How can you become a star without money?

Chapter 180: A New Batch of People
The winds of 520 have finally reached Hong Kong.

Ms.com's overseas version has gained a substantial user base across East Asia in recent months by focusing on topics relevant to niche groups.

On some niche topics, MS's activity level has far exceeded that of international social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. The main topics focus on discussions about the majority of voiceless groups under capitalism, namely, loss of rights, wages, and public welfare.

In addition, the Ms platform and Kanpian.com have a dedicated online ticketing section that promotes niche art films, attracting a large number of loyal niche audiences and making it attractive to users in developed entertainment consumption areas.

Most importantly, there are very few embedded ads on MS. Wang Yao almost exclusively embeds ads on his own platforms and does not advertise to external companies for the time being, in order to maintain good user habits.

Ms has gradually transformed from a social platform for acquaintances into a community platform, where various small circles live in their own little worlds, yet can quickly unite on grand issues like "rejecting shallowness."

This is the early advantage of niche markets, but the disadvantages are equally obvious: the ceiling is low and it's easy to hit a bottleneck.

The topic of "520 God Company" also sparked discussion on Ms. Xiangjiang District. Hong Kong workers, who have always considered themselves to be from a developed area, expressed envy and jealousy when they saw that companies like Tianhuo had printed these clauses in their employment contracts. In order to expand the discussion, Jin Quan even deliberately used the price difference between the two places to create a controversial topic.

One side said, "Although they work 5 days a week and have 2 days off, their wages are low."

The other party replied, "Although their wages are low, their housing prices are low."

Once this controversial topic emerged, it naturally attracted a lot of discussion, and the topic directly influenced discussions on major platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, starting from trending on MS.

Besides housing prices, the rigid standard of "no drinking parties and no team building" has sparked more discussion. Hong Kong's drinking culture is also very popular, but it is somewhat different from that of the mainland. One is mainly a test of compliance, while the other is mainly a necessity for soft social interaction.

Therefore, the culture of commerce and entertainment is very developed here.

When Wang Yao landed in Hong Kong, he looked at the rankings on various platforms and couldn't help but laugh.

Unexpectedly, housing prices in Shanghai have become an advantage one day.

However, there's nothing that can be done; Hong Kong is still in the real estate era.

There are three things I'm here for in Hong Kong. First, the filming of the movie "22.22" has started. Because it is adapted from part of a biography, we need to film on location. There are also some scenes on fishing boats. The filming system here is relatively low-cost, and Wong Jing personally helped coordinate it.

Secondly, it was to arrange a meeting with Dr. Zheng Yutong, one of the four richest men. At the auction, the 80 yuan purchase was not just for a pen and a set of jewelry, but also for an opportunity to meet him.

Finally, with Deng Wendi's help, they met with Carol, the current CEO of Yahoo!

Hong Kong is Stanley Kwan's home turf, and with the assistance of Wang Jing, the crew successfully set up camp there. Zhao Liying and Zhang Tianai have already started filming the new drama, while the third female lead, Nazha, has gone back to her hometown to cram for the college entrance examination.

She didn't care much about her academic performance at first, but after gaining some popularity, the idol image and mental pressure that young people have become more important have increased. In order to avoid being ridiculed after the results are announced, Nazha took the initiative to study hard and prepare for the exam.

Because she knew that if she did poorly on the exam, it wouldn't just be her face that was lost.

Wang Yao spent the afternoon showing the film crew around. During that time, several owners of small entertainment companies came to visit, hoping to see if there was an opportunity for collaboration.

Cheng Yu-tung arranged to entertain Wang Yao at the newly reopened Hyatt Regency Tsim Sha Tsui, a five-star hotel. Although it cannot compare with the top luxury hotels like the Peninsula, its prime location and direct view of the Peninsula's seascape make for a decent experience.

Moreover, because its pricing is lower than that of top-tier luxury hotels and it targets the light luxury business clientele, its occupancy rate is extremely high, making it one of the best-performing hotels currently.

"Good evening, Mr. Wang. I am Zheng Ziwen from Xinjiu Group. It's a pleasure to meet you."

The person in charge of receiving Wang Yao was Zheng Yutong's eldest granddaughter, Zheng Ziwen.

Originally, the Zheng family didn't pay much attention to this rising star from the mainland who emerged unexpectedly at the auction. However, as news about Wang Yao increased in the e-commerce industry, coupled with Ma Yun's personal involvement in increasing her holdings, the Zheng family's rating of Wang Yao rose several levels.

As a traditional family business, they hold a respectful but not resistant attitude towards e-commerce and the internet. After all, everyone can see the impact the internet industry has had on the world's development and changes in the last two years.

In just ten years, the Malaysians have almost caught up with the savings that traditional families accumulated over half a century. This is quite an impact.

Although Zheng Yutong is over eighty years old, he still maintains an active mind and is indeed curious about the Internet, especially the e-commerce industry. This time, he can learn about the changes in the relevant market through Wang Yao, a young man.

Therefore, his eldest granddaughter, Zheng Ziwen, was sent to receive them personally.

"Hello, Miss Zheng, I'm Wang Yao, nice to meet you." Wang Yao smiled and shook hands.

Zheng Ziwen has a somewhat masculine appearance and exudes the air of a wealthy overseas returnee. Among many third-generation female heirs, she is considered relatively low-key and pragmatic.

"Mr. Wang's youthfulness is indeed beyond my imagination. Seeing you makes me realize how old I really am." Zheng Ziwen looked Wang Yao up and down, a hint of amazement flashing in her eyes.

"Time is just a yardstick invented by mankind. Whether you get old or not depends mainly on your mindset. Miss Zheng gives me the feeling that she is about the same age as others, like a senior from school," Wang Yao said with a light laugh.

"Tsk, Mr. Wang speaks so sweetly, no wonder so many actresses are drooling over him." Zheng Ziwen looked at Wang Yao again.

This young man was completely different from the wealthy mainland businessmen she had encountered before, not in terms of age or appearance, but in a difference in inner energy.

She majored in applied mathematics but also studied psychology and religion. She believed in things like magnetic fields. Her first impression of Wang Yao's magnetic field was that it was very compatible, and she thought there might be a chance to cooperate.

The two chatted as they took the elevator directly to the top floor. Along the way, Zheng Ziwen introduced him to the new wine group and the new Hyatt.

Upon reaching the top floor, the interior is decorated like a super-large single-level apartment, estimated to be two or three thousand square meters. The largest area is the restaurant, presumably used by the Zheng family for gatherings and banquets.

Apart from a dozen or so busy service staff, only Zheng Yutong, who was already in his eighties, was dozing on the sofa.

Zheng Ziwen nodded apologetically to Wang Yao and went over to wake him up.

Although it was only a little before seven o'clock, it was indeed considered staying up late for an elderly person of this age.

"Oh, Mr. Wang has arrived. Please have a seat." Zheng Yutong opened his eyes, his smile kind.

"Mr. Zheng, I apologize for disturbing you." Wang Yao nodded in acknowledgment.

"Mr. Wang, you're too kind. Thanks to you, Zhou Dafu has become quite a sensation in the mainland, even increasing his business by 10%. I'm so grateful to you." Zheng Yutong said with a smile, his eyes, which showed no signs of age, sizing up Wang Yao and remarking, "A handsome man, with a dragon's head and phoenix's bearing. Do you have a girlfriend?"

“Grandpa, she’s a college student.” Zheng Ziwen said helplessly. The older generation likes to check people’s backgrounds when they meet them in social situations.

“What’s wrong with college students? I was already married to your grandma when I was in college,” Zheng Yutong said with a smile.

"I haven't thought about marriage yet; my career comes first," Wang Yao said with a smile.

“Yes, men should prioritize their careers, but there’s no rush to get married. Times have changed. In the past, it was said that you should start a family before building a career, but now whether you start a family or not doesn’t really affect your career,” Zheng Yutong said with a smile.

Having come from a family that included him in his husband's family, he had a deep understanding of this.

"Fate is more important," Wang Yao smiled.

"I heard that Mr. Wang's business has even caught the attention of Ma Yun?" Zheng Yutong asked after exchanging a few pleasantries.

“Mr. Ma is quite concerned about the overall development of the e-commerce industry,” Wang Yao said with a smile.

“He doesn’t just pay attention to things casually, just like I don’t pay special attention to which store’s top seller.” Zheng Yutong shook his head. “Mr. Wang, there’s no need to be modest. Don’t let my age fool you; I have my secretary read me newspapers about the mainland every day.”

“Then I can recommend a few accounts to Mr. Zheng. They basically summarize the news from various industries every day,” Wang Yao said with a smile.

“That’s great, it’s comparable to the intelligence department.” Zheng Yutong laughed. “Master, may we invite the guests to take their seats?” the butler interrupted the conversation.

"Let's go." Zheng Yutong got up and, with Zheng Ziwen's help, led Wang Yao to the dining table.

"I didn't know what you liked to eat, so I made it according to our family's taste. Don't mind, just treat it as a family feast. I'm getting old and can't eat much," Zheng Yutong said with a smile.

“I’m not a picky eater either,” Wang Yao smiled.

“Hong Kong cuisine is sweet and mild, Mr. Wang, please consider this a change of pace.” Zheng Ziwen ladled a bowl of what looked like a nourishing soup for Zheng Yutong, and then placed a stew pot in front of Wang Yao. “Let’s eat this, a more traditional flavor called Fu Shou Quan.”

“It’s the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall that you’ve been talking about,” Zheng Yutong said.

Wang Yao nodded. Although it was a family banquet, the order of serving dishes and the use of utensils were, to be honest, quite a few rules. Perhaps this is what a wealthy and powerful family like this is like.

In China, it is customary not to speak while eating or sleeping, but due to the influence of the colonial period, Hong Kong people are more accustomed to discussing business over meals. They believe that good food and wine can ease the serious atmosphere of negotiations.

In addition, the Guangdong region has been rich in products and delicious food throughout history, so it is customary to evaluate food while eating, since a morning tea meal can take up to two hours.

Hong Kong is indeed an environment dominated by 'slowness', characterized by both arrogance and laxity.

Aside from arrogance, this nonchalance isn't laziness, but rather a kind of "leisure amidst busyness" born under high pressure. Therefore, the environment here is very extreme, with a clear separation between life and work, which leads to most people having some degree of mental schizophrenia.

After the appetizers had been served, Zheng Yutong spoke again, "I heard that Mr. Wang's e-commerce business is valued at nearly a billion US dollars?"

Recently, the media thoroughly investigated Tianhuo and Mulan Street, analyzing the potential value of these two companies and saying that their valuation by the end of the year would reach at least 60 billion RMB.

“Valuations are all just numbers. Apart from Tianhuo, Mulan Street hasn’t received many funding offers, so I’m not really sure about it,” Wang Yao said with a smile.

“Mr. Wang is too modest. I saw the news yesterday that Mulan Street already has over four million users and daily sales exceeding ten million yuan. Moreover, its growth rate has not yet reached its peak. If it can break through ten million users by the end of the year, its valuation may exceed one billion US dollars.” Zheng Ziwen seemed very interested in Mulan Street.

"These are all just figures on paper. The development of the internet industry is all about reaping what you sow. It may seem like things are going well, but there are hidden dangers everywhere," Wang Yao waved his hand.

“A few years ago, the Li family’s son invested in an internet company, sold it, and then abandoned the industry, saying he couldn’t see the trend. Mr. Wang, as an industry insider, could you enlighten me? What exactly is this internet?” Zheng Yutong wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.

“Tools,” Wang Yao replied casually. “Like cars and airplanes, their emergence disrupted the rules of human space, while the internet will disrupt the rules of time and space.”

"Oh? I'd like to hear more." Zheng Yutong raised an eyebrow slightly.

Somewhat surprisingly, Wang Yao's explanation was so simple.

"Civilization develops through the means of communication, and the importance of information is beyond doubt. Behind the internet lies the density and value of information flow. For example, in the past, to trade stocks, you had to queue in the trading hall."

Currently, it still requires the use of service platforms such as securities firms and banks, but once the payment licenses are issued next year, everyone will only need to use a computer and mobile phone to trade stocks. The era of personal trading is coming. In other words, the internet can eliminate many cumbersome steps, saving time and communication costs, while bringing unimaginable information density. "Wang Yao laughed.

"They all say that the world is advancing the process of digital currency, and that in the future all money will be digitally stored in internet banks. Is that possible?" Zheng Yutong frowned.

"Yes, and it's estimated that it will happen very soon, within the next five years at most, the rate of cash usage in mainland China will decrease by more than 70%." Wang Yao nodded.

"So fast?" Zheng Yutong was taken aback.

I don't know what they're talking about.

“The promotion of the internet is called ‘a unified national strategy,’” Wang Yao said with a smile.

Zheng Yutong looked at his granddaughter.

"So, the internet has directly broken down the limitations of space and time, making all businesses more transparent and standardized? Doesn't that mean many industries will go bankrupt?" Zheng Ziwen frowned.

"It didn't go bankrupt, it just changed its form and had a different group of people." Wang Yao shook his head.

Zheng Yutong squinted. "So that's how it is, just like cars replacing horse-drawn carriages."

"Yes, even now, without significant breakthroughs in energy technology, most changes are in form rather than substance. Take e-commerce, for example; it's simply moving offline stores online. While it may seem to save on rent, there are still costs associated with advertising and marketing. Although the customer base may appear to expand, the actual customer acquisition cost and profit margin are roughly the same—there's not much change."
The only change is in the consumer experience. After getting used to home delivery, most people are no longer willing to shop offline, and the sales model has become faster-paced, more formulaic, and more emotional. Wang Yao nodded.

"Then, won't the shopping mall industry be severely impacted?" Zheng Ziwen raised an eyebrow.

The Zheng family's core businesses are jewelry and real estate, with department stores being their core industry. If the development of e-commerce really has such a big impact on them, it would be quite serious for them.

"Pretty much. In the end, it's estimated that only some shopping malls with added value will survive. Wanda's urban complex concept is actually one of them." Wang Yao nodded.

"In other words, shopping malls no longer exist for shopping." Zheng Yutong said thoughtfully.

"Therefore, there is now a concept called 'Internet Plus,' which allows any industry to mitigate the risk of being eliminated in the future by leveraging the power of the internet. For example, cinemas can combine with online ticketing websites."

After two months of adjustment, Kanpianer.com is now able to increase occupancy rates by more than 30% with its partner cinemas. As the film industry develops, this growth rate will accelerate, thanks to overcoming consumers' concerns about the time and space required for ticket purchases,” Wang Yao said with a smile.

"Kanpianer.com is indeed a very convenient thing. Many cinemas in our mall are using it now," Zheng Ziwen said with a smile.

“Our mobile app is ready for public beta testing.” Wang Yao handed over his iPad.

After Zheng Ziwen took it, she demonstrated how to operate it to Zheng Yutong.

Although it was Zheng Ziwen's first time using a mobile device, she successfully made a reservation in less than two minutes thanks to her PC usage habits and the simple command interface.

"So fast?" Zheng Yutong was somewhat surprised.

Although he himself doesn't use a computer, his company is almost entirely paperless, and he acknowledges the efficiency of computers. However, he seems to have taken efficiency to a new level on mobile devices.

"Mobile devices represent the next stage of the internet. Basic needs like clothing, food, housing, and transportation can all be met with a mobile phone, greatly lowering the barrier to entry for consumers and increasing the frequency of consumption," Wang Yao said with a slight smile.

"The world is changing so fast!" Zheng Yutong exclaimed.

"Westerners say that the development of modern science and technology in the last hundred years has surpassed the sum of the previous five thousand years of human development," Zheng Ziwen exclaimed in amazement.

She saw something different in Wang Yao's app: "Will e-commerce also become mobile in the future?"

"We've already started testing it on iOS. Once other smartphone systems become more widespread or unified, we'll see a surge in adoption, which I expect within the next year or two. Actually, I've already added a link to a separate independent website to the overseas version of Mulan Street."

"For example, with your Zhou Dafu products, all you need is an independent website, linked to Mulan Street for promotion. Users can then place orders online, pick them up at designated sales outlets, or have them delivered. Of course, such expensive items also require relevant insurance coverage." Wang Yao showed them the overseas version of Mulan Street, which was not yet in public beta.

"Should we also create a similar independent website? Just like the official website?" Zheng Yutong frowned.

He didn't understand how the technology was implemented, but he had already realized that this thing would become a standard feature of all brands.

Wang Yao recalled something recently, a playful smile on his face.

"We can choose not to do it now, but we will have to do it when everyone else does it in the future."

(End of this chapter)