Tech startup: I really do make mobile phones!

Chapter 134 The Beauty Trap? A Counter-Plot
In the private room of "Jingyun Pavilion" in Beijing, the air is filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and the round mahogany table is bathed in soft light.

Dressed in a casual suit, Lei Jun smiled warmly and personally poured Zhao Tiezhu a glass of Maotai liquor. The clear liquid hit the glass and made a pleasant, crisp sound.

"Mr. Zhao!"

Lei Jun raised his glass, his posture very calm, displaying the gentle and polite demeanor of a true gentleman.

"The matter of universities in Beijing is just a matter of lifting a finger, a simple matter of making a call. But your shout of 'Youth is here!' at the freshman welcome party really shook up the university circle in Beijing. I, Lao Lei, am truly impressed by your execution and your ability to inspire!"

His eyes held undisguised admiration.

"It's Mr. Chen's good fortune to have you, Orange!"

Zhao Tiezhu sat there with an air of authority, his trendy T-shirt standing out somewhat in the otherwise business-like atmosphere of the room, yet also exuding a sense of unbridled energy.

He picked up his wine glass and clinked it against Lei Jun's without any hesitation, making a clear "ding" sound, with a carefree and cheerful smile on his face.

"Mr. Lei, I love to hear you say that. You're so kind and generous. I, Zhao Tiezhu, will remember this kindness!"

He tilted his head back, emptied the glass of wine in one swift motion, his Adam's apple bobbing as he exhaled a breath of alcohol mixed with his steam.

"Phew~ If you ever need my help, Boss Lei, just let me know!"

Lei Jun also downed his drink, his smile deepening, but a barely perceptible hint of probing flashed in his eyes.

He put down his wine glass and clapped his hands casually.

"Speaking of things I need to do, Mr. Zhao, there's something I really need your help with."

Lei Jun leaned forward slightly, his tone carrying a barely perceptible heaviness.

"Mr. Zhao, as you know, we at Xiaomai are a startup, and everything is difficult at the beginning! Especially in the hardware sector, our foundation is too weak, and finding suppliers is like finding a needle in a haystack; reliable ones are hard to come by!"

He looked at Zhao Tiezhu with a sincere plea: "Mr. Zhao is a veteran of Orange, a local bigwig in Shenzhen, with extensive connections and deep influence!"

"I wonder if you could recommend a few established and reliable suppliers for our wheat to help us get through this initial challenge. Price is negotiable, and we understand the rules!"

Zhao Tiezhu's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes sharpened.

He slowly picked up the freshly refilled wine glass, staring at the slightly swirling amber liquid inside, as if admiring it or perhaps deep in thought.

The private room fell silent for a moment, with only the low hum of the air conditioner blowing air.

A few seconds later, Zhao Tiezhu tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp.

He put down his glass with a soft "tap" sound and looked at Leibusi with a hint of confusion.

"Mr. Lei, I just don't understand. Your relationship with Mr. Liu of Fantasy is so close, everyone in the industry knows it! You're practically family! How mature is Fantasy's supply chain? It's a matter of just a word from you, brother, isn't that a hundred times better than asking me, an 'outsider'?"

He deliberately emphasized the word "outsider," his eyes probing as he stared directly at Lei Jun.

Lei Jun's smile froze on his face at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The mask of gentle elegance seemed to have been torn open, revealing a momentary embarrassment and a hint of anger at being touched on a sore spot.

Lei Jun picked up his teacup, trying to hide his embarrassment, but his fingers tightened slightly, causing his knuckles to turn white.

He forced a smile, his voice a little dry.

"Well, recently Mr. Liu and I have had a slight disagreement about the future development direction of wheat, so it's not convenient to bother Mr. Liu for the time being."

In fact, Wheat has already suffered a great loss in the supply chain because it offended Mr. Liu of Fantasy Group.

Back then, Lei Jun (CEO of Steve Jobs) bypassed Liu and directly contacted Morgan Stanley's North American vice president-level executives through Chen Mo's introduction.

When General Manager Liu learned of this, he gave Xiaomai a "baptism of fire," making Lei Jun realize that Fantasy Group is still the undisputed leader in the domestic technology industry.

Lei Jun put down his teacup, took a deep breath, and looked at Zhao Tiezhu again, his eyes filled with an almost overflowing eagerness.

"That's why, Mr. Zhao, we need someone like you, a 'local bigwig' from Shenzhen, to help us make connections. Just consider it a favor to your brother!"

Zhao Tiezhu stared at Lei Busi for a few seconds, his gaze seemingly able to penetrate one's heart.

He leaned back slightly in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the table twice, making a soft "tap-tap" sound, as if making some kind of decision.

The smile on Zhao Tiezhu's face then completely disappeared, replaced by a serious, businesslike expression.

"Mr. Lei, this is a big deal. I, a mere manager, can't make a decision on this. I need to ask our General Manager Chen first. Without his approval, I dare not make any promises!"

Zhao Tiezhu raised his hand to glance at the non-existent watch on his wrist, the movement appearing natural and efficient: "Hey! Look at the time! Mr. Lei, we had a great time drinking tonight. I'll treat you another day. I have something to attend to, so I'll be going now?"

He stood up, his movements carrying a touch of untamed freedom.

A hint of disappointment flashed across Lei Jun's eyes, but it was quickly concealed by his deeper composure.

He stood up, his smile becoming flawless once more.

"I understand! Mr. Zhao is busy! It's your first time in Beijing, and you're unfamiliar with the city. Shall I have the driver take you?"

"No need, no need! I know the way well, I'll just take a stroll and sober up!"

Zhao Tiezhu waved his hand, strode out of the private room without looking back, leaving behind a crisp and decisive back view.

The door closes.

Lei Jun's smile vanished instantly, his gaze darkened, and his fingers unconsciously rubbed the smooth surface of the cup.

The door to the private room was pushed open again, and Li Wanqiang, who was in charge of both UI design and wheat market research, walked in.

"Mr. Lei, how's it going? Has Mr. Zhao given in yet?" He was referring to the supplier.

Lei Jun slowly shook his head, a somewhat complicated smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Impossible to reason with, slippery to the touch, Chen Mo is really lucky to have such a good helper!"

He sighed, his tone heavy.

"What do we have? Only the old foundation of the internet. Hardware? Supply chain? Production? Every aspect is a weakness, and we have to build up everything from scratch! It's difficult, extremely difficult!"

He remained silent for a moment, then refocused his gaze, revealing a fierce intensity, as he looked at Li Wanqiang.

"Employee number 2's path is blocked. What about number 3? Number 4? Number 5?"

"There must have been people who went through the entire process of developing and launching Orange 1, right? If we can recruit one of them, even if it's just to offer a few words of advice, I'll have a better understanding of the situation!"

Li Wanqiang's face showed a strange expression, and he almost laughed out loud. He barely managed to suppress his sarcasm and said, "President Lei, employee number 3? Please spare me!"

"That General Manager Gong at Orange has everything under his belt: administration, HR, finance, warehousing, security—he's got it all covered! He's ten times more trusting than you are with General Manager Xu. Would you really entrust our lifeline, Xiaomai, to just one person?"

Lei Jun smiled wryly and waved his hand: "The older you get in the business, the more timid you become. What about employee number 4?"

"Pfft, cough, cough!"

Li Wanqiang couldn't hold back this time and laughed so hard he almost choked.

"Oh my goodness, Mr. Lei! You're even trying to poach Orange's mascot? Employee number 4 is a cat! Its name is 'Xiao Mi'! And after number 4, Chen Mo hasn't assigned any more employee numbers to anyone!"

Lei Jun was completely stunned. He remained frozen for several seconds before shaking his head and laughing, his smile filled with disbelief and deep emotion.

"Three people and a cat single-handedly propelled a small workshop in North China to become one of the top five domestic manufacturers?"

He picked up the cold tea and drank it all in one gulp, as if to suppress the shock in his heart.

"The younger generation is truly formidable! It's putting some pressure on me."

Lei Jun cast his gaze out the window at the myriad lights of Beijing, his voice lowering, carrying a hint of weariness and self-deprecation born of years of experience.

"Old Li, back in Xinshan, I called BTA guys Xiao Ma, Xiao Ma, Xiao Li, and they all called me Boss Lei. When I was almost forty and started working at Zhuoyue, people started calling me 'Xiao Lei'."

"I'm afraid that if this wheat harvest goes wrong, I'll start calling people 'Little Chen,' but from now on they'll have to call this fifty-something-year-old man 'Little Lei' again?"

"Pfft! Hahaha!" Li Wanqiang was amused: "President Lei! Isn't this great? It makes you look younger!"

Lei Jun chuckled twice, but the laughter quickly faded, replaced by a resolute and cold determination that bordered on desperation.

He sat up straight, his eyes piercing, his voice low but each word firm and resolute.

"Young? Ha! I'm over forty! So, Lao Li, this Wheat Phone project might be the last startup I ever make!"

"This time, I will absolutely not allow anyone to call me Xiao Lei again!"

Li Wanqiang's smile vanished instantly, replaced by utmost seriousness. He nodded vigorously, "Don't worry, Boss Lei! We brothers will risk our lives for this. Next June, Wheat 1 will definitely be a smash hit!"

Zhao Tiezhu refused Lei Jun's driver and strolled out of "Jingyun Pavilion" alone.

The early autumn night breeze in Beijing carried a chill, dispelling some of the lingering smell of alcohol.

He didn't call a taxi, but strolled into a relatively quiet old alley behind the hotel.

The bluestone path, the mottled gray walls, and the few dim streetlights cast long shadows.

At the entrance of the alley, a figure stands under the streetlight.

Several small, thin stray dogs surrounded the figure, whimpering ingratiatingly.

The figure was crouching, her elegant moon-white silk shirt appearing exceptionally soft in the dim light, her jet-black hair meticulously coiled behind her head.

She was carefully breaking open a sausage and feeding it little by little to the puppies circling around her.

The movements were gentle, with an almost reverent patience.

Zhao Tiezhu paused, watching the scene with great interest.

The combination of a Beijing alleyway, a beautiful woman in plain clothes, and a stray dog ​​is quite interesting.

Seemingly having finished feeding, the woman clapped her hands lightly and stood up.

Several puppies rubbed contentedly against her trouser leg before reluctantly running away.

She turned around and happened to be facing Zhao Tiezhu, who was walking towards her.

The glow of the streetlights outlined her gentle features and elegant neck, her eyes and brows carrying a shrewd charm honed by time.

She wasn't exactly young, but her mature charm was like a fine wine aged in a cellar.

Seeing that Zhao Tiezhu, a stranger, was staring straight at her, she didn't seem surprised or flustered.

She simply extended her slender fingers naturally and gently tucked a strand of hair that had been ruffled by the wind behind her ear.

The movements were fluid and natural, carrying an innate charm.

Then, she gave Zhao Tiezhu a relaxed, slightly aloof smile, nodded slightly as a greeting, and turned to walk deeper into the alley.

"Hey, sis!" Zhao Tiezhu blurted out, his voice hoarse and overly familiar, as if he were drunk. "Feeding the dog? You're so kind!"

The woman stopped and turned around again. The slight aloofness on her face had faded, and her voice was soft, with a touch of the unique charm of Beijing dialect.

"Sigh! They're all poor little ones without homes. I just fed them a little when I saw them." Her gaze swept over Zhao Tiezhu's slightly eye-catching trendy T-shirt: "Judging from your accent... you're not a local? You've had quite a bit to drink?"

"From Shenzhen! Let's talk business!"

Zhao Tiezhu grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, and looked the other person up and down without any attempt to hide it, his eyes shining with an astonishing intensity.

"What's your surname, sister? Living alone in this alley? That's so typical of Beijing!"

The woman was slightly taken aback by his blunt, almost rude, scrutiny, but a knowing and subtle amusement flashed in her eyes. She wasn't angry, though.

"Her surname is Xue, Xue Chunru, and she lives not far from here."

She paused, looking at Zhao Tiezhu's nonchalant yet somewhat magnanimous demeanor, and the corners of her lips curved into a smile again.

"You've had too much to drink, haven't you? Go back to the hotel and rest early; it's chilly at night." "Xue Chunru, Sister Chunru! What a lovely name!"

Zhao Tiezhu seemed not to have heard the second half of the sentence, and took half a step forward, his breath reeking of alcohol and his own heat.

"It's fate that we met! Zhao Tiezhu, the most affectionate man in Shenzhen! Sister, it's not safe for you to live alone at night! How about I walk you home?"

That's a statement made with absolute certainty.

Xue Chunru looked at him and suddenly chuckled softly. Her laughter carried a languid charm that suggested a mature woman who had seen through everything, and her eyes darted around under the streetlights.

"Zhao Tiezhu, your way of flirting is a bit outdated!"

She neither refused nor agreed; she simply turned and gracefully walked into the depths of the alley, her voice drifting over.

"It's not far. If you really don't mind the cold, then come along!"

Zhao Tiezhu's heart skipped a beat, as if he had been lightly scratched by something, and the alcohol in his head seemed to be taking effect again.

Suppliers and Lei Jun (CEO of Xiaomi) became instantly obscured.

He chuckled and followed without hesitation.

A high-end apartment complex in the western part of the city.

The night was deep, and the neon lights outside the window cast an ambiguous halo over the room.

A faint scent of incense and a barely perceptible aroma of alcohol filled the air.

Zhao Tiezhu's signature trendy T-shirt was currently lying on Xue Chunru's lap.

She sat by the soft glow of a floor lamp, head bowed, a tiny needle in her hand, intently mending a small loose thread on her collar.

According to Zhao Tiezhu, the scratch was "accidentally" caused by her doorknob, and he insisted that she fix it.

The light outlined her focused profile and lowered neck, radiating a gentle, almost sacred glow.

In the quiet room, the only sound was the faint rustling of needle and thread through the fabric.

Zhao Tiezhu leaned against the door frame, quietly watching this scene.

The alcohol, combined with the incredibly impactful and heartwarming scene before him, was burning fiercely in his heart.

He walked over silently, reeking of alcohol, and gently embraced Xue Chunru's slender yet supple waist from behind.

Xue Chunru's body stiffened slightly, and her fingers holding the needle paused for a moment, but she did not turn around or struggle.

"Sister Chunru," Zhao Tiezhu's voice was deep and husky, his breath warm against her sensitive ear, "you're so good to me. You even mended my clothes."

His grip tightened, his tone carrying an undeniable authority: "Is it worth it just for those few suppliers?"

Zhao Tiezhu wasn't stupid. Under the influence of alcohol, he quickly figured out Xue Chunru's identity.

However, it turns out that this "chance encounter" was not entirely innocent.

Xue Chunru kept her head down, looking at the clothes on her knees.

The silence lasted for several seconds, so long that Zhao Tiezhu almost thought she wouldn't answer.

Then, she sighed softly, a sigh filled with endless weariness, helplessness, and a hint of self-mockery.

She finally stopped sewing, but didn't turn around. She just turned her face slightly to the side, her voice as soft as a feather brushing against the heart, carrying an extreme softness and a hint of something that made one's heart itch.

"As a woman, there's nothing I can do about climbing the ranks among men!"

Then, she slowly turned around.

The helplessness and vulnerability on her face vanished instantly, replaced by a knowing and slightly indulgent allure.

She raised her eyes, her beautiful eyes shimmering with tears, and looked straight at Zhao Tiezhu. The corners of her lips curved into a captivating smile, carrying a blatant provocation and a hint of cold clarity.

“You men…” Her fingertips lightly traced Zhao Tiezhu’s slightly stubbled chin, her voice like honeyed poison, with a touch of lazy Beijing accent: “Don’t you all fall for this?”

The lamplight flickered on her face, and outside the window lay the boundless nightscape of the capital.

The needle lay quietly on the unfinished garment, its tip reflecting a flickering light under the lamp.

Looking into the complex light in her eyes—a mixture of desire, calculation, and a hint of genuine weariness—Zhao Tiezhu felt a strange dissatisfaction at being outmaneuvered, which dissipated considerably, leaving only the excitement of meeting a worthy opponent.

He grinned and hugged the mysterious, alluring, and dangerous white lotus flower in his arms even tighter.

In the executive suite of a five-star hotel in Beijing, Zhao Tiezhu returned late at night.

Zhao Tiezhu leaned against the huge floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the dazzling night view of the Second Ring Road city below.

He raised an eyebrow and put the phone to his ear.

"Brother Chen, that's the situation! Lei Jun tried to use a honey trap to steal our supplier resources, but I decisively turned the tables on him. However, judging from his demeanor, he's really desperate because the suppliers have tricked him!"

On the other end of the phone, Chen Mo, who had been woken up in the middle of the night, remained silent for several seconds before realizing what he meant by "playing along with a plan."

After a moment, Chen Mo weighed the pros and cons and his calm voice rang out.

"For non-core suppliers, we can give them a partial list!"

Zhao Tiezhu was stunned: "Huh? You're really giving it to them, Brother Chen? This..."

This kid was determined to get something for nothing. I never expected that Chen Mo would share the reliable supplier channels that he had worked so hard to find with Xiaomai.

“But,” Chen Mo interrupted him with a change of tone, his voice carrying an undeniable determination, “you tell Leibusi that Chengzi also has a request!”

“If he agrees, the supplier list will be handed over without hesitation; if he doesn’t agree,” Chen Mo’s voice carried a hint of amusement, “you can just say that I’m making him repay the favor he did for me in Beijing last time.”

Although it has a hint of taking advantage of the situation, Orange really lacks internet experience, so this is a deal that must be struck.

Zhao Tiezhu felt like he was being scratched by a cat; there were still favors owed between Brother Chen and Lei Busi that he didn't know about.
But he wisely refrained from asking and went straight to the heart of the matter. "Brother Chen, what treasure of Xiaomai do we want?"

“System!” Chen Mo said succinctly, “We need a supply chain management system (SRM) for wheat, a professional-grade one, the kind specifically for the mobile phone industry. They have a deep foundation in the internet field and should have developed it a long time ago.”

Chen Mo's voice came through the receiver, carrying a sense of certainty that he had a keen understanding of the future.

“Our current Kingdee K3 WMS is just a general warehouse accounting tool, which can only do some electronic data interchange with EMS vendors.”

"Seventy percent of the data in the mobile phone supply chain still relies on Excel and email. Not only is it tedious and manual, but more importantly, it doesn't provide real-time data, so the source of faulty components can't be found!"

"Our main business plus OEM manufacturing is now selling nearly three million units a month. This broken system is a ticking time bomb. It wouldn't be surprising if quality control had a large-scale problem one day!"

Orange Technology's supply chain, quality control, and logistics management system have always been in operation, and we've been very lucky that there haven't been any major problems in the past few months. We can't keep relying on luck like this.

Although Zhao Tiezhu wasn't very proficient in the technical details, he understood the phrases "70% of the data is done manually" and "time bomb".

Thinking about how the marketing department now has to deal with shipping, stocking, and checking inventory by having a bunch of people flipping through spreadsheets and making phone calls, he broke out in a cold sweat.

So this is what Brother Chen wanted!
This thing is definitely more important than a few suppliers!
"Understood, Brother Chen! I'll go talk to him tomorrow!"

The next day, Zhao Tiezhu appeared in Xiao Mai Leibusi's office again.

Without exchanging pleasantries, he got straight to the point and laid out Chen Mo's conditions.

After listening, Lei Jun leaned back in his large executive chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest, his face revealing neither joy nor anger.

He remained silent for a full minute, as if weighing the pros and cons, or perhaps recalling the "favor" Chen Mo had mentioned last time.

Finally, he raised his head, a meaningful smile appearing on his face.

"Mr. Chen, you have excellent taste! Alright, I'll accept this 'unreasonable request'!"

He stood up and personally led Zhao Tiezhu to a higher-security conference room next door.

On the huge screen, the complex system architecture diagram and data flow are clearly displayed.

"Mr. Zhao, please look," Lei Jun said, pointing to the screen, his voice carrying the calmness characteristic of a technology decision-maker and a hint of barely perceptible pride.

"This is version 1.0 of the wheat SRM supply chain management system we are currently developing."

"The core strategy is JIT (Just-in-Time) production, with inventory cycle controlled within 168 hours, or 7 days. Demand drives production, minimizing redundant inventory."

"By adopting the VMI (Vendor Managed Inventory) central warehouse model, supplier inventory is managed centrally by us, reducing the turnover cycle to 15 days and achieving an annual turnover rate of over 12 times."

The architecture layers on the screen expand:

Tier 1 suppliers (manufacturing integration layer): directly assemble complete machines, deliver modularly (such as ODM manufacturers), and receive production schedules in real time through the EDI system.

Tier 2 suppliers (critical component layer): core components such as screens and chips, consignment inventory, and hourly replenishment signal response.

Tier 3 suppliers (basic materials layer): basic materials such as metals and plastics, with blockchain technology ensuring the compliance and traceability of material sources.

Digital tools: Intelligent forecasting engine (based on historical sales and market big data, with a forecasting accuracy of 92%), dynamic dashboard system (168-hour countdown inventory level warning, clear at a glance).

Lei Jun concluded by emphasizing, "Mr. Zhao, this 1.0 system is specifically designed for a manufacturing system with an annual production capacity of 2000 million smart terminals. Preliminary calculations show that it can effectively reduce overall logistics costs by about 18%!"

18%!

Zhao Tiezhu's eyes widened in astonishment!

He didn't understand the numbers and complex architecture on the screen at all, but the 18% reduction in logistics costs was real money!
He instantly understood why Brother Chen was willing to use that mysterious "favor" to get this thing!
This isn't a system; it's practically a cost "-" button!

Lei Jun is willing to take the plunge; he's definitely making a huge sacrifice!

The immense surprise instantly filled Zhao Tiezhu's face with a broad, enthusiastic smile, and he slapped his thigh.

"President Lei! You're so kind! You're absolutely amazing!" He patted his chest, his voice booming, "Don't worry! I, Zhao Tiezhu, guarantee that the suppliers Xiaomai needs will provide the list immediately! They're absolutely reliable! There's nothing in Shenzhen that Orange can't handle!"

"If you need any new components for wheat in the future, just give us a word, and Orange will provide the manpower and resources to ensure your satisfaction!"

Lei Jun smiled with satisfaction and offered a small compliment.

"With Mr. Zhao's words, I can finally rest assured!" He pressed the intercom on the table: "Chunru! Come in here for a moment!"

Xue Chunru, dressed as always in an elegant and appropriate outfit, walked in quietly.

"Chunru! This is Zhao Tiezhu, CEO of Orange Technology!"

"General Manager Zhao! This is Xue Chunru, our wheat supply chain manager!"

After introducing the two to each other, Lei Jun instructed her, "This time, when dealing with Chengzi, especially regarding supplier resources, you should learn from and consult with General Manager Zhao. General Manager Zhao is a local bigwig in Shenzhen and has a wealth of experience."

"Yes, Mr. Lei!"

Xue Chunru nodded obediently, then turned her gaze to Zhao Tiezhu with a perfectly timed smile.

"Mr. Zhao, I look forward to your guidance in the future!"

Zhao Tiezhu looked at Xue Chunru with a smile, his eyes filled with undisguised interest.

"Sister Chunru, you're too kind! Let's learn from each other! It's perfect, I'm new to the capital and know absolutely nothing about it!"

He turned to Lei Jun and said, "Mr. Lei, could you lend me your capable assistant, Sister Chunru, a local, to show me around Beijing? Let me experience the capital's rich history and culture."

Zhao Tiezhu's words sounded very high-sounding.

Lei Jun smiled and nodded: "No problem! Chunru, show President Zhao around!" This seasoned veteran of social interactions didn't even notice the subtle exchange of glances between the two.

"How dare you disobey your orders!"

Xue Chunru bowed slightly, smiled at Zhao Tiezhu, and her eyes sparkled.

For the next half day, Zhao Tiezhu absentmindedly followed Xue Chunru through the red walls and yellow tiles of the Forbidden City, and strolled along the long corridors and waterside pavilions of the Yiheyuan Garden, until night fell.
(End of this chapter)