What's wrong with me being a rich man?

Chapter 396 Spring Festival
Yu Xing's return to the recording of Dragon TV after a long hiatus did not cause too many stirs.

Even though some of his words seemed a bit harsh, no one argued with him much, giving the returning guest enough respect.

Since Yu Xing was there, he decided to record the entire day.

During his lunch break, he chatted with Li Song, secretly curious about the young short seller's initial considerations, but he could only suppress these feelings.

As the afternoon recording approached, Chen Ou, sitting next to me, was still thinking about the conversation he had with Yu Xing before the morning's opening. After exchanging pleasantries and complimenting Yu Xing for a while, he seriously decided to pre-order a tram from the Silicon Carbon Group and become the owner of tram number 001.

Yu Xing noticed a problem: many people now express goodwill in similar ways when chatting with him.

He smiled and thanked Chen Ou for the "loan" support for his career, and then heard the other party mention Bai Xiaosheng again.

“We should support each other, Mr. Yu.” Chen Ou said with a smile, seemingly joking, “If Jumei gets smeared on Baixiaosheng, Mr. Yu should support us too.”

Yu Xing naturally declined, saying, "That depends on the situation, Mr. Chen. I don't have the energy for that right now, and I generally don't interfere with Baixiaosheng's operations."

Chen Ou slightly suppressed his smile: "President Yu, it was just a casual remark."

“Yes, Jumei can register an official account with Baixiaosheng. Baixiaosheng has a dedicated verification and communication channel. If it is indeed malicious, it will be dealt with quickly.” Yu Xing mentioned the correct handling method and then smiled, “Baixiaosheng’s positioning is quite special. We have also communicated with companies like Tencent and Alibaba. The current set of rules is quite appropriate.”

Chen Ou nodded and didn't bring it up again.

After waiting for two seconds, Yu Xing asked, "Mr. Chen, are we still ordering the car?"

Chen Ou was taken aback, then immediately replied, "Of course I'll order it, Mr. Yu. These are two different things, two different things."

Yu Xing smiled and said, "That's all. Mr. Chen, keep it up."

Chen Ou nodded in agreement, feeling somewhat uncomfortable during his brief exchange with this Mr. Yu.

But after sitting quietly for a while, he suddenly felt a little envious of the other person's bluntness, which made others uncomfortable.

The afternoon recording went smoothly, and Yu Xing actually selected a job seeker. However, the candidate's expression was somewhat different from the perceptions of the guests present. He mentioned his observations on the smartphone pre-installation market.

Yu Xing's conversation with the job seeker was very brief, so brief that even the host, Zhang Shaogang, wanted them to talk longer.

"President Yu, President Yu, is this another New Year's gift you're giving out?" Zhang Shaogang asked. "Why don't you ask a few more questions?"

“The smartphone market changes very quickly. Carbon Silicon Data Company actually started trying out when the industry was just beginning to flourish, because many of the people there had worked with me on WeChat before. But even so, some people weren’t very perceptive of the industry’s changes,” Yu Xing explained. “Because the changes are so fast, I think being perceptive is a rare and valuable skill that’s worth cultivating. He mentioned the pre-installed market, which actually proves his observation.”

Zhang Shaogang laughed and said, "Alright, President Yu, since you're returning today, whatever you say is right, and I'll believe you."

Yu Xing laughed, "Okay, Teacher Zhang, you still have that unpleasant way of speaking."

Watching this scene and hearing the applause, Chen Ou secretly curled his lip, thinking that President Yu's serious attitude towards the pre-installed market seemed more like a show. And when it comes to showmanship, this guy certainly has a lot of successful experience on the Dragon TV stage.

His experience recording "Only You" this time wasn't very good, but after returning to Beijing, he quickly calmed down his complicated emotions, after all... it was the Chinese New Year.

However, just two days before the Spring Festival, Chen Ou suddenly saw several friends on WeChat Moments reposting an article from iResearch Consulting, which discussed the development, chaos, and importance of the domestic smartphone pre-installation market, and also mentioned the actions of Silicon Carbon Data Company.

Aside from the relatively negative aspects, iResearch Consulting still uses silicon carbon data as a typical example, believing that it uses the development of the pre-installed market to circumvent the competitiveness of giants, and is engaging in asymmetric competition.

Chen Ou thought of the job seeker during the show's recording, and then of President Yu's perfunctory explanation, and it was hard not to be astonished.

When he saw that his partner Dai Yusen had also shared the article on his WeChat Moments, he couldn't help but ask him what was going on.

"Does this pre-installed feature on phones really have a big impact?" Chen Ou asked over the phone. "Could we do the same for Jumei?"

"It seems so. I called around and asked around, and it seems like prices have gone up now." Dai Yusen didn't stay idle during his vacation. As soon as he saw the article, he went to check the market. "Some mobile phone manufacturers have orders booked until next year. The competition is fierce. We should just buy data traffic."

Chen Ou asked in surprise, "How useful can it be? I saw iResearch Consulting wrote that they attach great importance to it."

Dai Yusen pondered: "How much of a use it actually is, well, I think it's hard for us to figure out. But it seems that Alibaba, Tencent, Sohu, 360, and Carbon Silicon Data are all working on this. Judging from their actions, it should be quite useful."

If you can't see the market clearly, then look at who's competing in it; this seems to confirm the point.

Thinking about it, Chen Ou couldn't help but marvel, and said, "While we weren't paying attention, these companies seemed to be engaged in a covert battle. Do iResearch and Yu Xing have a grudge? Last time, it was iResearch that exposed the development of silicon carbon data, and this time they're talking about the pre-installed market and mentioning the chaotic competition..."

"I don't know then." Dai Yusen thought for a moment. "If it's really that chaotic, I feel that this channel might not be able to last very long."

Chen Ou chatted for a few more minutes before ending the call.

As he read the article by iResearch Consulting, he felt inexplicably happy.

iResearch's article, published just before the Spring Festival, was once again widely reprinted, bringing the previously inconspicuous pre-installed smartphone market to the public and even the industry's attention for the first time.

As one of the parties involved, Yu Xing naturally saw the report immediately.

He returned home from Shanghai two days early, inevitably having to socialize with locals. He also took the opportunity to ask about the fruit chain business his relatives were running together, and naturally, there were many family matters that were best left unsaid to outsiders.

When Zhong Zhiling called to wish him a Happy New Year and they talked about the pre-installed market, Yu Xing asked with great interest, "Isn't the author of the iResearch Consulting article from last October the same person as this one? I think I saw the same name before. If that's the case, I feel that he is very perceptive about market changes and has a good eye. You can call and ask if he is interested in joining our company."

iResearch previously caused some trouble for silicon carbon data due to its rapid development, which alerted potential competitors. This time, describing the chaos in the pre-installed market may also have potential impacts.

Yu Xing knew this, but he wasn't angry.

This is the current situation. We shouldn't get angry just because others point out the current situation. At most, we might find it annoying, but that's only from the perspective of the situation at Carbon Silicon Data Company, and not from the perspective of external voices.

Zhong Zhiling was a little taken aback, but couldn't help but laugh and said, "Brother Xing, you... alright, I appreciate your talent. I'll have Bai Xiaosheng ask around. If you're willing to come to Carbon Silicon Data, then we'll see what business direction suits you."

Yu Xing hummed in agreement, not taking the matter too seriously, and instead invited Zhong Ai to come to Haiyan before the end of the holiday.

Zhong Zhiling agreed and, after calculating the time, set a date.

Yu Xing's Spring Festival this year was much more peaceful than in previous years. Although there were some minor issues with the fruit chain store, his relatives didn't hold grudges, at least not in his presence. He chatted with one family member here and visited another there, enjoying the warmth and care he received from his loved ones.

Hmm... that's good.

Of course, Yu Xing also received some intentional or unintentional requests. For example, regarding the fruit supplier for the Silicon Carbon Group, initially, the company had secured a single supplier for its own fruit, but later it was changed to one of two suppliers.

The relationship within the silicon carbon group is self-evident, and any changes in it make people suspect that someone is behind it.

Yu Xing's response to this question was simple: "Oh, that? I had them change it. Competition is good; it's good for long-term development."

After he said that, all other voices disappeared, leaving only one unified understanding—the change was good!

Yu Xing was cheerful throughout the Chinese New Year, and he showed no resistance to the concern and urging about his romantic prospects in the traditional atmosphere.

The mother, Chu Qiying, did the same, and did not follow the relatives' advice to urge them.

However, when she saw her sweet and gentle Zhong Ai come to visit for the New Year, her heart was finally moved.

"Hey, Xingxing, shouldn't you have a constructive discussion with Liu Wanying about the future?" Chu Qiying tried to be tactful in her words.

Yu Xing chuckled and said, "Oh, I don't understand."

Chu Qiying's feigned change of expression made Yu Xing understand more quickly.

“She’s not in a hurry, and neither am I. I’m very busy with work and have a lot to do,” Yu Xing explained with a slightly serious tone.

Chu Qiying said discontentedly, "What are you so busy with? What are you busy with all day long? Just bring up that day when you recorded the show, and we'll get everything settled as quickly as possible!"

Yu Xing was both amused and exasperated: "Isn't this a bit too hasty?"

Chu Qiying reached out his hand: "Then give me your secretary's phone number. After the New Year, I'll ask him how you've been arranging your work, and I'll help you squeeze out some time."

Yu Xing laughed and said, "And what about hers?"

Chu Qiying glanced at his son: "Then I'll ask them all at once."

Yu Xing blinked: "Then you can propose for me too."

Chu Qiying couldn't help but reach out and tap her son's head.

“Young people, let them do what they want,” said Yu Guosheng, the father, slowly.

Chu Qiying's anger was immediately and successfully transferred to Yu Guosheng.

Yu Xing chuckled, trying to keep a low profile, and replied to text messages while watching TV.

Although Yu Xing's Spring Festival was peaceful, the fierce competition in the industry did not ease up because of the traditional holiday. Among them, the most eye-catching was Alibaba and Tencent, whose competition appeared on the Spring Festival Gala.

Tencent partnered with the Spring Festival Gala in Q3 of last year, bringing the interactive features of its messaging app to the most-watched television program during the Chinese New Year.

Logically speaking, this should be a huge victory for Tencent. Although the Spring Festival Gala's viewership has been declining year after year, it still holds a very high status and can reach a very wide user base.

However, it is unclear how Alibaba managed to secure a second collaboration with the Spring Festival Gala, ensuring that Tencent would not have all the credit and that Tencent would not replicate last year's Spring Festival offensive.

Even the elderly couple, Yu Guosheng and Chu Qiying, felt the intensity of the competition between the two companies. One moment it was WeChat interaction, the next it was WeChat interaction. The two software programs were similar in nature and both had the word "Wei" in their names, which was simply confusing.

"Xingxing, what's going on? Why isn't this going to stop?" Yu Guosheng couldn't help but ask his son, the source of all evil, "Who's going to win in the end?"

"I don't know, I really don't know." Yu Xing shook his head repeatedly. "Normally, instant messaging software is a winner-takes-all game, but at this point, the interests involved are too great, and none of them are easy to deal with. I really don't understand how they can win."

He pondered for a moment, then frowned and added, "Perhaps things will really just... remain at a stalemate?"

One company does it, another follows suit, and this kind of competition... even users have gotten used to it.

It is said that the daily active users of Tencent's mobile QQ have even increased.

In Yu Xing's view, WeChat is a national-level software, but the market and users are subtly influenced. If things continue like this... will it really never achieve that kind of national-level glory?
Is it a hard-won victory achieved through persistent effort, or is it simply that everyone is used to using both apps...? Some people live on WeChat and work on Wechat, or perhaps another group uses them in reverse?

Yu Xing found the latter possibility quite incredible, but the case of Guo Shanfeng often taught him that nothing was impossible, so he could only watch the two families fight to the death with a sense of regret.

At least objectively speaking, this segmentation is beneficial to the overall development of the industry, and yes, it is also beneficial to the development of silicon carbon data.

On the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, a news report suddenly appeared on Baixiaosheng's otherwise peaceful page, simultaneously published on several platforms. The report accused Jumei.com of selling 9% of its branded cosmetics from counterfeit manufacturers in Guangdong Province, and the whistleblower claimed to be a former employee of the company.

This revelation quickly attracted attention, and within just one day, there were follow-up reports, with brands such as Guerlain and DHC denying that they had authorized Jumei.com to sell their products online.

Yu Xing didn't notice this, but he received a WeChat message from Chen Ou, who had added him on WeChat during the last recording of the show.

The four or five long WeChat messages, from top to bottom, all had the core message that Baixiaosheng should offer a discount.

Yu Xing glanced at the message and replied with only one sentence: "Happy New Year, best wishes."

Chen Ou sent another WeChat message: "President Yu, this is a smear campaign by our competitors. We are both in business. If a smear campaign against Silicon Carbon Group appeared on Baixiaosheng, would you be able to dismiss it so lightly? Or would you directly intervene and control the public opinion on Baixiaosheng?"

This time, Yu Xing took it a little more seriously, asking Bai Xiaosheng to verify the situation before responding to Chen Ou: "Speak with facts, Mr. Chen, please provide direct proof of the source of the goods."

Chen Ou remained unresponsive and stopped answering questions.

Two days later, he finally said, "Meilijie and Jumei are competitors, what else is there to say?"

Yu Xing didn't really have much to say, he just asked Zhong Zhiling to follow up on this matter, to screen Meili Street's business, and then to see how the business would expand and compete.

(End of this chapter)