Reborn in 08, Public Enemy of Competitors

Outdoors, the summer sun blazes down, and cicadas chirp incessantly.

Inside, the air conditioning was strong, and a cool breeze was blowing.

Zhong Xue, Xu Kun, Lu Wenbin and others formed a circle, each dressed in revealing clothing and holding an ice pop.

Zhuang Bifan raised his hand. "Brother Mo, since our main focus is on rebates, why not just call it 'Rebate Network' or 'Cashback Network'?"

Zhang Wei nodded in agreement, "Yes, this name is easy to understand; others will recognize it at a glance."

"It's too small; its scope is too narrow."

Shen Mo raised his hand, "What we want to do is not just create a simple cashback tool, but to build a comprehensive shopping guide ecosystem."

"That's right, the upper limit of these cashback websites is obvious at a glance."

Lu Wenbin grinned mischievously, "I think we should call it 'Taoduoduo,' riding on Taobao's popularity. Customers and merchants will think it's Taobao's official shopping guide platform."

"No!"

Shen Mo flatly rejected the idea; he knew all too well the temperaments of Jack Ma and Ali.

There have been many websites that tried to piggyback on Taobao's success, but they were all shut down by Ali with swift and decisive action.

"Yes, the name Taoduoduo is absolutely unacceptable."

Zhong Xue agreed wholeheartedly, saying, "Our shopping guide platform must connect to the API interfaces of Zhifubao, Ali Mama, and Taobao. If it is deemed to be malicious extortion, Ali will immediately cut off all interfaces and ban the account. By then, it will be too late to cry."

Shen Mo asked, "What name do you think we should give it?"

"I came up with two names. One is 'Huiduoduo,' which directly refers to the money-saving discounts on our products. The other is 'Yitao GO,' which means easy shopping and convenient shopping. It also fits our project code name, 'Go.'"

Zhong Xue was prepared and spoke calmly.

Shen Mo nodded and wrote the names "Hui Duo Duo" and "Yi Tao GO" on the whiteboard.

After a heated discussion, more than ten names were already on the whiteboard, such as Kangaroo Shopping, Bibi Shopping, etc.

Yuan Hua suggested, "How about we hold a vote?"

"Brother Mo, which one do you think is better?"

As soon as Chen Bo said this, everyone present turned to look at Shen Mo.

"Just as Yuan Hua said, we'll hold a vote, but not internally; we'll organize a vote on the website."

Shen Mo smiled and said, "Put these options up, determine the results based on the number of votes, and let the users who participated in the voting share the prize money."

"That's a great idea!"

Zhong Xue applauded, saying, "It not only allows users to feel involved, but also creates momentum through the event, solving the cold start problem at a low cost."

Everyone quickly understood the brilliance of Shen Mo's plan and responded enthusiastically.

"Xu Kun, Bi Fan, how long will it take you to finish this?"

He looked left and right in silence.

Xu Kun said confidently, "There's not much technical difficulty. Just find an existing voting template, modify it a bit, and set up data tracking in the backend to record user IDs and voting actions. It should be finished before I leave work."

"Okay, the prize pool is tentatively set at 10,000, and will be adjusted based on the number of participants."

Shen Mo announced loudly, "Let's start promoting this at our school. At least we need to make everyone understand how cashback shopping works."

"OK, we'll get right on it."

Xu Kun looked very energetic.

Shen Mo said, "Don't rush, besides this, you also need to do two more voting activities."

Zhuang Bifan pressed further, "Which two?"

"Since it's an Olympic year, we certainly can't let go of the Olympics as a key to generating traffic."

Shen Mo wrote "Olympic Prediction Special Event" on the whiteboard.

"The first one, the 'ultimate suspense,' is that by the closing of the Olympics on August 24th, any newly registered user who correctly guesses the final number of gold medals won by China can share a rebate bonus of 18888 yuan. The closer the guess, the higher the rebate percentage... If you guess it completely, you will receive 888 yuan in cash directly..."

"Secondly, the 'First Gold Moment' event allows newly registered users who can guess who the Chinese athlete is who won the first gold medal to directly participate in sharing an 8888 yuan rebate pool."

As he spoke, he held up two fingers. "Two activities: register to guess, and if you guess correctly, you'll win money. What do you think?"

Lu Wenbin was thrilled. "Let's grab this! Few people can resist such a freebie!"

Everyone marveled and agreed.

Zhuang Bifan confidently declared, "Brother Mo, don't worry, we'll definitely try our best to get it done before we leave work!"

"No rush, pay the wages first!"

Shen Mo smiled slightly, picked up a black plastic bag, and with a 'thud,' several thick stacks of banknotes fell out.

Upon hearing "give out money," everyone's eyes immediately filled with a desire for money.

"Brother Mo, you miscounted, you sent 800 too many!"

Xu Kun was the first to receive his salary. He counted it once and blurted it out.

"You guys come to the company every night, not only to freeload on the Wi-Fi and air conditioning, but you also have to work overtime coding! Do you think I'm blind?!"

Shen Mo snapped irritably, "The extra amount will be your overtime pay."

Overtime pay?

Xu Kun was taken aback. This term was really unfamiliar to him. He had never received overtime pay when he worked part-time before!

"Thank you, Brother Mo!"

"The boss is awesome!"

"..."

After everyone received their wages, they rushed to flatter him, and almost everyone received overtime pay and bonuses.

Lu Wenbin, Yuan Hua, and Qin Feng were the most enthusiastic, because they could get another share from the handshake website.

Double the pay, double the happiness!

"besides!"

Shen Mo clapped his hands. "Tonight is the opening ceremony of the Olympics. I've already booked a table at Ant Bar. Everyone's going to this historic moment. I'll get angry with anyone who doesn't go."

"Go! We have to go!"

"Only a puppy wouldn't go!"

"That's right, it's Mo-ge's treat, I'll fight anyone who asks for leave!"

Everyone chattered excitedly, as if it were New Year's Day. Zhong Xue smiled brightly and looked at Shen Mo meaningfully.

………………

After more than two months of working together, the development team needed a group activity to boost morale.

And this Olympic opening ceremony is undoubtedly the best opportunity.

Just then, many bars launched "Olympic packages," and Ant Bar was no exception.

At 7:30 p.m., neon signs lit up in the twilight, and a sign stood at the entrance that read, "Welcome the Olympics, Carnival Night! Buy one dozen, get half a dozen free! Free national flag stickers!"

Shen Mo and his group filed in, and a wave of sound, like heat, hit them.

The bar was almost full, with Chinese national flags and Olympic rings hanging overhead, and small national flags and stickers on each table.

Some people had face paint on, some were wearing T-shirts that said "Go China!", and some had already started drinking, with beer glasses clinking together.

On the way to the booth, I saw a series of young ladies dressed in very revealing clothing.

It has to be said that regardless of whether their faces are pretty or not, their legs-baring backs are still very eye-catching.

During the short journey, Shen Mo also received many glances from the opposite sex.

With his height of just over 1.8 meters, simple and clean clothing, and a unique temperament that sets him apart from the other men, he stands out like a crane among ducks.

Shen Mo turned his head and saw Yuan Hua, whose eyes were darting around, so he slapped him on the back in an annoyance.

"If you want to watch, then watch openly and honestly. Being timid and hesitant is just cowardly."

"Brother Mo, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

Yuan Hua shrank back and muttered to himself.

Shen Mo said in a serious tone, "Isn't it a waste if flowers bloom in their full glory but no one appreciates them?"

"ah??"

Yuan Hua, Xu Kun, and the others were instantly dumbfounded.

Shen Mo said, "These young ladies are dressed so beautifully; if we don't look at them, we'd be ungrateful and would be wasting their effort, wouldn't we?"

"Yes! The boss is absolutely right! What can you possibly see by sneaking around like this?"

Zhong Xue suppressed a laugh. "If you want to look, look openly like the boss. As the saying goes, a gentleman is magnanimous, while a petty person is always anxious."

Shen Mo glanced at her, a chill running down his spine.

Goodness, no wonder she's a senior who's seen countless films, her gaze is even more perverted than mine!

"Hey, isn't that woman the lawyer who came to see you last time?"

Zhong Xue was surprised and pointed.

Shen Mo followed her gaze and saw Lin Qingyan wearing a dark blue halter dress, with her long hair draped over her shoulders, chatting happily with Liu Lan and others.

Lin Qingyan glanced at him casually and clearly noticed him as well. She paused for a moment, then raised her glass in acknowledgment.

"Mr. Shen? What a coincidence."

"In this kind of situation, it's best not to use titles."

Shen Mo waved his hand, "What a coincidence, I didn't expect you to be here to watch the Olympic opening ceremony too."

"you do not say!"

Lin Qingyan smiled and hooked her arm around Liu Lan's shoulder, "This girl insisted on coming to join in the fun at our business school alumni association's get-together."

Shen Mo asked in surprise, "You're from Zhejiang University of Technology and Business?"

Lin Qingyan couldn't help but sigh, "Yes, I did my undergraduate studies here."

Liu Lan's tone was full of pride, "Senior Qingyan is the first person from our Business Administration program to be admitted to Aurora University's Master of Laws program."

Shen Mo raised an eyebrow: "Ah Dan Law Master's degree, awesome!"

"What's so great about it? It's just good luck."

A hint of disappointment flashed across Lin Qingyan's eyes. "If we're talking about being impressive, you're the best. You dared to start your own business while only a sophomore."

The booths for both sides were right next to each other, and Lu Wenbin, Yuan Hua and others took their seats.

Lin Qingyan asked in a low voice, "How's your website progressing?"

Shen Mo said, "It will be launched tomorrow, just in time for the Olympic Games hype."

Lin Qingyan raised her glass: "Wishing you a resounding victory."

Shen Mo clinked glasses with her, grinned, and said, "Thank you for your kind words."

A moment later, the bar lights dimmed, and a series of loud "bang bang bang" sounds suddenly came from the television.

"At this moment, the light of time emitted by the sundial illuminates the Bird's Nest!"

When the crowd saw the 2008 glittering jars, they immediately erupted in deafening cheers.

Shen Mo smacked his lips; this opening ceremony in Yanjing was truly endlessly fascinating.

"Once we host this Olympics, I'm afraid no one will be able to surpass it in the future."

"You never know, what if there's something even better later?"

Lin Qingyan blinked her eyes curiously.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Shen Mo was unimpressed. Just thinking about the Olympics in Japan and France made him feel like the living were doing the dead.

Compared to this, 08 was simply divine!

Liu Lan and the others originally wanted to refute, but after watching the Beijing Olympics from beginning to end, they were completely and deeply shocked.

As the two drum formations on the screen flashed, one forming the number "ten" and the other "10," the Chinese characters and Arabic numerals simultaneously stirred the emotions of the entire audience.

"5!"

"4!"

Amidst waves of cheers, the entire audience counted down together.

"3!"

"2!"

"1!"

"China is awesome!"

"Go China!"

People in the crowd kept shouting, their voices deafening and soaring into the sky.

"See? I wasn't wrong, was I?"

Shen Mo blinked his right eye with amusement.

"you're right!"

A sense of pride welled up in Lin Qingyan's heart: "Ours, if not unprecedented, is certainly unparalleled. I'm afraid we'll never find an Olympics that can compare to it again."

Countless small red flags waved wildly in the bar, casting a bright red glow on everyone's faces.

Looking around, Shen Mo tilted his head back, downed the wine in his glass in one gulp, and felt equally excited.

Tonight, no one is destined to sleep.