Back to 1997, I became the originator of online literature

Chapter 454 Negotiation, Writing, Opportunity

Magic City.

Qidian Headquarters.

After ending his call with Cao Sheng, Bao Jianfeng picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and looked thoughtful.

Cao Sheng's promise on the phone still seemed to echo in his ears—"If I can successfully acquire shares, I will strongly suggest opening an entry point for Qidian on QQ. After all, I am also a major shareholder of Qidian, what do you think?"

He suspected that Cao Sheng was just making empty promises to him.

But then again, it doesn't seem right.

Because if Cao Sheng hadn't really thought this way, he probably wouldn't have come up with this idea at all—to open an entry point for Qidian on QQ.

This is an idea that could potentially double the number of users on Qidian.

If Qidian's user base doubles, then... wouldn't the subscription data for the works published on Qidian also double? If so, Qidian should actually be able to make a profit, right?

After a moment of contemplation, he put down his teacup, got up, and walked out of his office to the work area. He clapped his hands to attract everyone's attention, smiled, and announced, "Everyone, put down your work for a bit and let's have a meeting! No need to go to the meeting room, let's do it here!"

Everyone looked at him with suspicion.

Someone asked, "Mr. Bao, what's the agenda for the meeting?"

Bao Jianfeng: "Well, the issue is that our CEO Cao wants to invest in Tencent. Tencent has put forward three conditions, which are a bit harsh. CEO Cao hopes that we can help him negotiate the price. So, I would like to ask everyone to brainstorm and give me some ideas on how to bargain with Tencent."

Upon hearing this, the people reacted in various ways.

Most of them had surprised expressions.

"What? Mr. Cao wants to invest in Tencent? The Tencent that developed QQ?"

"He wants us to help him negotiate the price? Mr. Cao wants us to help him with something like this?"

"President Cao? Is that Cao Sheng from Zhongyuan Yidianhui?"

……

Not every employee knows that General Manager Cao is Cao Sheng.

With the launch of paid subscriptions on Qidian, the workload has increased significantly, and some new employees have been recently hired. These new employees have vaguely heard that Cao Sheng is a major shareholder of Qidian, but it's just a vague rumor.

……

Huizhou.

Back at the villa, Cao Sheng was unaware that Bao Jianfeng was holding a meeting at Qidian to discuss how to negotiate a lower price with Tencent.

Having entrusted the matter to Baojianfeng, Cao Sheng didn't think much of it.

Entrusting this matter to Bao Jianfeng also reflects his distrust of Cui Xinyu's work ability.

Cui Xinyu was fine taking care of his daily life and handling small matters well, but Cao Sheng couldn't trust her abilities when it came to big things like negotiating a shareholding deal with Tencent.

In contrast, Baojianfeng, who was responsible for creating Qidian, not only has proven his personal abilities, but Qidian also has many professional talents, such as public relations talents responsible for external affairs, legal talents responsible for legal affairs, and so on.

I brewed a cup of Biluochun tea myself and carried it to the study on the third floor.

Cao Sheng pressed the power button on his computer. While waiting for it to boot up, he squinted and pondered, wondering if he could offer Tencent some helpful advice to increase his chances of investing in the company.
In fact, QQ, as an instant messaging software, has already done a very good job. Its instant messaging function is very easy to use, and its user growth is very rapid.

If this continues, it won't be long before it becomes the undisputed leader in instant messaging software.

But Cao Sheng was, after all, a reborn person, and he could actually come up with some ideas to help QQ grow rapidly.

These are all tricks that QQ used in the original timeline.

For example: QQ group.

The current QQ has two-person chat and multi-person chat functions, but it does not have QQ groups.

Seeing this, some young people might wonder, isn't the multi-person chat function the same as QQ groups?
Really not!

In the original timeline, before QQ launched QQ Groups, there was a temporary multi-person chat function. This required a user to temporarily create such a multi-person chat window and then add the people they wanted to invite to the discussion group. This multi-person chat function was time-limited and temporary. When the user logged out of QQ, the window would automatically close, or the user could choose to exit the temporary chat window.

Unlike QQ groups, once a user is added to a group, they will not automatically leave the group if they leave QQ.

For example, QQ Farm.

In Cao Sheng's memory, QQ Farm was once all the rage. Although QQ was not the first to create an online farm, it had the ability to surpass others and leave the old players behind.

In the original QQ Farm, how many people were obsessed with stealing crops online? Many people would set an alarm on their phones before going to sleep, and when the alarm rang in the middle of the night, they would immediately get up and log on to QQ to steal other people's crops.

If such a feature were released earlier, it would certainly be of great benefit to QQ's user growth rate.

However, Cao Sheng felt that he was only investing 5% and there was no need to put up so much of a stake.

At most, we only need to suggest a QQ group function to Tencent.

By the way, Tencent said they can only give me a maximum of 5% stake. Is that really the maximum they can give me?

Is there still room for negotiation on this share?

Even if it only increases by 1%, what if it only increases by 1%?
Cao Sheng wasn't entirely sure what the future market value of a company like Tencent would be, but he knew that there would be very few domestic internet companies whose market value would surpass Tencent's.

Therefore, even if it's just a 1% increase in shares, the future value will be enormous.

……

That afternoon.

Pengcheng, the headquarters of Tencent.

Zhang Zhidong, who was in charge of negotiating Cao Sheng's investment, received a call from Bao Jianfeng.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Zhang! I am Bao Jianfeng, the person in charge of Qidian.com! I have been entrusted by Mr. Zhongyuan Yidianhui to discuss the matter of equity investment with your company. Mr. Zhang, is it convenient for you to speak now?"

Sitting behind his desk, Zhang Zhidong smiled upon hearing this. "Oh, hello, hello! I'm a little curious, why would Zhongyuan Yidianhui entrust this matter to your website? Is it just because his new book is published on your website? Forgive my bluntness, but if that's all there is to your relationship, then I'm afraid I have to question whether you have sufficient authority to discuss equity investment with us. What do you think?"

Bao Jianfeng chuckled self-deprecatingly, “Mr. Zhang is right! If our website and Zhongyuan Yidianhui really only have this one relationship, then we don’t have enough authority to talk to you about this kind of thing. However, he is the largest shareholder of our website, so you can consider me as his employee. In that case, do you think we can talk to your company about investing on his behalf?”

Zhang Zhidong was stunned for a moment.

Then, I subconsciously sat up straight.

He never expected that Cao Sheng was actually the largest shareholder of this novel website.

He suddenly realized that he had underestimated Cao Sheng, the novelist.

Ma Huateng clearly underestimated Cao Sheng.

Cao Sheng was no longer just a novelist; he had quietly become a major shareholder of a novel website. He also recalled a rumor he'd seen online: Zhongyuan Yidianhui was a shareholder of Rongshuxia.

In other words, Zhongyuan Yidianhui is already a shareholder of two novel websites.

However, Zhongyuan Yidianhui originally published his works on Rongshu.com, but suddenly went to Qidian.com to publish his new book at the end of last year. Before that, he thought it was because Qidian.com paid Zhongyuan Yidianhui a lot, so much so that he was willing to leave Rongshu.com, where he had shares.

It now appears that he didn't own many shares in Banyan Tree.

However, it is the largest shareholder of Qidian.com.

"Oh, I see! Hehe, sure! Of course!"

Zhang Zhidong quickly adjusted his attitude and asked politely, "Then what is his attitude after hearing the three conditions we presented? Can he accept them?"

Bao Jianfeng: "Well, Mr. Zhang! Our General Manager Cao is still very sincere about investing in your company, but he hopes that your company can also show corresponding sincerity. Regarding the three conditions your company has put forward, our General Manager Cao believes that your company lacks sincerity and the conditions are a bit too harsh. He hopes that your side can adjust these three conditions appropriately."

Zhang Zhidong smiled; he wasn't surprised by Bao Jianfeng's words.

Equity investment is not something that can be negotiated and finalized in one or two sessions.

He himself knew that the three investment conditions his company had set were very demanding. This was normal practice. If the conditions weren't demanding at the beginning, how could there be enough room to lower them during subsequent negotiations?

Zhang Zhidong: Oh? So how does your CEO Cao want us to make adjustments?

Bao Jianfeng: "First of all, the price of 400 million US dollars is too high. We hope to reduce it to 200 million US dollars, or increase the shares of our CEO Cao. Your company's offer of 400 million US dollars for 5% of the shares is definitely not acceptable."

Secondly…

Zhang Zhidong interrupted him, "Wait a minute! Don't talk about the secondary issues yet. How much did you just say? 200 million US dollars? That's impossible! Nobody haggles like this. Do you think you're buying clothes at a street stall? Cutting it in half?"

Bao Jianfeng: "Mr. Zhang, it's not that we're cutting prices too hard, it's just that your asking price is too high."

……

The two engaged in a heated exchange over the phone, maintaining polite attitudes as they went back and forth, one trying to negotiate a lower price, the other unwilling to lower it too much.

……

at the same time.

Huizhou.

In the study on the third floor of the villa.

Cao Sheng sat in front of the computer, his mind already immersed in the plot of "The Romance of Chinese Martial Arts". He squinted at the document on the computer and his hands were frantically typing on the keyboard.

He was typing very fast at that moment, as if he were in a fierce battle with someone.

And in fact?
The chapter he was currently writing was indeed very intense, with the protagonist Wang Chao facing off against Ye Xuan, a martial arts genius from the island nation.

This was a task assigned to Wang Chao by the organization.

It was a mission to fight for the country.

Ye Xuan is a Chinese from the island nation. He showed amazing martial arts talent from a young age. He started practicing boxing and sword under a waterfall at the age of 13. After receiving guidance from many martial arts masters in the island nation, he once hiked in the snow and ice of Hokkaido to hone his will. At the age of 18, he defeated an Aikido master and was single-mindedly pursuing a stronger martial art. It is rumored that he is a martial arts fanatic.

Recently, this martial arts fanatic named Ye Xuan, disregarding his Chinese heritage, came to China to participate in many underground boxing matches arranged by the Japanese martial arts community. He swept through numerous masters in the underground boxing arena and then challenged and attacked traditional martial arts schools in China one after another, seriously injuring many people.

In this situation, the organization found Wang Chao, who was about the same age as Ye Xuan, and persuaded Wang Chao to cripple or kill Ye Xuan, thus eliminating this genius of the Japanese martial arts world.

By this point in writing "The Romance of Chinese Martial Arts," Wang Chao had already engaged in numerous real-world combat experiences, and his reputation as a genius had long been established.

Yin Yin is already a representative figure of the younger generation in the Chinese martial arts world.

The organization arranged for him to fight against Ye Xuan.

It wasn't just because Ye Xuan's recent actions in China had severely dampened the morale of the Chinese martial arts community; more importantly, the organization had received information that this was a test by the Japanese martial arts community against China. If Ye Xuan's trip to China went smoothly, the Japanese martial arts community had a series of follow-up plans aimed at suppressing the morale and spirit of the Chinese martial arts community in the long term.

Wang Chao is a martial arts prodigy in the Chinese martial arts world.

Ye Xuan, though of Chinese descent, represents the martial arts world of Japan. His reputation as a genius far surpasses that of Wang Chao, as he has defeated a long-established master of Aikido.

In front of the computer.

Unbeknownst to Cao Sheng, he had already reached a state of complete absorption, his mind filled with the duel between Wang Chao and Ye Xuan.

These two martial arts geniuses both made fast and ruthless moves.

They made their moves quickly, so Cao Sheng subconsciously sped up his typing.

When they fought fiercely for a while, separated briefly, and regrouped to look for opportunities, Cao Sheng would subconsciously slow down his typing speed.

It was as if Cao Sheng was fighting Ye Xuan, not Wang Chao.

Occasionally, when Cao Sheng's thoughts drifted away from the plot and he found it difficult to reconnect with the intense emotions of the battles, he would find a fast-paced and energetic old song to play on Qianqian Music.

The song's energetic rhythm seemed to stir his emotions and speed up his blood flow, making him excited again.

When accompanied by upbeat music, he unconsciously speeds up his typing.

He always types at his fastest speed.

As for the investment in Tencent?

He had long forgotten about it.

This is also one of the main reasons why he entrusted the equity negotiation to Baojianfeng. As a professional writer, he knows very well that once he enters the writing state, he basically can't take care of real-life matters.

If he has to worry about real-life matters, his writing will be greatly affected, and it will be difficult for him to fully immerse himself in the world of the book.

……

The next morning.

Jiang Xiaoshuang arrived at the station as usual, wiped the tables, made tea, and while drinking tea, she listened attentively to the conversations of her colleagues.

After working at the station for a long time, she gradually came to a realization: the topics of conversation that her colleagues had when they first arrived at the office in the morning were often very valuable.

Whenever there's any gossip or rumors circulating at the station, it's usually discussed around this time.

Today, she heard a rumor that concerned her.

Her colleague, Sister Wang, lowered her voice and said to her, "Xiao Jiang! Your opportunity might be coming, you know?"

Jiang Xiaoshuang was puzzled. "What do you mean, Sister Wang? What opportunity? What opportunity could I possibly have?"

At this moment, colleague Lao Zhang interjected with a smile: "Xiao Jiang, you really don't know? We've all heard that the leaders decided to start an interview program during their meeting yesterday evening. I heard that you were one of the hosts nominated at the meeting."

(End of this chapter)