I'm in the county town, and you say I'm a big shot?

Chapter 331 Seeking Investment Everywhere

"Is it the food delivery company you invested in?" Shi Guangrong asked in return.

"Yes, we need to raise funds again to expand the market." Fang Qingye briefly explained the expansion plan discussed in yesterday's meeting, and concluded by saying:
"Glory, are you interested? If you are, I'll give you a copy of the financing report once it's ready, and you can make your final decision after the accounting firm has completed its evaluation materials."

Instead of answering directly, Shi Guangrong asked in return, "If you're aiming to raise 6 million yuan, you personally have the capability to do so; you don't need to find someone else, do you?"

"Hehe, let's make money together. We're brothers." Fang Qingye chuckled.

"I understand!" Shi Guangrong immediately realized something.

"Ele.me's team is afraid that you have too high a shareholding and become too dominant, and they are worried that you will kick them out, right? So they are looking to attract investors."

"Yes, that's certainly the idea," Fang Qingye admitted. "I can understand their concerns, although I had no such intention at all."

“Okay, I’ll invest 100 million!” Shi Guangrong made the decision immediately.

"You haven't even looked at the financing report and valuation materials yet, how can you make a decision so quickly?" Fang Qingye asked in surprise.

"Because I trust your judgment! What you choose is never wrong."

"Thank you. There's something I need to clarify. Although Ele.me has expanded rapidly and is now the industry leader, it's still losing money. As for when it will be profitable, it's really hard to say." Fang Qingye's expression was very serious.

"Then will it be listed on the stock exchange?" Shi Guangrong asked in return.

“I definitely want to go public, but you know it’s not something you can do just because you want to.”

Shi Guangrong pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "I'll still invest! As the industry leader, I refuse to believe we can't go public! Even if we don't, someone will want my shares! I'll invest!"

Fang Qingye smiled after hearing this.

"There will definitely be someone who wants it. Alibaba wants to invest now, but I don't want them to come in yet."

"Huh? Alibaba also wants to invest? Why didn't you say so sooner? If you had said so earlier, why would I have hesitated?" Shi Guangrong complained.

shit
But Alibaba these days is truly a giant.

The matter was settled. They would sign the agreement once Ele.me produced its business plan and valuation report. Fang Qingye was about to focus on fishing when she heard Shi Guangrong ask:
"Qingye, don't you have any other projects that need financing?"

"What's wrong? You want to invest?" Fang Qingye asked back.

"Yes, in your words, we have to spend the money we earn, right?"

shit
"Not for now," Fang Qingye said. "I'll call you if there's a suitable one."

But in my heart I was thinking: Forget about Toutiao.
You are not allowed to touch this goose that lays golden eggs for the time being.

Fang Qingye took a bus back to Nanxin the next day.

It had been more than half a month since I left home, and it was time to go back. Of course, there were other things to do when I got back. That afternoon, Fang Qingye called Song Dahai and asked him to come to her nursery that evening, saying she had something to discuss with him.

"What's up?" Song Dahai asked on the phone.

"There's a project I'd like to ask if your Kerry Group would invest in it," Fang Qingye said frankly.

“Ye Zi, I don’t have the final say on the Kerry Group’s affairs. You should talk to my dad,” Song Dahai said.

"Come here first, let me hear your thoughts."

"Okay, I'll come over after dinner."

Around 7 p.m., Song Dahai arrived at the nursery, but he wasn't alone; Chen Meimei was with him.

"I want Meimei to listen to this and help me make some decisions," Song Dahai chuckled.

"Alright, Meimei, please have a seat. I'll pour you some tea." Fang Qingye ushered the two of them into her office.

"No need for all that trouble, Ye Zi, what kind of investment is it?" Song Dahai asked hastily, his curiosity piqued.

"Have you heard of Ele.me?" Fang Qingye asked in return.

"Oh, I've seen this online. It's a food delivery service. You order on your phone or computer, and they send someone to deliver it to you. It's super convenient, and it's popular in big cities now. It's so trendy." Song Dahai paused, then suddenly realized something: "Are you thinking of investing in Ele.me?"

“Yes, my company, Tuofang Technology, is a major shareholder of Ele.me. Now that Ele.me is expanding, it needs financing,” Fang Qingye replied.

"Wow, Yezi, Ele.me is also a company you invested in!" Song Dahai was very surprised, he had never heard Fang Qingye say this before.

Fang Qingye smiled slightly and said, "I'd like to explain the basic situation of Ele.me." So he told Song Dahai exactly what he had told Shi Guangrong yesterday.

However, it didn't mention that Alibaba also wanted to invest.

Song Dahai listened attentively, and finally blurted out, "You said Ele.me is going to keep expanding. In the future, will there be Ele.me in county towns like Nanxin?"

“Definitely! Ele.me will be available in all cities and towns across the country, and even in some of the larger towns!” Fang Qingye said firmly.

After listening, Song Dahai and Chen Meimei exchanged a glance, seeing the fear and excitement in each other's eyes.

我的天啦
What kind of company would that be!
"Ele.me is so powerful, but you say it's hard for it to make a profit?" Song Dahai thought of another question.

At this moment, Chen Meimei, who had been silent until now, spoke up: "I think if Ele.me continues to expand and invests a lot of money, it will be difficult to make a profit."

"In addition, I saw online that Ele.me provides subsidies to merchants and consumers, which naturally increases the company's costs."

"Can't we just not get subsidies?" Song Dahai asked again.

"It's all about increasing market share. The food delivery market isn't just about Ele.me; it's just that Ele.me is a bit bigger," Chen Meimei explained.

"Oh," Song Dahai said thoughtfully, and finally sighed, "This kind of company has a completely different operating model from my family's traditional businesses such as real estate."

“Yes, of course the risk is very high.” Fang Qingye continued, “If you want to invest, it will be at least 5000 million.”

"Huh? 5000 million? That much?" Song Dahai was shocked when he heard that.

"Yes, I'm planning to raise 6 million this time. It's not very meaningful if investors don't invest enough," Fang Qingye explained.

After listening, Song Dahai pondered for a moment and said, "If I were the head of Kerry Group, I would invest 5000 million."

"Why?" Fang Qingye asked back.

"You're right, I have complete faith in your judgment, I've never been wrong about you." Song Dahai chuckled.

"There's another reason. Although I don't understand the food delivery industry, I think it's worth investing in as long as Ele.me can become the leader in this industry!"

Fang Qingye smiled slightly.

"Okay, Dahai, go back and talk to your dad, see if he has the same idea. If he does, I'll talk to him in detail."

"OK, no problem."

After chatting for a while, Song Dahai and Chen Meimei left.

The two walked – Chen Meimei wouldn't allow Song Dahai to drive, her aim being to get some exercise.

The two walked hand in hand down the street. Song Dahai looked at the dim streetlights and thought about what Fang Qingye had just said.

"Meimei, if you were in my shoes, would you be willing to invest?"

“I work in finance, and I have a natural aversion to this kind of expansionary business because it makes cost control more difficult. In addition, blind expansion can easily lead to a financial crisis for the company, so I will not invest in it.” Chen Meimei did not hide her opinion.

"However, from a decision-maker's perspective, my idea may not be correct. Maybe what you said is right, and I will support you."

"Isn't this what they call 'husband and wife working in harmony'?"

Song Dahai made a sarcastic remark, which earned him a glare from the girl.

“However, I’m not the head of the Kerry Group now. I think it would be difficult to get my dad to come up with 5000 million yuan to invest in a project that doesn’t show any returns for the time being,” Song Dahai said.

"It's okay, just tell your dad," Chen Meimei said, glancing at her boyfriend.
"Ye Zi is looking for you because she wants to hear your personal thoughts."

(End of this chapter)