Reborn in 08, Public Enemy of Competitors

Alibaba's office is located in the Chengxi Entrepreneurship Building.

The television screen was showing the midday news from Jiangsu TV, where Vice Mayor Zhao was visiting Lingyun Technology accompanied by Shen Mo and Principal Kong.

In the video, Shen Moyi says sternly, "The foreign trade market is shrinking, and small and medium-sized enterprises and factories are struggling to survive."

"What YiTaoGO aims to do is to make good use of the internet to build a bridge and a road for them!"

"We will use the internet to precisely deliver the high-quality production capacity that has been stagnant due to the disruption of foreign trade to every consumer in China."

"This is not only to protect employment and stabilize production, but also to safeguard the foundation of Chinese manufacturing, while leveraging the opportunities presented by the Internet+ to promote their transformation towards branding..."

Jack Ma looked at the young face on TV, and the corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

These are all my words!

These words should have been spoken by someone like myself, the big boss in the e-commerce industry!

"This kid has good speaking skills."

Cai Chongxin pushed up his glasses. "I don't think I'm inferior to you."

Jack Ma snorted coldly, "All talk of righteousness, all he cares about is business."

"That's true, but the timing of appliance trade-ins is crucial!"

Cai Chongxin couldn't help but sigh, "It just so happens to coincide with the policy window of the national plan to expand domestic demand."

Jack Ma said with a serious expression, "Jingdong and YiTao GO can do this kind of trade-in program, and so can Taobao Mall. I've already asked Zhang Yong to connect with Gome and Suning, and they are both willing to join Taobao Mall."

"I heard that Shen Mo and Liu Qiangdong are trying to promote the trade-in program and elevate it to the policy level, just like the rural appliance subsidy program."

Cai Chongxin lowered his voice.

Jack Ma raised an eyebrow: "No wonder this kid has been making headlines and hosting leaders' inspections lately; he was planning this all along."

Cai Chongxin said, "After all, Shen Moqian's achievements were all real and tangible, which made him stand out in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces."

"EasyGO can promote the shift from export to domestic sales, expand domestic demand, and stimulate consumption. Are we, Ali, any worse than it?"

Jack Ma slammed his fist on the table and said, "Old Cai, let's have a meeting this afternoon. We need to elevate helping small and medium-sized enterprises out of their predicament to a strategic level. The plan will be tentatively named 'Spring Thunder'."

"Okay, I'll arrange it."

Cai Chongxin nodded. "This Spring Thunder Project can be combined with our upcoming launch of Etao.com."

Jack Ma said, "I'm planning to bring forward the online goods trade fair, and then announce the Spring Thunder Initiative and Etao at the fair. What do you think?"

Cai Chongxin agreed, saying, "We really can't delay any longer. Otherwise, as YiTaoGO grows stronger, it will be very difficult to win back users' and merchants' minds once they've been captured."

He then flipped through the documents in his hand: "Oh right, YiTaoGO is also on the invitation list for the online goods trade fair, so maybe..."

"I'm not that petty."

Jack Ma raised his hand to interrupt, saying, "No matter what, YiTao GO is now the largest shopping guide platform in the Alibaba ecosystem and an important partner of Alibaba and Taobao. How can it be absent without a reason? In my name, please have Shen Mo come!"

Cai Chongxin nodded: "That's good. If we don't invite YiTaoGO, it would seem like we lack vision."

"Moreover, the presence of YiTao GO will make YiTao's appearance even more outstanding."

Jack Ma smiled and said, "We want to show the outside world that in the e-commerce industry, Ali has never intended to relinquish its dominant position."

………………

The invitation to Alibaba's first online shopping fair soon appeared on Shen Mo's desk.

The cover is embossed in gold, and the inner pages are printed with the dates: March 22-23, at the Hangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center.

Shen Mo picked it up, flipped through it, and casually put it aside.

Zhong Xue stood by the table: "Boss, shall we go?"

"Why not go?"

Shen Mo leaned back in his chair and said, "So many brands, suppliers, and distributors will be there. This is such a great opportunity for YiTaoGO to develop offline customers. It would be such a pity to miss it."

"But Brother Mo, my senior who works at Ahri said..."

Lu Wenbin said weakly, "Ali is preparing a shopping guide platform project similar to our YiTao GO, which might be announced at this online goods trade fair."

"Isn't this just like the Feast at Hongmen?"

Yuan Hua jumped up immediately.

"What the hell is this 'Feast at Hongmen'?"

Shen Mo rolled her eyes at him.

Yuan Hua exclaimed excitedly, "It's Xiang Yu inviting Liu Bang! Ahri is clearly trying to get us!"

What did Liu Bang do after that?

Shen Mo asked slowly and deliberately.

He became emperor.

Yuan Hua paused for a moment, then his eyes lit up. "Brother Mo, shall we go?"

"Yes, of course I'll go!"

Shen Mo said, "It's not just me going; Huang Zheng has been asking me to meet up with him all along, hasn't he?"

Then he turned to Zhong Xue and said, "Tell Huang Zheng for me that we should meet at the online goods trade fair. It's a big venue with lots of people, perfect for discussing business."

"Okay, boss, I'll reply right away."

Zhong Xue immediately went outside.

Shen Mo turned his gaze to Qin Feng, "Fengzi, have you figured out the wholesale, warehousing, and transportation channels for ginger and garlic?"

Qin Feng replied earnestly, "Brother Mo, I did as you said and visited all the wholesalers, cold storage facilities, and farmers' markets in Anqiu."

Shen Mo pressed further, "How much can the price be reduced to?"

Qin Feng said, "Hehe, the market isn't very good this year. Garlic and ginger farmers aren't getting good prices, and wholesalers are also stuck with a lot of stock. They're all worried about where to sell it. If we're willing to buy in bulk, they're willing to lower the price. The wholesale price for garlic is 0.15 yuan per jin, and ginger can be as cheap as 0.4 yuan per jin..."

Shen Mo then asked, "What about the prices of cellars and cold storage facilities in eastern Shandong?"

"Cold storage costs more than twice as much as cellars, but the advantage is that the storage conditions are stable."

"Although cellars are cheap, they are poorly ventilated, making garlic prone to sprouting and ginger prone to mold."

Qin Feng handed over a document, which was densely covered with data.

Shen Mo picked up the document, glanced at it, and smiled with satisfaction.

"First, rent a warehouse that can hold 200 million units of goods. Then, use 100 million to buy garlic and the remaining 100 million to buy ginger. This will dispel the doubts of wholesalers, farmers, and cooperatives, and demonstrate our financial strength and sincerity."

"Brother Mo!"

Qin Feng was taken aback: "Although ginger and garlic can be stored for a long time, are we really going to be able to sell all of this?"

Shen Mo flicked the paper in his hand: "Didn't you say that last year's prices were too low, farmers weren't willing to plant, and the planting area was greatly reduced? If nothing unexpected happens, this year's production is destined to be reduced. When the output drops, the price will naturally go up."

Qin Feng didn't refute, "But even if it goes up, it won't go up by much, will it?"

"But we didn't expect to get rich from ginger and garlic."

Shen Mo smiled mysteriously, "You'll understand once the fruit and vegetable project is up and running. Now is not the time to hesitate. We need to stock up on ginger and garlic before the prices go up."

"good!"

Qin Feng nodded heavily.

"I'll assign you a few people. While you're bringing in the goods, find a way to bypass the middlemen wholesalers."

Shen Mo added, "We will sign priority purchase and sales contracts directly with local cooperatives and farmers to lock in future supplies. We will continue to buy more in April, May and June."

Then, in a serious tone, he said, "Furthermore, you should tell those cooperatives and farmers that we will not only buy ginger and garlic on a long-term basis, but also other fruits, vegetables, and agricultural products from eastern Shandong. As for the price, we will definitely not treat the farmers unfairly."

"Don't worry, Brother Mo, leave this to me!"

Qin Feng patted his chest and said confidently.