Tech startup: I really do make mobile phones!

Chapter 119 The Return of an Old Friend

After returning to the company from his hometown, Chen Mo dealt with Lu Qingyue of Morgan Stanley while flying to Yingtian to handle the Nietzsche acquisition.

Even back at the company, there's no time to relax. Having just finalized the "three-horse carriage" structure for Yuancheng, I now have to work on adjusting Orange Technology's personnel management system.

Chen Mo, who was so busy that he barely had time to breathe, finally found that long-dormant group on his phone – “Shenzhen Extreme Hiking Enthusiasts Group”.

The passion I had for getting up at one or two in the morning during my university days seems like it was just yesterday.

He casually sent a message: "Tomorrow's the weekend, anyone have plans? Invite me!"

The message had barely been sent when a nearly forgotten profile picture suddenly popped up and tagged him directly.

Viagra: "I've been in Shenzhen for so long, my bones are practically rusted! Same rules as always, Xiao Chen, see you at Dongyong Village at 8 AM tomorrow. Anyone who's late will have to carry water!"

A long-lost smile appeared on Chen Mo's lips as his fingers flew across the keyboard.

OK! See you there!

The following morning, Dongyong Village.

Driver Xiao Li put Chen Mo down.

Chen Mo jumped out of the car, his outfit exuding professionalism.

Wearing quick-drying shorts and a short-sleeved shirt as a base layer, with sun-protective arm sleeves on top, lightweight knee and shin braces, and high-grip, non-slip hiking shoes on the feet.

Wearing a sun hat and a breathable face mask, holding lightweight trekking poles, and carrying a bulging lightweight backpack filled with water and supplies on his back.

"You've got pretty complete gear, Xiao Chen!" A familiar yet slightly teasing voice came from behind.

Viagra appeared today "fully armed," even more so than usual, and couldn't help but laugh at Chen Mo's attire.

"Haven't seen you in years, you've become a 'gear enthusiast' too? Where's the spirit you had back then, charging up Wutong Mountain in just a pair of jeans and worn-out sneakers?"

Chen Mo retorted, "Times are changing, safety comes first. Besides, who was it that wore those Alps professional mountaineering boots back then, got huge blisters on their feet, and had to be carried down the mountain by me?"

"Damn! Don't expose someone's weaknesses!" Wei Ge laughed and punched Chen Mo on the shoulder: "Let's go, charge! Charge!"

The two set off from Dongyong Village and walked along the winding rocky coastline.

Beneath your feet are jagged, eroded rocks, and beside you are the azure waves crashing against the shore.

The morning sun wasn't too harsh, and the salty sea breeze dispelled the city's heat.

Their steps were steady, their trekking poles tapping crisply on the slippery rocks, occasionally requiring them to use both hands and feet to climb over steep sections.

The 6-kilometer coastline is a test of strength and balance.

Physical exhaustion is the best way to relax the mind, leaving no time for idle thoughts.

“The roads in Shenzhen are still the most comfortable.” Wei Ge stepped on the rocks, took a breath, and wiped his sweat. “Those crazy guys in North America always choose to go into the primeval forests where there are no roads, and they’re always talking about wilderness survival, calling it exploring the limits.”

"I'm going hiking, not risking my life. Even at my limit, I need supplies!"

Chen Moshen agreed: "True courage is protecting yourself, not challenging danger!" He has always taken the mature route.

Upon arriving at Chuanbiyan, the two took a taxi directly to Yangmeikeng.

We rented two bicycles and leisurely rode/pushed them along Luzui Avenue.

On one side are steep cliffs, and on the other side is a magnificent, boundless sea view.

A sea breeze caresses your face, and in the distance lies the filming location for Stephen Chow's later film, The Mermaid.

These 6 kilometers were a visual feast, and Chen Mo's tense nerves were finally relieved.

After a quick afternoon of replenishing my energy with two energy bars, I moved the battleground to the north gate of Wutong Mountain.

I plunged into the Taishan Stream Trail and was instantly enveloped by dense foliage.

The 5-kilometer stream trail, accompanied by the babbling of water and birdsong, ascends steadily in the humid air.

The sunlight was filtered into dappled spots, the temperature plummeted, and only sweat reminded us of the body's exhaustion.

We arrived at Hulu Pond halfway up the mountain, took a short rest, and replenished our fluids.

After descending the mountain, the two walked at the entrance of Luohu Greenway.

Cycling along the 5-kilometer tree-lined greenway, with a gentle breeze on your face, is relaxing and pleasant.

Passing through the ancient, towering trees of the Fairy Lake Botanical Garden, the yellow walls of Hongfa Temple appear and disappear, and the tranquility of the Cyathea Lake is refreshing.

The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the sky red.

They arrived at the starting point of the Shenzhen Bay Coastal Promenade – the Mangrove Park.

Take off your backpack, travel light, and walk along the gentle seaside boardwalk.

The 8-kilometer course has no elevation gain and is the best way to relax tired legs.

On one side is the silhouette of the city as the city lights begin to illuminate the night, with the light show of skyscrapers taking place; on the other side is the mudflat wetland, where migratory birds returning to their nests can occasionally be seen skimming across the water.

The vibrancy of the city and the tranquility of nature blend together wonderfully at this moment.

At 6:30 p.m., after a full eight hours of trekking (excluding transfer time), the two finally dragged their leaden legs to the entrance of the small restaurant near Talent Park that they remembered.

"Viagra! Let's drink water!" Chen Mo laughed as he took off his backpack and pulled out three bottles of mineral water, each more than half full, from his side pocket.

Viagra also took out his own, and his three bottles of water were clearly more than Chen Mo's.

"Damn! Only two and a half bottles left? Xiao Chen, your water control is incredible!" Wei Ge looked at his remaining two bottles of water with a defeated expression: "Fine! A bet's a bet, this meal's on me!"

Chen Mo proudly shook his water bottle: "You flatter me! Wei Ge, you seem to be having trouble adjusting to the North American environment, you've regressed!"

The restaurant owner peeked out at the sound and saw two dusty, masked men with backpacks and trekking poles at the door. He was taken aback at first, then slapped his thigh.

"Hey! Isn't this Awei and Xiao Chen? Three years! It's been a whole three years since I've seen you two! Come in, come in! Same old thing? Salt-baked chicken with sand ginger, water chestnut and sugarcane juice with Imperata cylindrica root, and two big bowls of rice?"

"Boss has a good memory!" Chen Mo and Wei Ge exchanged a smile, took off their hats and masks, revealing sweaty but energetic faces.

The two leaned their heavy backpacks and trekking poles against the corner of the wall, slumped down on the small stools by the door, sipped the last of their bottled water, and enjoyed the invigorating exhaustion after exercise and the comfort of the evening breeze.

"Are you flying to North America again this time?" Chen Mo asked, screwing the bottle cap on.

"No more flying! Frog Buddha has already put on his doctoral cap, it's time to come back and do something serious."

Viagra shook his head, a sharp glint in his eyes.

"I'm planning something big: starting a business!"

"What about you, Xiao Chen?" Wei Ge looked at Chen Mo: "I remember you still have a year left in your master's program, right? How about you work with me after you graduate?"

Chen Mo accepted the steaming hot sizzling chicken that the boss brought out, its aroma filling the air. He handed Wei Ge a bowl and chopsticks, speaking casually.

"Me? I dropped out of graduate school in my second year and now I'm running a small workshop in North China, just messing around with things!"

He didn't mention Orange Technology or Yuancheng New Energy, not wanting their pure hiking friendship to be tainted by anything else.

Wei Ge raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised, then laughed heartily and served Chen Mo a bowl of sweet sugarcane juice.

"You're something else! I knew you had ideas when Taobao's shop was selling its own collection of secondhand electronics. Now you've set up your own stall? You're just my type. I was thinking of giving you a hand, but it seems like I wasted my breath."

Chen Mo raised his glass, using tea instead of wine.

"Brother Wei, I appreciate your kindness. If it weren't for your advice and guidance back then, which helped me start Taobao and earn my first pot of gold, I wouldn't be where I am today."

He has always been grateful to Wei Ge, who used to "discard" his brand-new hiking gear for him and also pointed out ways to make money.

Chen Mo always called him "Brother Wei" and never asked his full name. The two simply got along well and didn't stand on ceremony. They would often go hiking together and chat and brag along the way.

All he knew was that when Wei Ge was a teenager, he couldn't afford the bride price back home, so he had to sell Little Tyrant game consoles at the gate of a school in Shenzhen, where his master took a liking to him.

Whenever his mentor got drunk with clients, he would say that once he climbed to a senior management position, he would send him abroad for further studies.
Chen Mo even said to Wei Ge at the time, "Isn't your master just making empty promises?"

Later, well... his master really kept his promise. This isn't just a master; this is a true master!
Wei Ge went abroad for three years of further study. If he hadn't popped up in the group chat today, Chen Mo wouldn't have known he was back.

After that, the two tacitly stopped talking about their respective careers and returned to their shared passion for hiking.

Viagra tapped his shoe leg to show off his top-of-the-line Altta hiking shoes, which he had brought back from North America, and talked at length about the "zero drop" and "wide last" technologies.

"Xiao Chen! I specially brought you a pair of size 43 shoes too. I'll give them to you next time we go out, as a belated graduation gift!"

"Wow! My legs weren't wasted today!" Chen Mo joked with a laugh. "I'm almost tired of the scenery along this route. I'm just waiting for your shoes to pay for themselves!"

Viagra laughed heartily: "I love this feeling. When you're pushed to the limit, your mind is clearest. People are like that! The more desperate the situation, the clearer they see the way!"

After a whirlwind meal, the 80 yuan bill was paid by Wei Ge, who then wiped his mouth.

"Xiao Chen, I wasn't in good shape this time! Next time! Next time I'll definitely make sure you invite me back!"

"Sure! Now I've got my next meal sorted!" Chen Mo replied with a smile. Stepping out of the restaurant, night had fallen, and the city lights shone brightly.

The two waved goodbye at the street corner.

"Let's go! Over by the subway station!" Wei Ge pointed to the west.

"Yes, this way, east of the bus stop!" Chen Mo pointed in the opposite direction.

As always, the two of them did this when they said goodbye.

The two turned around, their steps a little unsteady but with satisfied smiles, and joined the flow of people leaving get off work, walking in their respective directions.

At the end of the street corner, a low-key yet luxurious black Bentley Mulsanne slowly pulled up beside Wei Ge, and the driver respectfully opened the car door.

Viagra rubbed his sore calves and deftly slipped inside.

Almost simultaneously, at the other end of the street, a Mercedes-Benz S600 (W221) with sharp lines stopped in front of Chen Mo, and the driver, Xiao Li, quickly got out and opened the door.

Chen Mo tossed his backpack and trekking poles into the back seat and sat down himself.

Two luxury cars, carrying a small workshop owner and a PhD returnee entrepreneur who had just completed a pure hiking trip, silently blended into the dazzling nighttime traffic of Shenzhen, heading towards their respective complex and grand futures.

And that pure friendship, about mountains and seas, sweat and the taste of old restaurants, seems to have been carefully treasured by them on that road they walked for eight hours.

The reception room on the top floor of the Bubu Ointment headquarters offers a view of Shenzhen's bustling skyline through huge floor-to-ceiling windows.

Shen Yiwei took a deep breath, straightened his well-tailored custom-made suit, put on a perfectly respectful smile, and pushed open the door to enter.

"Brother Jin, Brother Cheng!" Shen Yiwei's voice was clear and resonant, carrying the humility of a junior.

Two middle-aged men who were chatting idly by the tea table by the window turned around upon hearing the sound.

President Kim (Kim Myung) has a refined appearance and deep eyes, while President Sung (Sung Young-ho) appears more capable and pragmatic.

Both of them are more than a generation older than Shen Yiwei, are his senior classmates, and are now powerful figures in the domestic business world.

"Ah Wei is here! Please have a seat!" President Jin greeted him with a warm smile and waved.

Mr. Cheng smiled and nodded, "You look even more energetic these past few years! Sit down and try some of my freshly brewed Pu'er tea."

Shen Yiwei sat down as instructed, his posture upright, and accepted the teacup handed to him by President Cheng with both hands, gently inhaling the aroma of the tea.

"Thank you, Brother Cheng! Brother Jin, Brother Cheng, it's been a long time. I'll have to ask you two for more advice this time I'm back."

Mr. Jin took a sip of tea, his gaze carrying the scrutiny of an elder.

“Awei, your brother Cheng has made a name for himself in the smartphone industry. Since you’re interested in this, you should listen to his advice and see how deep the waters run in China.”

He turned to Cheng Yonghao: "By the way, Lao Cheng, your Green X8 and Duowei held their launch events at the Shenzhen Grand Theatre one after the other, causing quite a stir. How did it go?"

Cheng Yonghao put down his teacup, a barely perceptible smug smile playing on his lips.

"Thanks to the distribution channels for the Bubu Cream, it's better than expected. As for Duowei? Ha, their positioning is unclear. They want to target women but they're hesitant to fully commit. Their first-week sales were only 22 units. I guess they lost all their marketing budget."

"Our Green X8 sold 28.5 units in the first week, thanks to traditional channels and some newly expanded distribution."

“We originally estimated 25 units, because Nietzsche and Orange are two tough nuts to crack in the rural market.”

He paused, tapping his fingers lightly on the tea table.

"The result was 14% higher, which was a pleasant surprise. The 50 units that Duowei distributed were just digging a hole for themselves."

"Oh?" Shen Yiwei interjected at the opportune moment, with just the right amount of curiosity: "Brother Cheng, what are Nietzsche and Orange's backgrounds? Even you are so cautious?"

He astutely grasped the word "tough nut to crack," recognizing that understanding a potential adversary was essential.

Cheng Yonghao glanced at President Jin, who nodded slightly.

He then explained to Shen Yiwei, his tone tinged with seriousness.

"Nietzsche is a rebranded machine developed by Orange Technology. Its purpose is to offer it at an extremely low price!"

He emphasized the word "low price": "It is firmly rooted in the bottom of the rural market, like a moat, blocking other brands that want to penetrate the market. At the same time, its mediocre hardware and reskinned system are like a mirror, reflecting how high the 'cost-performance ratio' of Orange phones is."

“Now in rural towns, out of ten smartphones, Nietzsche accounts for four, Orange accounts for three, and the rest are other brands.”

"Even if we don't make money, we'll still expand our Green Machine X8 network into rural towns. We're doing this to stir up trouble and prevent Orange from easily extricating itself from the towns and launching a counterattack on the cities!"

Shen Yiwei felt a slight tremor in his heart.

He hadn't expected that the competition in the domestic market had become so outrageous. A brand could actually use another OEM brand to build a defense and a springboard. This was something only large companies listed in North America would do.

Chen Mo didn't want this to happen, but a series of events came together, leading to this current situation.

"What are the selling points of the Orange phone itself?"

Cheng Yonghao's face showed a complicated expression: "In terms of hardware? It's even a bit 'outdated'. Everyone else is using Micro-USB, but it's still using the mini-B interface, with a theoretical charging power of only a pitiful 2.5W."

Shen Yiwei frowned: "Wouldn't the charging be ridiculously slow?"

"Quite the opposite!" Cheng Yonghao's voice suddenly rose, tinged with a hint of amazement at the technology: "It only takes 30 seconds to charge!"

"30 seconds?" Shen Yiwei almost lost his voice, thinking he had misheard.

This completely overturned his previous common sense about technology.

"Incredible, right?" Cheng Yonghao explained, "The key is its battery. 800mAh capacity is indeed not large, but it uses a brand new gaseous lithium battery!"

"During charging, the ground-state lithium mixture gains electrons and vaporizes; during discharging, the gaseous lithium loses electrons and sublimates. This energy conversion between a semi-solid and semi-gas structure is truly a domestically developed cutting-edge technology!"

"The domestic new energy sector is currently flooded with investment. Giants like CATL and BTD are almost fighting each other over solid-state battery technology (sodium ion vs. nitride). So this breakthrough, while surprising, is also reasonable."

“Wei, you just came back from abroad and you’re not familiar with the situation in the domestic market. I think it’s better not to rush into making mobile phones. Let’s investigate the market first before making a decision!”

Shen Yiwei didn't hear what was said after that, but when he heard about gaseous lithium batteries, his eyes lit up instantly, as if he had discovered a treasure.

"Brother Cheng! Can we get this battery? I really want to use it in my new phone. Battery anxiety is the Achilles' heel of smartphones!"

The later adoption of fast charging technology by Blue Factory was also related to Shen Yiwei's perception.

Cheng Yonghao and President Jin exchanged a glance and laughed, their expressions revealing their experience.

Mr. Jin slowly said, "Awei, it's good that young people are energetic, but Lei Jun invested 5000 million yuan to get his hands on this battery."

"This threshold is not so easy to cross."

He turned to Cheng Yonghao: "Cheng, why don't we let Awei's new machine use your supply chain first? It's more stable and reliable, so the risk is smaller."

Shen Yiwei stubbornly shook his head, his eyes gleaming with a defiant light.

"It's all about human effort! Brother Cheng, Brother Jin, I have a little brother in Huabei Qiang who definitely has connections. I'll have him help me find out the details of Orange Technology and see if there's any loophole."

Mr. Jin and Mr. Cheng looked at each other and smiled again. Their smiles contained their appreciation for their junior's drive, as well as a hint of helplessness that "young people always have to hit a wall."

"Sure, you can give it a try." Mr. Jin nodded with a smile: "But remember, the domestic market is very complex, and there are many factions."

Shen Yiwei humbly inquired, "Factions?"

Mr. Jin put down his teacup, his tone carrying a sense of having a comprehensive view of the situation.

"They can be roughly divided into three factions:"
The "high-profile" approach: high-profile and aggressive, the brand is the flag.

The founders are all workaholics, high-profile, and profit-driven.

With its capital firmly planted in the US and Europe, and its connections spanning the globe, it flocks to wherever there's money to be made.

The Hidden Merchants: That is, us, who can do things in a spectacular way, but remain as low-key as dust in our personal lives.

They value a balance between life and career, and often achieve great success behind the scenes, remaining mysterious in their whereabouts.

Capital tends to flow to emerging markets with great potential.

The tech-savvy type: like Mr. Ren from the Chrysanthemum Factory, who is single-mindedly focused on technology, pursues excellence, avoids forming cliques, and concentrates on doing their best in their respective fields.

The majority of the funds remain in the country, and the company's foundation is also located here.

"Awei, which path do you want to take?" He looked at Shen Yiwei meaningfully: "Orange Technology and its parent company Yuancheng New Energy are now very much like representatives of the technology school. It won't be easy for you to leverage their core resources."

Shen Yiwei seemed lost in thought. He picked up his teacup but didn't drink it, instead gazing out the window through the rising steam.

He may seem to have a choice, but does he really have a choice?

Chen Mo probably never dreamed that he had unwittingly been drawn into the undercurrents of the three major factions in the domestic business world.

Shen Yiwei, however, did not give up and was preparing to secretly contact him to help find out the details of "Orange Technology".

(End of this chapter)