Xiang had shared some of his workload in the past two years, Tan Jincheng would not allow anyone in the company to access certain assets that did not belong to the company.

In terms of personnel management, Tan Jincheng is rather nostalgic. As long as the people who followed him from the very beginning do not make any major mistakes and can work diligently, he can accept even their minor ideas.

When it comes to making money, it's normal for those around you to benefit a little. If you're too concerned about it, you'll end up with no one to rely on.

"That's fine too. It's really a waste of Xiao Zhao's time with Lei Chi."

Starting in 2011, the "old man's car" industry entered a period of rapid development, and in just two years it became a gray force that the automotive industry association could not ignore.

Since 2013, the production capacity of electric vehicles for the elderly has entered a growth rate of over 50%. Many professional institutions and consulting companies have also issued predictions that by 2020, the number of our four-wheeled low-speed electric vehicles, also known as electric vehicles for the elderly, will expand to more than 1000 million vehicles, and the market size will reach hundreds of billions of yuan.

Key enterprises in Beicang District include Weilai, Shenzhou, Haitian, Shanchi, and Orange Technology, but the extremely low-profile Leichi should not be overlooked.

Before the new international standard was introduced, the maximum speed of old-age electric vehicles was usually limited to 80km/h, and the maximum range was also basically within 80km. They were cheaply made, had simple interiors, and no highlights in their appearance.

However, everything changed after Leichi entered the market. With the strong supply chain and technological accumulation of the two major companies, Leichi was destined from the beginning to be a level above its competitors in terms of technology, cost, and channels.

With its low price, stylish design, and solid materials, the Leichi Elderly Recycling Cart has been widely popular since its launch.

With increased production capacity and a more sophisticated supply chain, the Leichi series has long been the most popular brand of electric vehicles for the elderly in third-tier cities and rural markets. Word-of-mouth recommendations from consumers have kept Leichi firmly in the leading position among electric vehicles for the elderly.

In 2014, a total of 40 electric vehicles for senior citizens were sold nationwide, with nearly 14 of them coming from the Leichi brand alone, achieving a market share of 35% and easily generating an annual output value of over 10 billion yuan.

Based on the market expectation of hundreds of billions, Leichi, which is extremely low-key, will also become a company with annual revenue of over 10 billion in the future. It is only because Tan Jincheng has too many prestigious companies under his control that it does not stand out.

If it were in the hands of someone else or elsewhere, it would be a local star and a pillar industry, such as Reading, which ranks second in market share.

The elderly-friendly electric vehicle company started by the owner of the Bidevin electric vehicle business is now doing better than their two-wheeled electric vehicle business and has become a pillar industry in the area.

Based on the prototype technology of Sailin, and with the resources of Shanchi, Tan Jincheng made a disruptive impact on the low-speed electric vehicle industry by developing electric vehicles for the elderly.

Ironically, Zhongtai's performance was terrible in the previous years, including 2014. However, the annual dividends from their 10% stake in Leichi, which they hadn't paid much attention to, have brought them surprises every year.

This is also one of the reasons that prompted them to acquire Zhidou. Although Zhidou was used to fraudulently obtain subsidies, it did have a good period this year due to the deception.

A00-class electric vehicles, including the Chery QQ EV, have been struggling this year due to their low prices and subsidies, attracting a lot of attention in the market.

There are many reasons for the popularity of these mini electric vehicles and "old man's cars," but the fundamental reason is their low price. A00-class electric vehicles require a driver's license, while "old man's cars" do not.

In our rural market, which accounts for 70% of the total, a vehicle that can provide shelter from the wind and rain and costs around ten thousand yuan would be perfect for these families.

To paraphrase Wuling's advertising slogan, it's "The people need recreational vehicles for the elderly."

With its overwhelming advantages, as long as Lei Chi doesn't make mistakes and has an excellent production manager and sales director, its strong reputation will prevent him from encountering any major setbacks.

In the market for electric vehicles for the elderly, Leichi can be considered the "Apple" of electric vehicles for the elderly.

Zhao Xinyi was Tan Jincheng's secretary before she worked as the purchasing manager of the listed company Flashtech. She has extensive experience in management and cost control, which is why she was initially assigned to lead the work of Flashtech.

In addition, Boss Tan told her to go ahead and do it boldly, so Zhao Xinyi carried out sweeping reforms on the management team left over from the original Zhongtai factory, which revitalized the Zhongtai factory.

Over the past few years, Zhao Xinyi has managed Leichi very well, and has also managed to make the old hands left behind by Zhongtai obedient, so that they are no longer just lazy bums who take money but do nothing. The changes are quite significant.

From this perspective, Zhao Xinyi is quite capable. Even with Tan Jincheng's support, it's not easy to make these old hands behave.

True brilliance isn't about simply firing these seasoned veterans; it's about getting them back to their original positions and truly dedicated to their work.

"Let's call her over tomorrow and ask her first. I'm just afraid that she's having a good time at Leichi and might not want to come back now."

"It's not that bad. Lei Chi's stage is too small. You always envy the Great Wall for having Wang Fengying. I think Xiao Zhao might be able to become the Wang Fengying of Wei Lai."

Tan Jincheng was taken aback for a moment, then laughed.

Haha, it's not impossible. She's worked as an assistant, a purchasing manager, and has some technical experience. She's also well-educated, and her behavior at Leichi shows a strong side to her personality.

Furthermore, the fact that she was able to manage Lei Chi so well not only proves that she has the ability, but also shows that she has a certain ambition or career drive. With proper training, it is indeed possible for her to become the next Wang Fengying.

"Don't wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow is the eighth day of the lunar new year. She should be at home today. Can you call her and ask if she has time to come over for dinner? I have other things to do when I start work tomorrow."

On the first day of work, Boss Tan had a lot to do and might easily forget about it.

Gu Qingqing smiled helplessly: "You really are impatient, thinking of whatever comes to mind. Being your subordinate must be exhausting."

"What are you talking about? I never bother them during my off-duty hours when I have nothing to do, but executives, who earn so much money, should be prepared to have work needs at any time."

No senior executive in any company has a real concept of working hours. They have to be ready to work whenever needed. It's not that Tan Jincheng doesn't care about his subordinates, but rather that he only does what he's paid for.

It's inappropriate to make such demands on factory workers who only earn a few thousand yuan a month, but it's acceptable for those with an annual salary of over a million.

Zhao Xinyi was a little surprised when she received Gu Qingqing's call, but she roughly knew that her boss wanted to see her. She just didn't know why, since there was nothing going on at the company.

The Lexus is doing very well right now, selling 14 units in 2014, which is double the sales of the previous year. However, according to current market expectations, the number in 2015 is likely to be close to doubling again.

The sales target for Lexus in 2015 was 25 units, with revenue reaching 20 billion yuan.

"Go, Commandant?"

Zhao Xinyi arrived very quickly, before even waiting for dinner time.

"No, boss, you really treat me like a brick, moving me wherever you need me."

Within Flash, she rotated through several departments before moving to Leichi. While working as a secretary, she also had some contact with Jinpeng's business and even with Orange Technology's business.

"Well, there's nothing I can do about it. You guys were the first to follow me, so who else am I supposed to order around if not you? So tell me, are you happy or not?"

Zhao Xinyi pursed her lips, took the orange Gu Qingqing handed her, thanked her, and then rolled her eyes and said, "That depends on whether the boss lady is willing or not." She had only just found out that the boss lady was pregnant again. Speaking of which, she usually took the madam's route and had a lot of contact with Gu Qingqing. She knew that the boss lady had been trying to conceive recently, but she didn't expect her to get pregnant again so quickly.

The boss is quite a good shot.

"What nonsense are you thinking? I don't want you."

"That's hard to say, the boss's wife is pregnant, isn't she?"

Privately, the interactions between these elderly people and Boss Tan were quite relaxed. However, Tan Jincheng couldn't help but sigh that married women really had no taboos.

"Alright, alright, stop talking nonsense. Lei Chi's space is too small. Come on, Wei. Start as the deputy director of the office and gradually get in touch with the automotive industry. We'll see if you can become the sales company manager then."

"He's just making empty promises again, but I'll accept them. I'll do some handover tomorrow."

Zhao Xinyi clearly understands the choice between a manager of a company worth tens of billions and an executive of a company worth hundreds of billions. It's a rare opportunity, just as Tan Jincheng thought, she is a woman with ambition.

In recent years, the success stories of Ms. Dong, Ms. Yang from Guiyuan, as well as Wang Fengying and Gu Qingqing have greatly boosted women's confidence in their careers.

Zhao Xinyi has always felt that if given a larger platform, she could also become a well-known woman.

In fact, Zhao Xinyi is a well-known figure in the elderly people's car industry.

"Okay, make sure Lei Chi gets everything arranged properly and there are no problems."

Leichi currently has three shareholders. Zhongtai, holding 10% of the shares, is only a financial investor and does not participate in any company affairs. Beicang City Investment, holding 35% of the shares, also does not participate in management, but they have a certain degree of influence.

Originally, Beicang District didn't really take Lei Chi seriously, just thinking that Tan Jincheng was "making use of waste" and creating a hybrid thing that was neither a car nor a two-wheeled electric vehicle to amuse himself.

Unexpectedly, this venture turned into a company worth tens of billions of yuan. In fact, before the fierce competition in the old people's car rental industry, the gross profit margin per vehicle was still quite considerable.

Take a Tesla Model 15,000 yuan electric car for seniors as an example. The wholesale price for a first-tier dealer is 10,000 yuan, leaving a profit margin of 5000 yuan. This profit can be distributed to lower-level dealers at various levels, allowing for significant profit-making opportunities.

For the manufacturer Leichi, thanks to its mature industrial chain, the gross profit margin can reach between 20% and 30%, and the net profit can reach more than 10%.

The main reason is that this thing doesn't really need much marketing; it's all promoted by the dealers themselves. Even the lowest-level stores can make a profit of over 2000 yuan by selling a 1.5 yuan old man's car, so they have no choice but to work hard.

For the Beicang District government, this money is like finding a needle in a haystack. It requires no policy subsidies but can continuously generate profits, taxes, and create jobs.

In fact, local governments love companies like this the most. Apart from land and some policy benefits, they put in almost nothing but get high output.

Zhao Xinyi nodded: "Okay, I understand. I can go back if there are any problems."

These words truly revealed her strong confidence, and Tan Jincheng couldn't help but give her a thumbs up. He had unwittingly nurtured a powerful woman.

There aren't many female executives in Tan Jincheng's entire business system, and Zhao Xinyi seems to be the only one who can be called a strong woman.

At least, she was the only one who dared to tell dirty jokes to her boss.

In a sense, Gu Qingqing can't be considered a strong woman. Her management style is more gentle, and most importantly, Gu Qingqing isn't that career-driven. Everything she does seems to be to help Tan Jincheng.

When she is required to relinquish power, she will not hesitate to step back from the limelight.

Zhao Xinyi didn't eat dinner. After chatting with Tan Jincheng and his wife about the follow-up arrangements and some everyday matters, she hurriedly went home.

In her words, she needs to think about who would be the most suitable successor to Lei Chi.

That really fits Tan Jincheng's style.

Zhao Xinyi's return is also a good thing for Tan Jincheng. Although Li Xiang has temporarily put an end to his entrepreneurial endeavors, he cannot guarantee that Li Xiang will not change his mind at some point.

With more and more internet companies starting to manufacture cars, Xiaopeng has already begun preparations, and it's hard to guarantee that he won't come up with new ideas.

Similarly, Tan Jincheng cannot guarantee whether Li Bing will start a car company. Although Yiche has already achieved the number one market share, its room for growth is still too small.

There's a saying that if you want to earn a million, you have to work in an industry that can earn a million; you can't earn a million by screwing in screws.

In addition, Zhao Xinyi's return can also create a balance with Zeng Jixiang.

An office director and an office deputy director both work under their respective secretaries, and the power in the president's office is balanced in this way.

The eighth day of the first lunar month.

With the WeChat red envelope feature, Boss Tan no longer needs to stand in the workshop and at the factory gate to hand out red envelopes to his employees like before.

It lacks a sense of ritual, but it's more efficient.

Tan Laoban sent out opening red envelopes on WeChat and Dingding. It has to be said that the mobile Internet, or mobile payment, has indeed changed people's lifestyles. There are almost no pickpockets on buses anymore.

Working people no longer need to worry about their wallets suddenly disappearing, as they did a few years ago.

However, while mobile payment has brought convenience to ordinary people, it has also brought some problems. When money becomes digital, it becomes insensitive, and people spend money without restraint, losing the pleasure of spending and saving money.

Tan Jincheng still remembers the feeling he had when he went to the bank every week to deposit money back when he was selling boxed lunches with Zhang Xupeng in his previous life. That feeling was incomparable to a bunch of numbers.

It seems that Ali, who has been advocating for advance consumption this year, is about to launch two new products.

The harvesting of capital has begun.

How is the financial report preparation going?

The first thing Tan Jincheng was most concerned about at the beginning of 2015 was the first annual report since the company went public. Last year's annual report was of little use to this year, but it was a way to boost the market and morale.

"The audit has been completed, and it can be released on March 2nd."

Zeng Jixiang concurrently serves as the board secretary of Weilai Securities' business division. He has been tracking the annual report situation since New Year's Day. The annual report disclosure period is from January to April 30th every year.

Generally speaking, the earlier the annual report is disclosed (including the preliminary disclosure), the better the company's performance.

The annual reports of poorly performing companies are usually released on the last day of the year. When the annual report disclosure period coincides with the Two Sessions, the A-share stock market often becomes unusually volatile.

Annual report scandals and policy changes can cause a previously performing company to collapse.

Similarly, the A-share market is also volatile in the last few days of the quarterly report season. If it happens to be a time of poor economic conditions, it is like a minefield.

Even against the backdrop of a major bull market in 2015, the stock market in January and February was relatively lackluster, with the index failing to maintain its previous continuous upward trend.

"Not bad speed, let me take a look."

Upon hearing that the annual report could be released on the first trading day of March, Boss Tan was in high spirits. He knew roughly what Wei Lai's revenue was last year, but he didn't really know the specific figures.

He is the company's chairman, not the chief financial officer.

Zeng Jixiang was prepared and quickly brought over the prepared materials.

"Oh, by the way, Zhao Xinyi will be transferred to the president's office soon to work as your deputy. You can contact her and ask her what she needs. Also, consider preparing some stock options for her."

Speaking of this strong woman, she's actually quite pitiful. Apart from her annual salary, she didn't really get many shares. She does have a little bit of shares in Wei Lai, but she bought them with her own money.

Zeng Jixiang nodded in response. The deputy director of the president's office should indeed be given the appropriate treatment. Even Li Xiang has stock options, let alone Zhao Xinyi, who is the boss's second secretary.

Tan Jincheng took the financial report and began to read it carefully.

A genuine annual report contains a great deal of data, and after reviewing it carefully, Tan Jincheng smiled with satisfaction.

Excellent performance, with total sales of 43.77 vehicles and revenue of 390.67 billion yuan for the year, representing a year-on-year increase of 11.24% compared to 2013. Net profit reached 50.06 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 12.8%.

This only represents the revenue of Weilai Auto's business segment. The power battery segment, which raised funds through its IPO, generated 8.67 million yuan in revenue and 5443 million yuan in net profit for the entire year.

From this moment on, both of Weilai Group's core businesses became profitable, and Boss Tan no longer had to worry about losses.

However, compared to the growth in revenue and net profit, what Mr. Tan is most satisfied with is Wei Lai's inventory turnover rate, which averages 56 to 65 days. This efficiency is far superior to the industry average.

Wei Lai's benchmark competitor, BYD, has an inventory turnover rate of around 72 days. Don't underestimate the difference of just one week.

Compared to the previously released annual report, this officially approved annual report is better than expected.

"I wonder what will happen after this annual report is sent out?"

(End of this chapter)