Tech startup: I really do make mobile phones!

Chapter 208 New Opportunities
The morning mist, like a soft veil, was slowly lifted by the rising sun, revealing the long, green fairways of the Takihwa International Golf Course.

Beside the practice green, dewdrops hanging from the tips of grass blades refracted a dazzling light.

Chen Mo and Zhao Tiezhu had already arrived here to practice, taking advantage of the cool morning air.

Today, Chen Mo wore a light gray quick-drying tracksuit from the Valentina orange brand. The well-tailored suit and high-tech fabric perfectly accentuated his tall and slender figure.

Zhao Tiezhu was also wearing the same dark green version, trying hard to strike a professional pose, but his eager eyes always revealed an inappropriate, vulgar air.

Standing opposite them was Coach Zhang, widely regarded as the best coach on the court.

She wore a well-fitting white coach uniform, and her shoulder-length, slightly wavy hair was both gentle and capable.

A few stray hairs were tucked behind her ears with an exquisite pearl hair clip. The faint wrinkles at the corners of her eyes did not make her look old; instead, they added a touch of composure and approachability that came with the passage of time. She was a "beautiful woman" who made people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

"Good morning, Mr. Chen and Mr. Zhao!" Coach Zhang's voice was gentle, with a comfortable sense of professionalism: "Let's start with the basics. Please relax; golf is a sport that requires coordination between mind and body!"

She walked between the two, her gaze first falling on Chen Mo.

"Mr. Chen, please relax your shoulders first, yes, don't hunch your shoulders!" Her fingertips, with just the right amount of pressure and a warm touch, gently touched below Chen Mo's shoulder blades: "Feel it here, sink down!"

Next, she demonstrated the standard standing posture.

"Stand naturally apart, shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, maintain a springy posture, and let the club rest naturally on the ground!"

Coach Zhang gestured to Chen Mo to grip the club: "Palms should be on the handle, but don't use too much force, especially your wrists, keep them relaxed!"

Chen Mo has an exceptional learning ability and quickly adopted the correct posture, but out of habit, his wrist still unconsciously remains straight.

Coach Zhang smiled and gently patted his forearm: "Mr. Chen, pay attention here, relax your shoulders and drop your elbows, imagine the golf club is a natural extension of your arm!"

“Mr. Zhao!” She turned to the other side, where Zhao Tiezhu was grimacing as he struggled with the golf club, as if he were digging the ground. “You’re too tense. Relax your fingers, and put the power into your waist and abdomen, not your arms!”

Zhao Tiezhu quickly responded with "Oh, oh" and let go, but the force was released and the cue almost slipped off.

He reacted extremely quickly, bending down to grab the cue stick in one smooth motion, already half a step away, his eyes filled with his signature carefree smile.

"Coach Zhang, your technique is truly professional! You're obviously an expert! But seriously, your presence is just too outstanding. Standing here, you look like a New Year's painting; I can hardly take my eyes off you!"

Chen Mo, standing to the side, couldn't help but raise his hand to his forehead, speechless.

Does this kid really think that coaching fee of over a thousand yuan per hour is for him to pick up girls?

Coach Zhang remained completely calm. Instead, he gracefully raised his hand to tuck a stray hair behind his ear, his tone carrying just the right amount of teasing.

"If Mr. Zhao could focus more on gripping the club than on looking at the 'New Year picture,' the club wouldn't 'act up' to you. My lessons aren't cheap, and it would be such a waste to waste them on distractions!"

Her words made Zhao Tiezhu chuckle and put away some of his frivolous thoughts.

Coach Zhang took two practice balls out of the bag and handed them over, pinching the balls with his neatly trimmed fingernails.

"Let's practice the half-swing first. Mr. Chen, you go first. Keep your eyes on the ball, rotate your waist to drive your arms, and make sure the clubface is facing the center of the ball when you swing down!"

Chen Mo focused his mind and followed the instructions to turn and swing the club.

The movement was slightly stiff, and with a "whoosh," the clubhead swept past the edge of the ball, kicking up a small clump of grass.

"Ha! It went off-target!" He laughed self-deprecatingly.

"It's okay, beginners are all like this!"

Coach Zhang walked to his side and slightly behind him, placing his hands lightly on either side of his waist and abdomen, maintaining a polite distance, but the warmth of his palms could be faintly felt through the thin fabric.

"You didn't turn your waist wide enough, turn a little more to the right. Yes, keep your strength steady, don't rush!"

This time, following the guidance, Chen Mo struck the ball precisely with his clubhead, sending the white ball arcing through the air and landing more than ten meters away.

"Beautiful!" Zhao Tiezhu exclaimed.

When it was his turn, Zhao Tiezhu shrugged his shoulders as he swung, and with a dull thud, the ball hit his feet.

He scratched his head, then wanted to say, "Coach Zhang, do you think I need a few more 'hands-on' pointers?"

"Mr. Zhao, you are too eager for quick success!"

Coach Zhang interrupted him with a smile before he could finish speaking, picked up another cue and gave a smooth demonstration, his posture relaxed and his curly hair fluttering.

"Follow me and do three air swings, paying attention to engaging your core muscles, like wringing a towel, not just forcefully swinging it with your shoulders!"

Zhao Tiezhu's eyes lit up as he watched, and he obediently began to mimic the gestures.

As the sun rose higher, the crisp sound of balls hitting the ground echoed across the lawn, mingled with Coach Zhang's gentle instructions.

Chen Mo gradually found his rhythm, and Zhao Tiezhu slowly shed his awkwardness, occasionally excitedly gesturing to Coach Zhang with his chin after hitting a good shot: "Coach Zhang, look, I didn't get distracted this time, did I?"

"I'm making rapid progress, but if I want to catch up with Mr. Chen, I still need to concentrate and practice for another half hour!"

Coach Zhang raised an eyebrow in response, a hint of mockery in his smile.

Coach Zhang was all too familiar with dealing with guests like Zhao Tiezhu. The only thing that surprised her was that this kid actually wanted to eat older grass with younger calves. His taste was truly peculiar!
Zhao Tiezhu immediately gripped the cue stick and became serious.

After mastering the basic rules, Chen Mo politely asked Coach Zhang to rest and paid the full amount of the fee.

Watching the coach's departing figure, Zhao Tiezhu leaned over and winked, "Brother Chen! Why did you let the coach leave? It would be so much better to have a beautiful female instructor!"

"What, you think you can win the trophy?"

Chen Mo glanced at him, swung his club, and the white ball flew far away.

"I'll take you to see Boss Duan tomorrow, to get in touch with him. When you go to North America in the future, you'll definitely need his local connections to help you out!"

Zhao Tiezhu, unusually serious, replied, "Understood! I promise I won't embarrass you, Brother Chen!"

Zhao Tiezhu was also aware of Chen Mo's vanity!

"You can indulge in wine, women, wealth, and power, but when you get to North America, keep your eyes open. There are certain lines you absolutely cannot cross!" Chen Mo said seriously.

"Don't worry, Brother Chen, I know what's important!"

Chen Mo patted his shoulder: "You're nineteen now, you're an adult. I've paved the way for you, it's up to you how you walk it!"

"Brother Chen, I, Zhao Tiezhu, will remember your kindness for the rest of my life!" Zhao Tiezhu said solemnly.

The two played 18 holes; although they weren't professionals, at least they were good enough to play.

The next day, the sun shines brightly.

Xiao Zheng drove Chen Mo and Zhao Tiezhu to the entrance of the Takihawa Stadium Hotel.

Shen Yiwei was already waiting there, and greeted Chen Mo warmly: "Little Chen! You're right on time!"

"With Viagra's invitation, how could I dare to be late!" Chen Mo replied with a smile, introducing Zhao Tiezhu to him.

Zhao Tiezhu immediately seized the opportunity and warmly shook hands: "Hello, Brother Wei! I've often heard Brother Chen mention you!"

Shen Yiwei patted him on the shoulder: "The Orange Trio! From now on, we're all brothers!"

The course is closed to the public today, and a banner reading "2011 Newcastle Golfers' Friendship Tournament" is prominently displayed.

After signing in, Chen Mo and Zhao Tiezhu each received a custom-made baseball cap.

Mr. Zhu, the second-generation owner of the stadium, personally greeted them with a broad smile.

"Mr. Chen! I've heard so much about you! You're a young man of great talent!"

He presented her with a platinum membership card: "It's just a small token of my appreciation. Orange's headquarters are right across the street. Let's keep in touch and see each other often!"

Chen Mo accepted it politely and thanked him with a smile.

"Mr. Zhu, you're too kind. This is how it should be between neighbors!"

Tea break area.

Shen Yiwei learned that Chen Mo had come to practice golf yesterday and couldn't help but tease him.

"Xiao Chen, you're cramming at the last minute, are you trying to get first place?"

"I'm good at hiking, so I'll skip this. It's all just a formality anyway, as long as I don't embarrass myself!" Chen Mo said with a smile.

"Until we have the ability to change the rules, we can only adapt!" Shen Yiwei said meaningfully, "Believe it or not, more people in your company will like hiking in the future."

Chen Mo smiled wryly: "It seems that you, Brother Wei, are just like me, caught in a bind!"

"Big circles and small circles, there's no escaping it!" Shen Yiwei lowered his voice: "Lei Busi, me, and you at the Chrysanthemum Factory, you're quite adept at navigating the technical-industrial-trade, trade-industrial-technical, and industrial-trade-technical circles!"

Chen Mo chuckled and changed the subject.

As the event officially began, Chen Mo was undoubtedly the most eye-catching among the more than twenty attendees.

Unlike the aging population of the Daishan Association, this place has people of all ages, from the elderly to the young.

The second-generation owner of Bubu Gao, Jin Ming, arrived with his son, Jin Zhijie.

"President Chen! Long time no see!" Jin Ming laughed heartily, pulling his son over: "Zhijie, call him uncle!" Chen Mo's lips twitched slightly at the thought of someone his age calling him uncle.

Jin Zhijie looked on with admiration: "Uncle Chen! You are my idol!" He even took out his hat and asked for an autograph.

Zhao Tiezhu stood to the side, trying hard to suppress his laughter.

Shen Yiwei continued to introduce them, and Chen Mo met many familiar faces from his previous life.

Real estate tycoon Pan Shiyi, and Zhu Zhaojiang, the future king of African smartphones.
Finally, they arrived in front of Mr. Duan, who was talking with Yang Jierui, the founder of YaHu.

"A hero emerges from among the young!" President Duan said gently as he looked Chen Mo over.

"You flatter me, senior!" Chen Mo replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

Yang Jierui smiled and shook hands with him: "President Chen's Orange Phone is amazing. The future belongs to you young people!"

Chen Mo breathed a sigh of relief when he didn't receive the expected offer of enticement.

Next up is the 18-hole group friendly match!

When the groups were formed, Chen Mo, Zhao Tiezhu, Shen Yiwei, and Jin Zhijie were in the youth group.

Zhao Tiezhu, with his sharp eyes, spotted Wan Mingji in the middle-aged group and nudged Chen Mo: "Brother Chen, look! Sister Gong's old flame!"

Chen Mo couldn't help but follow his gaze and saw Wan Mingji from Shunfeng. What was he doing here?

Before Chen Mo could think further, Shen Yiwei began introducing him to the other group members.

The youth group consists of 7 people, including Chen Mo, Zhao Tiezhu, Shen Yiwei, Jin Zhijie, and three "strangers" to Chen Mo.

The first one gave Chen Mo a jolt.

Shen Yiwei introduced Chen Mo: "Little Huang! Huang Doudou!"

"My master's half-apprentice just sold a 3C digital e-commerce company similar to Jingdong in North America, got 6000 million US dollars, and came back to start a new business called Kaixin Farm!"
You know that mobile version of FarmVille that's going viral on phones right now? He's the one who made it!

Looking at Huang Doudou's young face, Chen Mo was already in a state of shock. He never expected that Huang Doudou would fire the first shot with a social media viral spread!
Why did Huang Doudou's Pindoudou business go so smoothly? It turns out that he had already implemented the "Jingdong Model" e-commerce in North America, and upon returning to China, he also used "Kaixin Farm" to verify the viral social communication model of WeChat and QQ.

Zhang Yiming's algorithm for liking content has been refined and evolved through internal jokes and recent headlines, resulting in Douyin!

The smooth emergence of Perler Beads in 15 was due to a combination of favorable timing, location, and people – all three were indispensable!

Ahri Ma gave a speech on the Bund, and the time was ripe!

Huang Doudou had prior experience in e-commerce in North America, as well as viral social media marketing experience with WeChat and QQ. Furthermore, she had the assistance of Sun Tong, a veteran of Taobao who was familiar with e-commerce operations.
Perler beads rose to prominence, taking off in just one year!

All the explosive successes you see are the result of people's accumulated resources, connections, and technology. They are basically the result of long-term accumulation. Do you really think you've traveled through time and can just grab some business models whenever you want?
"Mr. Chen, it's an honor to meet you!" Huang Doudou shook hands with him warmly, and then introduced Sun Tong to her.

Now that Huang Doudou has returned to China, in addition to starting an online game company called "Kaixin Farm", he has also teamed up with Sun Tong to start an e-commerce brand agency and operation company called Taobao and Jingdong.

“Orange e-commerce has huge sales potential. I wonder if Mr. Chen would be interested in entrusting us with its operation?” Huang Doudou tried to get some business for the agency operation company.

Chen Mo wanted to befriend Huang Doudou and do her a favor, so he immediately called Zhao Tiezhu over.

"Tiezhu, this is General Manager Huang. You can discuss the e-commerce outsourcing with him in detail. If the terms are suitable, then we'll hand it over to them!"

Although Zhao Tiezhu did not understand why Chen Mo valued Huang Doudou, he still made serious arrangements. His greatest strength was that he "blindly followed" Chen Mo.

Shen Yiwei then introduced another quiet young man: "Li Jie, head of Southeast Asia channels for Green Factory!"

Realizing that there were many hidden talents in this friendly match, Chen Mo politely shook hands with Li Jie.

As the friendly match began, social niceties and considerations became increasingly apparent.

Huang Doudou, who had previously won an amateur open tournament in North America, "unexpectedly" came in last place.

The championship was won by Zhao Tiezhu, who was incredibly lucky.

Chen Mo won the "Best Dressed Award," and Shen Yiwei won the "Best Etiquette Award." Everyone received an award, and everyone was happy.

The lunch was held at a Mediterranean restaurant, and golf carts were provided for transportation.

Jin Zhijie squeezed into Chen Mo's car and talked about how his father had arranged for him to work at the Bubu Gao Group and what he wanted to do now: an early education machine project.

"Mr. Chen! I've already thought of the brand name, it'll be 'Little Heavenly Materials'!"

"Little Heavenly Talent?" Chen Mo almost choked on his saliva. Wasn't that the name of the absolute king of children's smartwatches in later generations?
He smiled and immediately became enthusiastic, beginning to "instruct" this third-generation successor of the Bubu Ointment!
"Great name! But the early education machine market has obvious pain points. Have you considered touchscreen interaction? Combining the wearable concept, Yuancheng can provide you with a small gaseous lithium battery!"

Chen Mo's words were full of valuable information, which resonated with Jin Zhijie. Of course, he didn't forget to sell his products!
If I couldn't persuade the old fox Jin Ming, who sells Bubu Gao (a type of medicated plaster), to make a "Bubu Gao music smartphone," then surely I can persuade your son!

"President Chen! You're amazing!" Jin Zhijie said, his face flushed with excitement. "You're way ahead of what my team planned months ago!"

The sun was shining brightly as the golf cart moved slowly.

Looking at the future business giants of the Bubu Ointment Group around him, Chen Mo suddenly had a flash of inspiration: getting closer to the circle, embracing differences, might really lead to a different path to success.

The luncheon was held on the restaurant's outdoor terrace, with long tables covered with pristine white tablecloths and silver cutlery gleaming in the sunlight. A dazzling array of exquisite cold dishes, fresh seafood, and top-quality Wagyu beef barbecue was on display.

Everyone took their own food and chatted in small groups, creating a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere.

Mr. Duan, holding a wine glass, walked over to Chen Mo's table and said with a smile, "You are all young people. Communicate more; there are many possibilities for cooperation in the future!"

He raised his glass specifically to Chen Mo: "Mr. Chen, the North American market is very interesting. We can talk more about it when we have the chance!"

Chen Mo understood and raised his glass: "I will definitely ask President Duan for advice when I have the chance!"

Yang Jierui also came over and chatted with Chen Mo for a while about the current state and future of the internet industry, expressing his admiration for Chen Mo.

Several other middle-aged entrepreneurs, such as Zhu Zhaojiang, who was planning to make mobile phones in Africa, also came over to greet Chen Mo, hand him their business cards, and expressed their intention to make friends.

Back then, Zhu Zhaojiang and General Manager Duan were both distributors at Bodao, starting from the same point.

But as time went by, while Mr. Duan had long since achieved great success and retired behind the scenes, he himself had never made any significant achievements.

With no other options, he could only turn his attention to the more distant continent of Africa, hoping that this unfamiliar land could bring him a turning point.

Zhao Tiezhu was chatting happily with Huang Doudou and Sun Tong, and they seemed to have reached a preliminary agreement on e-commerce outsourcing.

Shen Yiwei was busy introducing Chen Mo to various people, acting like a big brother.

After lunch, Mr. Duan suggested that everyone have free time; they could continue playing ball, relax at the golf course's spa, or chat in the hotel's coffee shop.

Chen Mo chose to sit in a coffee shop with Shen Yiwei and Zhao Tiezhu.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows is a continuous expanse of green grass, offering a superb view.

"How are you feeling?" Shen Yiwei asked Chen Mo with a smile.

"It's easier than I imagined!" Chen Mo took a sip of coffee. "There's not such a strong sense of constraint; it feels more like a high-level social platform."

“That’s right!” Shen Yiwei nodded.

Unlike the Daishan Association, which emphasizes close ties and mutual assistance, the New Zealand Friends Association is more loosely organized and provides opportunities for information and resource sharing.

While it's true that it's easy to add flowers to brocade but difficult to provide charcoal in the snow, sometimes, adding flowers to brocade is enough with just a little discretion!
This sense of proportion is why it was allowed to exist by those above.

Just then, Jin Zhijie came over again, holding a small notebook in his hand. It seemed he intended to continue asking Chen Mo for advice on "Little Talent's" plan.

This time, Chen Mo was more patient and gave him a lot of forward-looking advice based on future trends. Jin Zhijie's eyes lit up, and he wished he could become Chen Mo's apprentice on the spot.

Around 4 p.m., the event was drawing to a close.

Mr. Duan gave a brief closing speech, thanking everyone for their participation and expressing his hope for more cooperation in the future.

The group said their goodbyes and agreed to meet again next time.

On the way back, Zhao Tiezhu excitedly kept talking: "Brother Chen, that Huang Doudou is quite interesting, he has very creative ideas! And that Jin Zhijie, it seems he really considers you his entrepreneurial mentor."

Chen Mo looked at the scenery rushing past the window and felt a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing feelings, thoughts, and reflections).

On this day, he not only began to integrate into the business circle of this Newark Fan Club, paving the way for Zhao Tiezhu.

More importantly, he witnessed the prototypes of "Persona Beans", "Little Heavenly Talents", and "Level Rabbit" and made a pre-existing connection with them.

That's right! Li Jie, the channel manager for OPPO in Southeast Asia, is no ordinary person either. He witnessed the abysmal logistics efficiency in Southeast Asia and is preparing to start his own courier business there!
Wan Mingji from Shunfeng was specially brought in by President Duan to provide angel round investment in technology and talent for Jitu!

Whether you admit it or not, networking has its unique value.

Resources, information, connections, and the possibility of future cooperation.
All of this was subtly interwoven in the seemingly relaxed golf swings and casual tea breaks.

"Tiezhu!" Chen Mo suddenly spoke up: "Back in North America, when you're studying there, how about finding a local to partner with and build an orange distribution channel?"

Zhao Tiezhu stopped joking and said solemnly, "Okay, Brother Chen!"

The car drove away from Takiha Stadium, carrying them on a new journey.

This golf club has undoubtedly opened a new door for Orange's future.

(End of this chapter)