The younger generation, starting from where the wind blows...

Chapter 253 It’s impossible to work part-time

It's not that I find Xie Wanghe's proposed project particularly appealing, but rather that my last trip to Yunmiao Village left me feeling utterly traumatized.

If things continue like this, Xie Zhiyao will never be able to catch up with Yang Muye.

The pace of development in Lianyungang Miao Village is almost out of reach.

Xie Zhiyao could even imagine how the aunties and grandmas at the village entrance would talk about him.

After four years of studying at Yenching University, he returned home to find himself not as successful as Yang Guanjun and Xie Qiang, who hadn't even passed the university entrance exam.

In the eyes of the villagers, wasn't his university education a waste?

After returning from Yunmiao Village, Xie Zhiyao attended various entrepreneurship lectures non-stop, constantly thinking about how to start a business, and he was almost obsessed with it.

Xie Zhiyao accepted Xie Wanghe's invitation without hesitation.

"Shall we schedule a time to meet and discuss this in detail?"

Xie Zhiyao was anxious, but Xie Wanghe was even more anxious.

"Sure, do you have time tonight?"

"No problem, I'll come to your school then?"

“Since you’ve come to Yanhang, I’ve also found someone else to be in charge of product technology development. The three of us will meet first.”

After agreeing on a time and place to meet, the two chatted for over an hour about online question banks.

Until Na Jun accepted Xie Wanghe's friend request.

Xie Wanghe said something to Xie Zhiyao, then turned and started chatting with Na Jun.

Still wanting more, Xie Zhiyao opened his QQ friends list and saw that his friend "Tianyuan Muye" was online, which immediately made his eyes light up.

"No classes this morning?"

"Just got back from class, is something wrong?"

"I met a guy from Renmin University in the group. We were both very interested in the entrepreneurial stories of the three founders of New Dream. We chatted for a while and found that we got along very well."

"Xie Zhiyao, you haven't been tricked into joining a pyramid scheme, have you?"

Xie Zhiyao sent a crying-laughing emoji.

"What pyramid scheme group? We met in an entrepreneurship group."

"There's no difference. Pyramid scheme groups involve being passively deceived, while entrepreneurship groups involve being actively deceived."

The most common thing about pyramid schemes is brainwashing, tricking family members into paying money to bail them out.

Starting a business can lead to financial ruin, or even the destruction of one's family.

"How can you convince me that the other person isn't a scammer?"

"It's not that I think the other party is a fraud, but that entrepreneurship itself is a fraud. Of the wonderful visions that entrepreneurs describe to investors, only a very small percentage are ultimately realized. What are the rest if not frauds?"

Xie Zhiyao fell silent upon seeing the message Yang Muye had sent.

This translates to -

What makes you think you've encountered not a scammer, but one of the very few who can succeed?

After thinking for a few minutes, Xie Zhiyao typed a reply:
"Starting a business is a gamble, full of risks and uncertainties. The biggest risk for the poor is to remain poor for life. So why not take a chance?"

Just like Cheng Dongqing, who was expelled from Yenching University for tutoring students without permission, he founded New Dream when he had nowhere else to turn.

In a later speech, Cheng Dongqing admitted it himself.

I hated Yenching University's decision back then, but now I'm incredibly grateful.

If Cheng Dongqing hadn't been expelled from Yenching University, he wouldn't have risked everything to start his own business.

That way, we wouldn't have our new dreams now.

Seeing that Yang Muye did not refute, Xie Zhiyao assumed that Yang Muye had been persuaded and continued typing:
“I didn’t blindly believe the startup project they mentioned. There was a similar project that New Dream was interested in and was preparing to invest in.”

"If the market can accommodate both New Oriental and New Dream, why can't it accommodate two similar startups?"

More than half a minute passed after the message was sent before Yang Muye replied:

"What projects is New Dream preparing to invest in?"

"Yes, an online tutoring platform called Zuoyebang."

After Xie Zhiyao sent the message, Yang Muye replied instantly with a long string of ellipses!

Xie Zhiyao immediately typed to ask Yang Muye what he meant, but just as he was about to press the enter key, a possibility suddenly occurred to him.

It can't be such a coincidence, right?

Clinging to a sliver of hope, Xie Zhiyao deleted the line, waiting for Yang Muye to offer an explanation.

"Was the person who invited you to join the group named Xie Wanghe, an economics major from Renmin University?"

Boom!

Xie Zhiyao was stunned, his mind reeling. He stood frozen in front of the computer screen.

That evening, at a barbecue restaurant near Yanhang.

It's the same place where Xie Wanghe got drunk last night.

It's the same table as last night.

Sitting in front of Xie Wanghe was a boy who looked slightly shy and inexperienced.

It was Na Jun, a classmate recommended by Zhou Haikuo.

The two had already communicated extensively on QQ during the day regarding the online question bank startup project.

Na Jun came here specifically to ask Xie Wanghe a question.

"Homework Helper was developed by Haikuo and his team, and now we're creating a similar product. Aren't you worried that the two products will compete fiercely in the future, which could affect your relationship with Haikuo?"

"Don't worry, Hai Kuo and I are competing fairly."

Xie Wanghe picked up the beer bottle and filled the glass in front of Na Jun.

He had only poured a little over half a cup when Na Jun called for a stop.

He didn't drink much before.

Xie Wanghe didn't insist and filled his own glass with wine.

"It's true that Hai Kuo told me that New Dream was going to invest in 'Zuoyebang', and Hai Kuo has also informed the 'Zuoyebang' development team about my startup plan to develop a similar product."

As for the connection between online question banks and Zuoyebang, Xie Wanghe plans to reveal the truth after Na Jun is completely on his "pirate ship".

Na Jun didn't say it aloud, but she couldn't help thinking about it in her heart.

Although Xie Wanghe could meet the technical requirements for online question banks himself, his capabilities were simply not on the same level as the technical team from Shanye Technology at Zuoyebang.

Na Jun was still a little hesitant about whether to join Xie Wanghe's team.

Xie Wanghe noticed Na Jun's hesitation and suggested that the two of them have a drink first.

He's determined to have Na Jun.

At worst, we can get him drunk first, and then later claim that he had already agreed when he was drinking.

Just as the two were about to clink glasses, a handsome young man in a jacket walked into the store. His eyes began to search among the customers, clearly indicating that he was looking for someone.

"here!"

Xie Wanghe raised his hand and waved to the other party.

Upon seeing this, Xie Zhiyao immediately walked over.

Xie Wanghe put down his wine glass and stood up.

Seeing this, Na Jun also stood up.

When Xie Zhiyao arrived at the table, Xie Wanghe took the initiative to introduce the two of them.

"This is Xie Zhiyao, a graduate of the Central University of Finance and Economics majoring in investment. He will be our company's CFO in the future."

"This is Na Jun, a computer science major from Yanhang University, who will be our company's CTO in the future."

Xie Zhiyao laughed.

"I haven't even agreed to join yet, and you've already assigned me a position?"

Na Jun, who was standing to the side, immediately showed a look of agreement in her eyes.

That's what he was thinking too.

Xie Wanghe smiled and invited Xie Zhiyao and Na Jun to sit down together, then personally poured Xie Zhiyao a glass of wine.

"Whether you two are willing to join in the end or not, it's fate that the three of us are together. Come on, let's have a drink first."

Xie Wanghe's idea was very simple.

Let's get you two drunk first, then we can talk about other things. "It really is quite a coincidence."

It was just... a tragic fate!
Xie Zhiyao picked up his wine glass, glancing curiously at Na Jun:
"Where did your relationship begin?"

Na Jun hurriedly clarified:

"We met through classmates."

Xie Wanghe then explained, "He was my high school classmate and childhood friend, and now he's in the same class as Na Jun."

"Zhou Haikuo?"

A name suddenly popped out of Xie Zhiyao's mouth.

Na Jun, Xie Wang, and Qi Qi were stunned.

Na Jun was merely surprised, while Xie Wanghe was even more astonished!
After his Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty, Xie Wanghe hesitated before asking, "How do you know Hai Kuo?"

“I don’t know Zhou Haikuo, but I know Yang Muye.”

Xie Zhiyao looked at Xie Wanghe, whose pupils had widened in shock: "Yang Muye is my childhood friend and classmate from kindergarten, elementary school, junior high school, and high school."

Xie Wanghe was so shocked that he couldn't speak.

Even Na Jun, who was standing to the side, was in a state of shock.

He had met Yang Muyi once before.

Before their wedding, Na Wei and Shen Lin went to look at the venue and happened to run into Yang Muye in the lobby of the Fairfield by the Sea Hotel.

Shen Lin's younger brother, Shen Lei, is Yang Muye's classmate.

It was from Shen Lei that Na Jun first heard some things about Yang Muye.

At the time, I just thought Yang Muyi was very capable, but I wasn't particularly shocked.

It wasn't until Yang Muye was exposed online that Na Jun realized just how amazing Yang Muye was.

Xie Zhiyao raised his glass and clinked it with Xie Wanghe and Na Jun.

"A toast to our destiny!"

After saying that, he raised his head and drank it all in one gulp.

Xie Wanghe's feelings at this moment were extremely complicated.

Xie Wanghe only came to his senses after Na Jun had finished his drink.

For the first time in his life, Xie Wanghe found beer difficult to swallow.

Keep in mind that this is only the first cup.

Today, in order to take down Xie Zhiyao and Na Jun, Xie Wanghe ordered a whole case of beer.

I don't know if I can get a refund if I can't finish it.

Thinking of how he had just boldly ordered the boss to bring him drinks, Xie Wanghe felt that the beer he swallowed tasted even more bitter.

Xie Zhiyao put down his wine glass and invited Na Jun and Xie Wanghe to sit down.

The waiter brought out the grilled meat skewers, and Xie Zhiyao didn't stand on ceremony, picking up a skewer and eating it first.

"Why aren't you eating? It won't taste good if it gets cold."

Na Jun, quite obediently, picked up a skewer of grilled fried pork belly.
Xie Wanghe remained seated and did not move.

His mind hadn't fully processed the fact that Xie Zhiyao had met Yang Muye.

Xie Zhiyao glanced at Xie Wanghe.

Don't tell me you didn't think of that.

I didn't expect that either.

Seeing that Xie Zhiyao had almost finished the skewer of grilled meat in his hand, Xie Wang hesitated before speaking:
"Since you and Yang Muyi know each other, then my project—"

"I'm in!"

Xie Zhiyao answered firmly.

Upon hearing this, the person most surprised was not Xie Wanghe, but Na Jun.

Xie Zhiyao looked at the two of them:

"Do you all think that since Muye and I are childhood friends, and 'Zuoyebang' was created by Muye, I would definitely not join a competitor's startup team?"

"To be honest, when I learned the truth, I did think about quitting."

“It was Makino who persuaded me to stay because he was very optimistic about our project. Even though we had already created ‘Homework Helper,’ he was still willing to invest some money in us, provided that we were willing to accept it.”

"Investing in competitors sounds contradictory, doesn't it? I didn't understand it at first either, so I asked him directly."

At this point, Xie Zhiyao deliberately stopped and took a bite of the roasted meat, his mouth full of oil.

Xie Wanghe and Na Jun both wished they could snatch the meat skewers from Xie Zhiyao's hands so he could quickly tell them how Yang Muye had answered.

He said that after Zuoyebang went online, it was impossible for it to occupy the entire market at once, not to mention that the online education market itself is still in a state of untapped potential and needs more similar products to come in together to expand the entire market pie through competition.

Xie Zhiyao said while chewing on the meat.

Xie Wanghe frowned upon hearing this.

"So you're here to act as Yang Muyi's intermediary?"

Xie Zhiyao countered with:
"If Zhou Haikuo were to act as an intermediary, would you agree?"

Xie Wanghe paused for a moment, then shook his head firmly.

He is willing to compete fairly with Zuoyebang, but will not accept "charity" from his competitors.

Xie Zhiyao smiled.

Because he thinks so too.

At this moment, Na Jun couldn't help but speak up: "Aren't you worried about affecting your relationship by just rejecting their 'kindness' like that?"

Xie Zhiyao finished the last piece of meat on the skewer, took a tissue, wiped his mouth, and explained:

"In fact, I rejected his offer to invest in us at the time because I know him too well. He just wanted to wait until we reached a certain scale before he would take over the smaller ones."

Xie Zhiyao wanted to start his own business because he didn't want to work for Yang Muye.

If you accept Yang Muye's investment and your company is eventually swallowed up, it's essentially like you're still working for Yang Muye.

Does that mean all your hard work in starting a business was for nothing?
"As for affecting our relationship, there's absolutely no need to worry about that, because even though I rejected his offer to invest in us, he still enthusiastically gave us some advice."

Xie Wanghe and Na Jun exchanged a glance.

Xie Wanghe spoke first:
"For example?"

Xie Zhiyao shrugged.

"Since our product is going to compete with Zuoyebang, it first needs to have a name that's as catchy and easy to remember as Zuoyebang's, right?"

After speaking, he first looked at Xie Wanghe.

Xie Wanghe chose to avoid the issue.

He had been so focused on the general direction of his business that he hadn't thought about it in such detail.

Then, Xie Zhiyao looked at Na Jun.

Na Jun looked completely bewildered.

I'm a tech guy with an engineering background, and you want me to name the product?
Xie Zhiyao shrugged regretfully: "So neither of you came up with a good name, huh?"

He didn't either.

So Yang Muye helped them choose one.

"Yuanfudao, what do you guys think?" Xie Zhiyao asked.

Just by hearing the name, you can tell the inspiration must have come from a programmer.

Na Jun asked, somewhat naively:
"Why not just call him Tutor Ape?"

"Because counselor is a term usually used in universities, and counselors' job is not to help you with your homework, so Yuanfudao sounds better."

These are Yang Muye's original words; Xie Zhiyao was only responsible for relaying them.

Na Jun didn't say anything more and turned to look at Xie Wanghe.

It's clear that Xie Wanghe is quite satisfied with this name.

But Xie Wanghe was also conflicted.

They rejected Yang Muye's investment, but then accepted the name he gave them.

This feels a bit awkward.