Restart life

Chapter 533 0521 [The Kasaya]

This year's Global Mobile Internet Conference featured a wide variety of sub-forums, such as the Mobile Reading Summit Forum, the Mobile Information Security Forum, and the Mobile Game Forum.

ByteDance and Tencent sent executives to participate in almost every sub-forum.

Major internet companies also have their own dedicated events, such as ByteDance Developer Conference Day and Tencent Developer Conference Day.

ByteDance has been quite active this year.

For example, at the Mobile Reading Summit Forum, it was announced that cooperation with multiple novel websites would be launched soon: the HarmonyOS mobile reading software will be available for paid serialization of genuine online and traditional novels.

The reason for emphasizing "genuine" is because major events have occurred in the past two years.

The newly established China Written Works Copyright Society, representing Chinese writers, launched a rights protection campaign against companies such as ByteDance, Baidu, Google, and Apple. They also submitted a petition to the imperial court, suggesting that the revision of the Copyright Law be accelerated.

Last year, the third revision of the Copyright Law was officially launched.

With so many platforms under ByteDance, there must be netizens uploading novels without the author's consent. ByteDance has been cleaning up that content since last year.

There's nothing we can do; ByteDance has been targeted.

Because the person who wrote the letter was the wife of the author of "Wolf Totem".

On the afternoon the main forum ended, Chen Guiliang and Xiao Ma left. Their personal attendance was purely for show; their role was to participate in the main forum summit, leaving everything else to other senior executives.

"Why did you get in my car?" Chen Guiliang asked Zhang Chaoyang.

Zhang Chaoyang said, "I want to share with you my journey over the past six months."

Chen Guiliang was both amused and exasperated: "You have friends all over Beijing, why did you single me out to talk?"

Zhang Chaoyang said, "A few days ago, Rupert Hoogewerf came to interview me. I did not accept his interview, but I agreed to have a private chat with him. During the chat, he talked about your philosophy of life, which made me suddenly understand."

Chen Guiliang laughed and said, "So I'm that awesome."

Zhang Chaoyang said, "In a previous interview, I said that I was the first person to be both rich and famous. I dare to admit that I am rich because my wealth is transparent and can withstand scrutiny. I have received a good education, work in emerging industries, and I am the one who brought the commercial internet to China. Society's praise of me has nurtured my vanity and inflated ego."

As Zhang Chaoyang spoke, he smiled at Chen Guiliang and said, "Don't be fooled by my humble appearance; I'm actually very arrogant. I look down on everyone, including you."

Chen Guiliang said, "Likewise, I also look down on you; you're nothing but a skeleton in a tomb."

"Hahaha." Zhang Chaoyang laughed heartily.

Chen Guiliang said, "I know you're arrogant. Zhou Hongwei said that the first time he met you, he felt that you were completely conceited. You were half-lying down, with a cigar in your mouth and your feet on the desk as you talked to him."

Zhang Chaoyang said, "To correct you, I didn't smoke cigars. He's mistaken. Smoking cigars came later; I hadn't learned how to do it yet."

"Actually, I can understand it; everyone goes through a phase of self-inflation," Chen Guiliang said.

Zhang Chaoyang said, “That’s why I came to talk to you, because we have some similar experiences. Outsiders say I’m a hands-off boss, but I was also forced to learn the art of power, especially when fighting with the board of directors. Sometimes the pressure was so great that I wanted to indulge and escape. But after indulging too much, I came into contact with all sorts of shady people, and I felt that everyone who approached me had an ulterior motive. I became distrustful of everyone and suspected that everyone wanted to harm me.”

Chen Guiliang laughed heartily: "There are always treacherous subjects who want to harm me."

“That’s what I mean,” Zhang Chaoyang said. “Over the past six months, I started by reading psychology books, trying to analyze the reasons for my depression. Then I started doing spiritual practices. Now I’m actually reading philosophy books more often. I gradually had a vague understanding, until I talked to Rupert Hoogewerf and heard him relay your words, ‘Don’t take yourself too seriously.’ It all clicked! I was taking myself way too seriously before! That’s why I was under so much pressure, afraid of doing something wrong, afraid that someone wanted to harm me.”

Chen Guiliang had never experienced depression, so he found it difficult to understand Zhang Chaoyang's mental state.

Zhang Chaoyang said, "I have summarized three points."

"First, don't detach yourself from the masses, or as you would say, stay close to the people. No matter how rich I am, I am still a person, and still one of the masses."

"Secondly, be humble. My previous humility was fake. I looked down on everyone and thought everyone else was an idiot. Now I think I should respect everyone from the bottom of my heart. It's possible that the sanitation worker sweeping the streets is more capable than me in some way."

"Third, the concept of happiness. The amount of money you have is not necessarily related to happiness. Sometimes, the more money you have, the more miserable you are. Happiness is about having a correct understanding of yourself and then doing what you believe is right."

Chen Guiliang commented, "Sohu is doomed."

"Huh?" Zhang Chaoyang asked, puzzled.

Chen Guiliang said, "When you were depressed, it was precisely when Sohu's performance was at its best, and it was also a critical period for the development of mobile internet. Now, not only has it been delayed for more than half a year, but you have also become more indifferent. Your indifference will affect the entire Sohu, making Sohu even less innovative and competitive."

Zhang Chaoyang pondered for a moment: "Could that be?"

Chen Guiliang grinned and said, "Are you starting to worry again? Are you going to get anxious again? Master Charles, your cultivation is still not enough."

Zhang Chaoyang realized what was happening and immediately cursed, "You bastard, you're up to no good, you're deliberately trying to ruin my plans!"

"That's more like it. Curse a few times now and then, instead of acting like an old monk." Chen Guiliang became happy, finding endless joy in being a villain.

Zhang Chaoyang asked, "How do you adjust your own mental state?"

Chen Guiliang said, "I'm not going to adjust anything. I rose to fame at a young age and built a vast empire. Now is the time to revitalize my army and conquer the south! You old idiots are all complete morons, I don't even consider you a threat." "Were all those things you told Hu Run false?" Zhang Chaoyang asked.

Chen Guiliang said, "When giving an interview, of course you have to say it like that. You don't even understand success principles? How could I not take myself seriously? I take myself way too seriously. I'm invincible!"

Zhang Chaoyang laughed in exasperation: "You don't tell me a single truth, you're definitely lying to me again. But talking to you like this has actually improved my mood a lot. How about that video-buying alliance? I'm the one who promoted it."

“It’s not very good, it will disband within a year or two,” Chen Guiliang said. “Sohu, Tencent and Baidu all think they can benefit from it. When one of them realizes that they are not benefiting, this video purchasing alliance will not be able to continue.”

At this time, Youku and Tudou were too powerful, forcing Sohu Video, Tencent Video, and iQiyi to join forces to resist them.

Moreover, Sohu Video is more powerful than Tencent Video and iQiyi. Therefore, Zhang Chaoyang was very pleased with himself, feeling he had gained an advantage within the league.

"Stop at the Sohu Building ahead," Zhang Chaoyang said to Yang Shuo.

Yang Shuo did not respond.

Chen Guiliang said, "Let's find a place to pull over."

The car then began to slow down.

Zhang Chaoyang said, "Shall we have dinner together tonight? I'll invite a few more friends."

Chen Guiliang said, "I'm not free tonight; I have plans with other people."

"Okay, let's meet another day." Zhang Chaoyang opened the car door and left.

Chen Guiliang did indeed make an appointment with someone, and it was someone of considerable importance—Chen Xing, the head of the China Cultural Industry Investment Fund.

This fund was jointly initiated by the Ministry of Finance, BOC International, China International Television Corporation, and other institutions. Established last summer, it has already invested in People's Daily Online and Xinhua News Agency, and will next invest in Mango TV, Happy Twist, and others.

Because Chen Guiliang doesn't mingle in social circles, as his assets continue to grow, he feels an increasing sense of crisis.

He has only joined the Provincial Federation of Industry and Commerce, and he does not participate in its activities, only attending the annual mandatory meeting.

Next, I need to put on several more robes.

We're looking into the provincial Federation of Industry and Commerce; we're hoping to get a vice-chairmanship position, and the next step is to join the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce.

By the end of the year, it has been confirmed that he will become a provincial people's representative.

ByteDance also needs to find a state-owned enterprise to exchange shares with, such as ICBC.

This China Cultural Industry Investment Fund, backed by institutions such as the Ministry of Finance and BOC International, represents Chen Guiliang's first step in cooperating with the national team.

"Hello, Mr. Chen." Chen Guiliang shook hands warmly.

Chen Xing laughed and said, "Haha, we are all President Chen."

Chen Guiliang said, "This is a private kitchen I often come to eat at, and the food is pretty good."

The two started by chatting casually, but gradually got more serious.

Chen Guiliang said, "I have always attached great importance to copyright protection. Especially after being sued by the China Written Works Copyright Society last year, all platforms under ByteDance have been carrying out a comprehensive and long-term cleanup of works without copyright."

“Copyright protection should indeed be strengthened,” Chen Xing said. “We established the China Cultural Industry Investment Fund for the long-term healthy development of China’s cultural industry.”

Chen Guiliang said, "The protection of film and television copyrights has been taken seriously. Now, the online copyright for a TV series can fetch up to 200 million yuan per episode. However, the protection of music copyrights is the worst. Last year, the country officially launched the third revision of the Copyright Law. Can this promote the protection of music copyrights? Will the price of music copyrights skyrocket like that of film and television copyrights?"

Chen Xing's eyes lit up: "President Chen wants to pull this off?"

Chen Guiliang said, "It would be very difficult for ByteDance to do this alone. You are the national team, so it's just right for everyone to work together."

Chen Xing said, "But now pirated music is everywhere on the internet. If we rashly invest a lot of money to hoard music copyrights, we will inevitably suffer huge losses within one or two years. I will have a hard time explaining it to my side, and the pressure will be enormous."

Chen Guiliang said, "I will pay for the copyrights in the early stages. It's not too late for Mr. Chen to join at a suitable time."

"I can give it a try," Chen thought.

The main reason is that after the government strengthened its supervision of film and television copyrights, the terrifying profit margins have become incredibly enviable.

So, can this model be replicated in the online music industry?

Chen Guiliang invested heavily in early-stage acquisitions, while the China Cultural Industry Investment Fund entered the fray midway. Furthermore, the China Cultural Industry Investment Fund can leverage its influence to accelerate national regulation of online music copyrights.

Tenfold or even a hundredfold return on investment!
Chen Guiliang was not only good at making money, but he also managed to establish connections with the Ministry of Finance and BOC International.

(End of this chapter)