Tech startup: I really do make mobile phones!

Chapter 169 One of the 32 Directors
Outside the Golden Hall of the Beijing Hotel.

The media focused their attention with their cameras and microphones, and flashes of light went off one after another.

Dressed in a suit and exuding confidence, Lei Jun was speaking eloquently into the microphones of several media outlets, subtly promoting the Xiaomai phone, which was scheduled to be released in June.

Not far away, a discreet black sedan pulled up.

Chen Mo got out of the car, his well-tailored dark suit making him look composed. However, after taking the mask from his secretary Zhou Yumeng, he quickly put it on, covering most of his face.

"Holy crap! Brother Chen! There are so many cameras, we're going to be on TV!"

Zhao Tiezhu was eager to get a few shots, but unfortunately...
"Who is this person? And why is he wearing a mask?"

"Looks quite young, probably a rich kid or something?"

"This is boring. Let's go, Ahri's carriage is here!"

The media glanced at the young man who was hiding his face, but showed little interest. They were immediately drawn to the newly arrived Ali Ma, who brought his own aura of news. Even the two reporters who were surrounding Lei Jun quickly moved to another location.

Leibusi watched as Ahri made a grand entrance while his side became instantly deserted. A hint of resentment flashed across his face, but he quickly composed himself and prepared to welcome the approaching Ahri.

When Ali came to Beijing to expand his yellow pages business, he used to call him "General Manager Lei" all the time, but now...
It’s hard to look back on the past!

Chen Mo didn't go to join the fun in the spotlight. He told Zhao Tiezhu and Zhou Yumeng to wait for him nearby, and then handed the invitation to the serious-looking staff member wearing a headset at the door.

After verifying that everything was correct, he stepped into the magnificent hotel lobby.

As soon as he entered, he took off his mask and put it away.

Inside the lobby, elegantly dressed women mingled, and glasses clinked in lively conversation.

Hundreds of entrepreneurs, representing the lifeline of China's flower-growing economy, gathered in small groups and talked in hushed tones.

Chen Mo's appearance immediately attracted a lot of attention—curiosity, scrutiny, and surprise.

After all, the name "Orange Chen" has been well-known in the business world over the past year.

"Xiao Chen! Orange Chen! Hey! Over here!" A familiar voice rang out with a hint of excitement.

Shen Yiwei, abandoning the conversation between President Jin and President Cheng, quickly approached the three brothers of Bubu Gao, who were in a small circle.

President Jin and President Cheng exchanged a smile and shook their heads helplessly: Ah Wei is still so impulsive; he can't seem to settle down.

"Xiao Chen! That's not fair of you!" Shen Yiwei slapped Chen Mo on the shoulder: "You promised to be there for the Blue Machine V1 launch event! You stood me up!"

Chen Mo smiled wryly: "Brother Wei, I'm really sorry, back in March I was working on third-generation gaseous lithium in the lab, I really couldn't be in two places at once!"

"Alright, since you've come up with something good again, remember to let me use it next time!"

Shen Yiwei feigned magnanimity, then lowered his voice, a hint of smugness in it.

"Do you want to hear about the sales figures for the Blue Machine V1, which is equipped with your generation of gaseous lithium? This is a trade secret of our Blue Factory, and I wouldn't tell it to anyone but you!"

Chen Mo laughed and said, "Why are we talking about this between us? If you want to talk about it, then go ahead!"

Shen Yiwei immediately began to complain.

"Hey, actually we've only sold a little over 30 units in a month! That's not even as much as your Orange 1's weekly sales! We got one million batteries from Zhicheng's centralized procurement, and it'll probably take three months to sell them all!"

Although his tone was exaggerated, there was no frustration in his eyes, because at least his phone had been successfully made.

Chen Mo bluntly exposed him: "Come on, Viagra! Your Blue Machine V1 is positioned in the mid-range market, priced at 1699. Thanks to the distribution channels of Step-by-Step Cream, the profit margin is huge! Comparing sales volume to my Orange 1, which sells for 499? Is that even meaningful?"

"Hahaha! Different positioning, different positioning!" Shen Yiwei laughed, then mysteriously tugged at Chen Mo's sleeve: "Hey, don't rush off after the conference! Want to climb the Great Wall? Badaling! He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a true man!"

Chen Mo readily agreed: "Okay! Half a year has passed, and I'd like to see the results of your stamina reserves, Brother Wei!"

Shen Yiwei nodded in satisfaction, then leaned closer and lowered his voice even further.

"Xiao Chen, inside information: there's a 'small meeting' before the big conference, you know? I heard that leader is coming to meet with some 'important business representatives'!"

He also specifically emphasized the word "important".

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, put his arm around Shen Yiwei's shoulder, and pulled him to a corner of the lobby: "Brother Wei! Let's talk in detail?"

Shen Yiwei smugly gestured with his chin: "See that? That golden hall over there! It's laid out in two rows, either for 20 people or 32 people! Those who know, know!"

Then, he patted Chen Mo.

"I'm definitely out of the running, but you, Orange Chen, made a name for yourself last year by going head-to-head with the two alliance leaders. You're absolutely the best among the younger generation! According to the rule of a mix of old, middle-aged and young, you might have a chance in the 32-person list!"

Chen Mo smiled and said, "It doesn't matter whether I go or not, it's just a meeting!"

"That's different! This is officially certified 'important'!" Shen Yiwei said seriously, then chuckled, "If it's 32 people, I think you've got it in the bag!"

Just as Chen Mo was about to say a few words of modesty, a graceful lady in a cheongsam walked over and her gaze landed precisely on Chen Mo: "Excuse me, are you Mr. Chen Mo, the CEO of Orange Technology?"

"Yes! That's me!"

"Mr. Chen, there is a small seminar before the conference, and we would like to invite you to participate. Please come with me!"

The hostess smiled politely and gestured for them to enter.

Shen Yiwei's face lit up immediately, and he gestured wildly with his eyes: Look! Look! I told you so!
Chen Mo understood.

Last year's "Three Kingdoms" battle, though the process was somewhat tragic, did indeed push this fledgling entrepreneur to the center stage of the business world, gaining him unprecedented attention from business leaders.

In the mainstream opinion of entrepreneurs, he may not yet have the strength to become the "leader," but he is widely regarded as one of the most likely candidates to reach the top in the future.

The small meeting area in the Golden Hall of the Beijing Hotel.

The hostess led Chen Mo through a tall, movable partition into a more private and solemn space.

The 15-meter-high dome, adorned with magnificent gold-inlaid jade murals and exquisite porcelain, does not appear ostentatious at all, but rather exudes a refined nobility and majesty.

In the center of the hall, two rows of long tables covered with dark red velvet were joined together in a U-shape.

Directly in front is the leadership seating area, where three prominent acrylic nameplates have been placed: No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, with names and positions clearly visible.

Chen Mo's gaze swept over the nameplate at the number 1 table in the center, and his heart skipped a beat!
The bottom left and right columns each have 16 modern minimalist chairs (32 seats in total), and each chair has a corresponding acrylic nameplate on the table in front of it.

Chen Mo thought to himself, "Brother Wei's information network is indeed accurate; there really are 32 people!"

His gaze swept quickly across the table and he saw the nameplate "Jinming - Bubu Gao Group". President Jin was nodding to him with a refined manner.

The hostess led him to seat number 32 at the very end of the long table on the right.

The nameplate clearly reads: Chen Mo -- Orange Technology.

Chen Mo had no idea that this position originally belonged to Wan Mingji, who was riding the wind.

The reason he was able to sit here was largely because when that leader called the Enterprise Association, he specifically asked, "Did you invite General Manager Ren of Chrysanthemum and General Manager Chen of Orange?"

The leaders of the business association naturally indicated that they were all on the invitation list!

Chen Mo's success was purely due to being "named" by his superiors; it was definitely not due to any business reputation. To attend a small meeting in the Golden Hall, mere fame is not enough!
Looking around, the entrepreneurs present could be described as the "list of gods" in China's business world, clearly divided into three generations, sitting on the left and right.

The first generation (those born in the 40s and 50s): laying the foundation for industry and becoming the backbone of the nation.

Number 1 (left): Fantasy Liu (founder of Fantasy, godfather of IT technology)

Number 2 (right): Zhang Haier (CEO of Haier Group, godfather of white goods)
No. 3 (left): Wang of Wanda (Chairman of Wanda Group, leader in commercial real estate and cultural tourism) No. 4 (right): Ren of Juhua (Founder of Juhua, global leader in communication technology)
Number 5 (left): Lu Guanqiu (founder of Wanxiang Group, pioneer in auto parts)

Number 6 (right): Cao, Chairman of Fuyao Glass, a global automotive glass giant.

Number 7 (left): CEO (founder of Lehaha, leader in the beverage industry)
No. 8 (right): Liu Yonghao (Chairman of Xinxiwang Group, a leading agricultural and animal husbandry company)
The second generation (those born in the 60s and 70s): pioneers in industrial upgrading.

Number 11 (left): Ali Ma (founder of Ali Group, representative of e-commerce and digital economy)

Number 12 (right): Penguin Ma (founder of Tencent, a giant in internet social networking and gaming)
Number 13 (left): Baidu Li (founder of Baidu, pioneer of search engine technology)
No. 14 (right): Guo Guangchang (Chairman of Fuxing Group, representative of diversified investment group)

Number 15 (left): Lei Jun (founder of Xiaomai, pioneer of smartphones and ecosystem)
Number 16 (right): Sister Dong (Chairwoman of Geli Electric Appliances, a benchmark in the home appliance manufacturing industry)

Number 17 (left): Wang Chuanfu (Chairman of BTD, leader in new energy vehicles)
No. 18 (right): Liu Jingdong (founder of Jingdong, an innovator in e-commerce and logistics)
No. 19 (left): Jin Ming (Chairman of Bubu Gao Group, a leading chain retailer of electronic products)
The third generation (born in the 80s and 90s): Technological upstarts, the light of the future.

Number 32 (last from right): Chen Mo (founder of Orange, a leader in the fields of smartphones and new energy)
Chen Mo: "."

Well, he was the only youth representative, and Chen Mo suddenly felt immense pressure. He had definitely stumbled into a powerful figure's scheme.

The seating arrangement is also intriguing.

The left column is headed by Fantasy Liu, followed by Wanda Wang; the right column is headed by Hai Er Zhang, followed by Chrysanthemum Ren.

Chen Mo sat alone at the very end of the right row, looking like a "newbie" who had accidentally stumbled into a big shot's tea party, completely clueless!

He picked up his teacup, trying to remain inconspicuous, and observed the interactions of the big shots.

Sister Dong fired loudly at Lei Jun, who was sitting at number 15 on the left, across a 2.5-meter-wide passage.

"Mr. Lei! Your theory of 'asset-light operation' and finding the best factories in the world to do the manufacturing is nothing but a castle in the air! Without our own core manufacturing, the foundation is unstable!"

She clearly had some "opinion" about Lei Jun being seated ahead of her.

On the other side, Penguin Little Ma (No. 12), who had just experienced the "3Q War" and was summoned to Beijing by the Ministry of Information Industry for mediation in January, met again with Zhou Hongyi (someone in the right row).

The two shook hands with forced smiles, slapping each other's arms loudly, their eyes clashing, sparks flying.

Chen Mo was watching with great interest, secretly enjoying the show.

He didn't notice that Shen Nanpeng (founder of Hongshan Capital Zhonghua), sitting opposite him in seat number 29, had his gaze fixed on him like that of a hawk, his eyes gleaming with the sharp glint of an investment hunter spotting his top prey.

Just when Chen Mo thought he could relax and watch the show until the leaders arrived, a hoarse yet powerful voice, slightly accented with a Guizhou dialect, rang out beside him:
"Hey young man! I think you must be Mr. Chen from Orange Technology? Hello!"

Chen Mo turned around upon hearing the voice, his heart skipped a beat—it was President Ren of Chrysanthemum!
"Mr. Ren! Hello!"

This leading figure in the communications field is standing next to his seat.

Mr. Ren's gaze was calm, carrying the scrutiny of an elder and a hint of barely perceptible approval.

"Tingbo from the Maritime Silk Road always talks about you to me every few days, saying that you have a lot of drive, lots of ideas, and are bold. Back then, the K3V1 was able to recoup its chip fabrication costs thanks to your help!"

"When it comes to chip development, it's not enough for just Huawei to rely on brute force alone. We're so grateful that you, Orange, were willing to offer us a stepping stone!"

He nodded slightly, his tone revealing the satisfaction of the older generation.

"The chip industry and smartphones complement each other. If you give each other a hand and I push you a little further, the road ahead will become wider and wider, right?"

Chen Mo quickly stood up, his attitude humble and sincere: "President Ren, you flatter us. Helping Hai Si is also helping ourselves. Mountains may crumble, and rivers may flow away. In critical moments, we can't rely on outsiders. In the end, we have to rely on ourselves and work together as one!"

Mr. Ren nodded, a hint of approval on his face, and without saying anything more, calmly walked back to his seat.

Just as Chen Mo sat down to calm himself down, a leader from the business association strode in and announced loudly, "Fellow entrepreneurs, the leader has arrived! Please take your seats!"

Instantly, all conversation ceased.

Everyone stood solemnly, quickly taking their seats. The small conference area of ​​the Golden Hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

After the leader gave a brief speech, he left.

The establishment of the China Entrepreneurs Club was officially announced by the second-ranked leader of the Chinese Business Association. The charter was read out, and the 32 entrepreneurs present were announced as the first directors of the club. In the future, they will represent the Chinese business community to coordinate internal disputes and build consensus.

Next, the first council meeting of the China Entrepreneurs Club officially began.

The meeting immediately moved into the core process: electing the club's chairman and rotating chairman, with each term lasting one year.

The rules are simple: 32 directors, one vote per person, anonymous.

The results were quickly revealed:

Club President: Fantasy Liu, 18 votes.

Rotating Chairman: Alima, 10 votes.

Chen Mo: 3 votes.

Abstentions: 1 vote.

Chen Mo almost lost his composure when he saw the glaring "3 votes" next to his name!
Who did it???
He subconsciously looked across at seat number 15, the seat closest to him.

Lei Jun felt the gaze, shrugged helplessly, and gave a "you know what I mean" look. His slightly resentful eyes clearly said: President Chen, if I had the chance to choose, I would definitely vote for myself!
None of my family members understand! Not only did I not have a choice, but I also offended Sister Dong, and I didn't even decide on the seats.

Sometimes, position doesn't matter, but sometimes it does. No matter what you do, it's important to have a legitimate reason for doing it.

Are rich lists completely accurate?
Do not!
But once it's out there, that's how everyone sees it. In this life, who can escape the pursuit of fame and fortune?

Chen Mo leaned forward again and looked at his senior classmate, Penguin Little Ma.

Little Ma adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, shook his head slightly, and indicated that it wasn't him.

Who is that?
Chen Mo's gaze searched through the crowd and finally landed on the front row on the right.

I saw that Mr. Ren, the chrysanthemum boss, was slightly turned to the side and talking quietly with Mr. Zhang, the sea boss next to him.

Seemingly noticing Chen Mo's gaze, the two big shots turned their heads at the same time, giving him a meaningful smile with a hint of "old rascal" teasing, and even tapped the table lightly in unison.

Chen Mo: "."

Damn it! You two old masters! You're flattering me to death! Do you think my feud with Fantasy Liu and Ali Ma isn't deep enough?
Finally, he saw Shen Nanpeng, number 29, across the street.

When the bigwig from Hongshan met Chen Mo's gaze, he returned a smile full of interest and slightly aggressive without any hesitation, and even raised his teacup slightly in acknowledgment.

Chen Mo understood: Alright, all three votes are in order.

The two veteran coaches' "recommendation" plus the "bet" from a top venture capitalist.

The small meeting is over, and the big decisions have been made.

The leaders of the Enterprise Association, along with the newly elected 32 club directors, walked out of the partitioned area of ​​the Golden Hall and into the main venue.

There, more than 200 entrepreneurs and numerous media outlets awaited the official opening of the first Entrepreneurs Club Forum.

Chen Mo took a deep breath, straightened his suit, put on a mask, and followed the crowd toward the larger and more complex stage.

At this moment, the leader's secretary greeted him with a smile and stopped him, explaining that the leader had specifically asked him to wait here, and then handed him a business card.

He tapped the edge of the card lightly with his fingertips, his tone calm yet weighty: "Keep this number safe. If you ever encounter a problem you can't overcome, call this number; it'll help."

This business card has a simple yet extraordinary design—it only has a number printed on it.

Chen Mo's golden protective aura seems to have been extended.
(End of this chapter)