What's wrong with me being a rich man?

Chapter 211 The Wind Rises (5k)

Yu Xing did not take the rejection of Shen Nanpeng to heart, nor did he tell Bi Sheng about his plan to push for a merger between LeTao and Vipshop.

Although this time it did help Bi Sheng a lot, the direction of LeTao.com is still decided by Bi Sheng, as it was invested with his real money.

However, on December 12, Bi Sheng did call Yu Xing and briefly discussed the matter.

"Sequoia wanted to buy Letao.com and was willing to pay the original price I paid, but I rejected it outright."

He said of the end result.

Yu Xing wasn't too surprised, but he still asked, "Why? Your money was almost lost, and it's not easy to get it back now."

"Although I messed up LeTao.com a bit, but if it was for the money, why would I bother? If it was bought out like this, why would I bother?" Bi Sheng said from the bottom of his heart, "Since I have bothered with it, I still want to see what it will become in the end."

Then he added: "Everyone is not optimistic about me now, but since Shen Nanpeng is willing to buy, doesn't it more or less prove that LeTao.com is on the right track?"

Yu Xing couldn't help but laugh and said, "It could also be that Sequoia has money, and in order to help Vipshop develop, they chose a hassle-free and convenient method. Well, if Sequoia bought you with cash and then merged with Vipshop, there would be a reason for it to increase its shareholding there."

Bi Sheng was stunned, thought for three seconds and then admitted: "I haven't thought about this."

It was only at this time that Yu Xing mentioned the content of the previous conversation between him and Shen Nanpeng.

"He is quite polite, but you are really rude." Bi Sheng expressed his opinion.

"It's not a matter of being polite or not. In fact, I have received many similar calls in the past few months. Bai Xiaosheng does not only receive communications when it exposes illegal posts. It's just that if there is any bad news, everyone will be unhappy. In fact, it's human nature." Yu Xing talked about the specific situation of the website. "However, the posts that attract attention here are usually true."

Bi Sheng asked curiously: "What if someone posts a lie?"

"Usually, the real-name system plus company certification will eliminate most lies. You can't see the identity behind the anonymization, but we can see it on the backend of our website," said Yu Xing. "But we can't rule out profit motives. However, based on our operations over the past year or so, at most it's just work, colleagues or superiors fighting, and there's not much other profit."

"We have never encountered anything like what Shen Nanpeng said that could shake the stock price of a listed company. If the purpose is to suppress the stock price of a large-scale interest, it actually needs very detailed evidence. It is not possible for the market to accept just a few words."

"We invited the public relations departments of many companies to come, some were willing to come, and some were not. This kind of cooperative feedback has to be built up slowly."

"As for the rest, our operations have made it very clear that when there are problems with fake content, it is the individuals themselves who are responsible for supporting it. When there are problems with telling the truth, it is our website that is responsible for supporting it."

Yu Xing introduced Bai Xiaosheng's situation in this regard.

Bi Sheng said with some emotion: "It's really not easy to do anything."

Yu Xing smiled and said, "Luckily, Bai Xiaosheng has made it this far, mainly because it is not easy for other companies."

Bi Sheng thought about it, it really is...

The empathy that had just emerged disappeared in an instant.

He said, "Well, I'd better focus on my LeTao first."

Seeing that the call was about to end, Yu Xing asked, "Are you going to Lin'an on the 28th? The industry summit led by Alibaba."

"No, I wasn't invited, and I don't want to join in the fun." Bi Sheng replied, "My biggest goal before the New Year is to stabilize the company and make the business move forward a little bit."

Yu Xing felt that Bi Sheng had become much more pragmatic after the anti-corruption campaign.

He smiled and said, "Okay, Liu Jiankai from Today Capital will come to Lin'an. I'll meet him and ask him to recommend a suitable deputy to Le Tao."

"I won't say much to thank you." Bi Sheng was touched and said, "I'll invite you to sing karaoke when we go to Shanghai some other day. By the way, my friend's family just had a litter of kittens. I saw a report saying that you like them, so I'll bring you one next time."

Yu Xing didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and quickly refused: "No, please don't. Liu Jiankai only gave me one, and I don't have time to take care of it, so I can only let it run around the company."

Bi Sheng said "Oh" and thought to himself that Mr. Yu really liked it, otherwise, Liu Jiankai, who communicated with him frequently, would not give him a gift like this.

It's not good to say too many words of thanks, but it would seem awkward to pay money to express your gratitude. This kind of furry little gift is just right.

After the call, LeTao.com, which had experienced a turmoil, needed to start again, while Bai Xiaosheng, which had a good development, sent the company summary of 2009 and the plan for the next year to the three shareholder institutions.

As expected, Yu Xing received calls from IDG, Capital Today, and Qiming Venture Partners one after another. The content of the calls was similar, all expressing their recognition of Bai Xiaosheng's development.

In addition to the total number of users exceeding two million, Bai Xiaosheng has completely built up the revenue from its recruitment business in the fourth quarter. These two complementary businesses make the company's future very bright.

"Mr. Yu, it looks like we may have a chance to go public as early as the year after next." Liu Jiankai sounded quite excited on the phone.

"It may take two more rounds. If you are willing to pay earlier next year, we can go public earlier. When the economic situation picks up next year, we can try to create some pressure for Bai Xiaosheng's recruitment business." Yu Xing had a plan in mind. "Two of the third brother's families are not doing well. This kind of pressure may lead to changes. Then, with another round, you, Today Capital, will be able to get rid of me."

Liu Jiankai laughed loudly and said in a pretentious manner: "Boss Yu, look at what you said, you are not a plague god."

Yu Xing smiled but said nothing.

"There is one more small matter. Mr. Xu will also go to Lin'an in two days." Liu Jiankai informed the news.

Yu Xing was a little surprised: "Really? Are you going to have a dinner party? Are you going to treat me?"

Liu Jiankai hesitated for two seconds and said against his will: "No dinner party."

Yu Xing had no doubt about the answer.

Liu Jiankai added, "However, Bai Xiaosheng has received our investment after all. Sometimes you should not offend Mr. Xu. You can confront anyone. She needs investment to do business and have contact with the company."

The reason why he said this was because of his boss's instruction.

It was either a direct instruction or it was mentioned explicitly or implicitly.

It's strange that everyone knows that Yu Xing is a stubborn person, but they really don't know how to deal with him. If they confront him head-on, it will only make things worse. The man with the surname Yu is a dog, but he wants to be a human being. If they avoid him, there will always be occasions when they cannot avoid him.

What's more, Today Capital has already invested in one round and wants to continue to reap the profits.

It was the first time that Liu Jiankai saw Mr. Xu so worried. However, when he was having dinner with his colleagues a few days ago, they talked about the user growth of Bai Xiaosheng and he admired the boss's vision.

All I can say is...it’s not something that can be told to outsiders.

"Boss Liu, even though you look at me like this, I still have to defend myself. Are those things really my fault?" Yu Xing was also a little helpless. "I'm not the kind of person who has to make trouble."

Liu Jiankai said repeatedly: "Yes, yes, I just felt that your relationship with Mr. Xu was a bit strained before. If we meet this time, let's put ourselves in each other's shoes and understand each other's difficulties."

Yu Xing lost his temper. These words were really humble.

He agreed, "Don't worry. Mr. Xu dislikes me so much. I won't go over there when I see him."

Liu Jiankai simply said: "That's not what I meant."

It’s so simple, and that’s exactly what it means.

Yu Xing just felt... this investor was really funny, making himself look like a wolf or a tiger.

He talked about this with Xiaoying that night as a joke.

"Tsk, maybe they just don't want to step on... cough..." Liu Wanying didn't finish her words.

“Xiaoying, you’ve wiped out all the guilt I felt. If anything happens to Today Capital in the future, you will be held responsible!” Yu Xing was dissatisfied.

Liu Wanying saw his reaction and laughed for a long time.

"Forget it. Let others think whatever they want. I just want a female thief like Xiaoying to recognize a male thief like me." Yu Xing grabbed Xiaoying's hand. "Will you go to Lin'an with me?"

"No, I'm still used to staying at home. Our funds for next year will depend on Alibaba and Yahoo." Liu Wanying still needs to operate this surprise short sale.

Yu Xing could only say with regret: "It's really that one isn't coming, and that one isn't coming, so I have to go by myself."

Liu Wanying reminded: "Be careful and protect your head when you get beaten."

Yu Xing pondered and said, "Then I'll bring the chairman with me. He has experience in getting beaten up."

Liu Wanying smiled, there are many talented people among the know-it-alls.

She thought for a moment and mentioned the email contact she was advised to make last time: "I sent a second email to Chen Deyuan of Sino-Forest today. I wonder if he will reply."

"No response to the previous letter?" Yu Xing asked.

"The last letter was in English, pretending to be from a European media reporter. I don't know if he didn't see it or didn't want to communicate. This time, I'll try to use Hong Kong media, and the words I use are a little... provocative." Liu Wanying said, "If it doesn't work this time, then next time I'll use the tone of a mainland reporter. If it doesn't work the third time, I'll forget about it."

Yu Xing nodded slightly, there was no rush for this matter.

China Forestry was just listed in Hong Kong on the 3rd of this month. Although its business may be questionable, it will be easier to discern the facts once it discloses more data itself.

He glanced at Xiaoying who was deep in thought, and suddenly said, "After we short Alibaba and Yahoo, let's buy a house."

Liu Wanying's train of thought was interrupted, and she asked in surprise: "Why buy a house? It's not cost-effective."

Yu Xing replied, "Release the cat."

Liu Wanying said curiously, "You want to keep Cuo Cuo at home? I see that the employees in your company like it very much. I guess it will grow into a chubby cat soon."

Yu Xing couldn't help but laugh and said, "Let go of this cat."

Liu Wanying stretched out her hand to defend against Yu Xing's sneak attack and said angrily, "You are so annoying!"

……

"It's really annoying."

Chen Deyuan in Hong Kong was sitting in his study late at night. He saw another email from the media and frowned numbly.

He is in a very troublesome situation now.

Ever since the scam was exposed by Guo Shanfeng, a series of lawsuits have been thrown at us, making it difficult to deal with them.

According to lawyers, the lawsuits currently received could result in fines of up to tens of billions of dollars and prison sentences starting at ten years.

In just half a year, the Sino-Forest building collapsed. Whenever Chen Deyuan thought of this, he always felt that it was a dream. It was only after he realized that this was reality that he hated the mountain more and more.

He also tried to find out who was behind Guo Shanfeng, whose registered address was in Hong Kong. Unfortunately, the person behind the scenes was hidden behind layers of nesting and he could never catch his shadow.

At three o'clock in the morning, Chen Deyuan was not sleepy at all. He picked up the brush to practice calligraphy, writing over and over again, "All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows; like dew drops and lightning, they should be viewed in this way."

He wrote like this for half an hour, but he still couldn't calm the pain in his heart. Finally, he could only sigh and put down his brush.

Chen Deyuan slowly drank half a cup of tea in the quiet late night, then unconsciously opened his mailbox and clicked on the email with an expressionless face.

Unexpectedly, the content of this email claiming to be from a reporter was not like other media outlets that all questioned the scam of Sino-Forest. Instead, it mentioned "Huaxia Forest", a newly listed company, and compared or even humiliated Sino-Forest with its up-and-coming development.

Sino-Forest can only cheat, but China Forest can actually develop.

Although Sino-Forest has gone bankrupt, the future of China Forestry is bright.

Chen Deyuan glanced through it twice with a wooden face, but finally he couldn't help it. He grabbed the rice paper next to him, crumpled it into a ball and threw it out.

View it this way, view it this way, is this how Hua Xia Forest views it?

Can't you see that I'm an old liar and he's a little liar?
Chen Deyuan took a breath, put his hands on the keyboard, and started his journey of angry criticism.

……

December 12th, there are only four days left until the end of 28.

Early in the morning of that day, Yu Xing, Chairman Song Yufeng and Secretary Zhang Yangxu drove to Lin'an.

"Brother Feng, you drive." Yu Xing assigned the task.

Song Yufeng was not angry, but just complained in surprise: "You are quite good to your secretary. Xiao Zhang is a young man, he needs to exercise more."

"No, safety first." Yu Xing knew very well the double-faced nature of his secretary, and Paulson, whom he was responsible for tracking, had made movements last night. Considering the problem of fatigue driving, the chairman was more reassuring.

Song Yufeng shook his head, got in his Mercedes-Benz and headed straight for Lin'an.

The Internet industry summit led by Alibaba lasted for three days. Yu Xing's previously mentioned mobile speech was on the 29th, while the news of Guo Shanfeng's arrangement was on the 30th.

Yu Xing thought that he might be able to see on the spot the impact that this would have on Alibaba.

Of course, this was not his malicious intention to disrupt Ali's meeting. The action of crossing the mountain had already been scheduled for a certain period of time. This time it was... or maybe it was fate.

At 10:30 in the morning, Bai Xiaosheng and his group of three arrived at the venue.

The morning half of the 28th is the time for the guests to sign in and check in, and the opening ceremony and speeches will be held in the afternoon.

Yu Xing, Song Yufeng and Zhang Yangxu were all quite excited about such a lively meeting.

"Hey, isn't that Mr. Xu?" Song Yufeng looked around and saw the shareholder of his company. "Brother Xing, let's go and say hello."

Yu Xing shook his head: "Forget it, things have been tense lately, don't go."

Song Yufeng was surprised: "The relationship is still tense?"

The grapes have been given to you, why are you still nervous?

"Let's go, go for a walk outside, and be careful not to get beaten." Yu Xing said.

Zhang Yangxu didn't take it seriously, but Song Yufeng actually became more alert.

Fortunately...it's calm.

The three-person group toured the venue, checked in and took photos, and met other guests during the visit. They initially exchanged pleasantries, but they didn't expect that there would be any further contact after the other party found out that it was Bai Xiaosheng's company.

"What a fuck!" Song Yufeng felt that his family was being treated unfairly.

Yu Xing was very calm: "We just met by chance, we are just a small website, what else do you want?"

Song Yufeng was unhappy: "Even if it's not respect, it shouldn't be disgust, at least it's fear, I feel better."

Yu Xing estimated that Bai Xiaosheng could not meet the requirements of the chairman. If he could be transferred to Guoshanfeng, there might be some hope.

The industry summit will open at three o'clock in the afternoon, and leaders from Lin'an will take the stage to speak.

Yu Xing and his two companions arrived at the venue at 2:30 p.m. and met two companies that had previously been willing to allow their public relations departments to set up on their websites. This made the situation less bleak.

In comparison, Today Capital led by Xu Xin is much more lively, and communicates with bosses of different companies from time to time.

It is normal that people who can pay are popular, while people who expose others' shortcomings are disliked.

However, at 2:40, Yu Xing did not expect that Shen Nanpeng from Sequoia China would come staggering over, and with him were several company executives who were probably close to him.

"Mr. Yu, nice to see you again." Shen Nanpeng, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, smiled amiably. He greeted the man first and then introduced him to the person he was traveling with. "This is the famous know-it-all, Dr. Yu Xingyu."

Yu Xing smiled and nodded: "Boss Shen, I can barely be considered a know-it-all, but the doctorate is just a joke."

Shen Nanpeng was surprised and said, "Really? I heard that Mr. Yu's degree certificate was posted in the office. I thought you were very serious about this."

The doctoral degree is related to Tang Jun’s academic qualifications.

Yu Xing was a little wary of Shen Nanpeng, with whom he had some exchanges before: "I'm not serious, but I'm warning myself and my company not to commit fraud."

"Speaking of this, Mr. Yu, you are right." Shen Nanpeng's tone became lighter, and he elaborated, "We can't ignore the company's business philosophy in pursuit of traffic. We still need to be down-to-earth when running a business or doing a project."

Yu Xing looked into Shen Nanpeng's eyes and felt his aggressiveness.

Unlike his later success, Shen Nanpeng at that time had returned to his original simplicity, with plain short hair, frameless transparent glasses, no watch or ring, a simple and steady pattern of suit, and sneakers most of the time. But the man in front of him now has his hair combed back, wears gold-rimmed glasses, and has a famous watch on his wrist.

Yu Xing did not avoid his gaze. He was silent for five seconds and asked, "Is this Mr. Shen educating the people you plan to invest in?"

The few people who came along were obviously angry, their brows furrowed, their eyes piercing at the founder of Bai Xiaosheng.

Shen Nanpeng was not too surprised by this reaction, and quickly responded: "Mr. Yu, I want to talk to you about Bai Xiaosheng. I am very curious about Bai Xiaosheng. Yesterday, I logged into the employee account and posted a post mixed with false information. Guess what happened?"

Yu Xing said nothing.

Shen Nanpeng raised his voice with a hint of exaggeration: "No one dealt with it. No one dealt with this kind of fake news. They just let it appear on your forum. Mr. Yu, this forces me to criticize it."

As he raised his voice, more people nearby were attracted to his attention.

"If posts with false content are not dealt with, it proves that you, Bai Xiaosheng, do not have the ability to identify and deal with such situations!" Shen Nanpeng criticized, "This is a big problem for your website. If it is not handled properly, it will become a matter of life and death!"

Yu Xing frowned and said, "Boss Shen, if you use lies to verify, you will only get lies."

Shen Nanpeng ignored this and continued to question: "If this is a listed company, and if this false post affects the listed company, how would you deal with it?"

Yu Xing said: "In the more than one year since Baixiaosheng started operating, we have not encountered such a situation. We also have an audit mechanism and are cooperating with many companies."

Shen Nanpeng seized his own verification and asked, "What about yesterday's post? Why is it still there? Come on, Mr. Yu, take out your notebook and I'll show it to you."

He gestured with his hand, and someone next to him handed him a notebook, seeming to be well prepared.

"Shen Nanpeng!!"

At this time, a loud voice came.

Xu Xin came over with a smile, calling Shen Nanpeng's name: "Shen Nanpeng, Shen Nanpeng, I've been looking for you for a long time, so where are you bullying my people here?"

Shen Nanpeng looked unhappy: "What do you mean by someone who bullies you? I am helping Bai Xiaosheng find the problem. Mr. Yu obviously doesn't understand that his website is not perfect."

Xu Xin laughed: "Boss Shen, don't bother with this. Companies need to develop and improve. Come on, let's talk here."

She put her hand on Shen Nanpeng's arm.

The two looked at each other.

Shen Nanpeng hesitated for two seconds and finally nodded.

The two investors left, chatting and laughing.

Xu Xin glanced at Yu Xing before leaving.

Yu Xing shrugged and thought that Mr. Xu was a good person sometimes.

However, when he saw the BOSS of Tudou.com walking beside him, his mood became a little complicated.

Yu Xing sighed inexplicably.

Song Yufeng had just relaxed, and seeing this, he asked, "Boss Yu, what's wrong?"

Yu Xing shook his head: "I think I was wrong."

Song Yufeng was stunned. Huh? Cat lovers also have to score points.

"You are wrong, you are wrong. Sometimes things just happen by mistake." Yu Xing looked at the backs of the two investors walking away, "Why is Mr. Shen not so broad-minded?"

Song Yufeng nodded, feeling a little annoyed at the investor's attempt to cause trouble.

He stared in the direction of that person and said, "Well, fortunately, Brother Xing is not very broad-minded either. Let's wait until later."

Yu Xing frowned: "If you don't know how to speak, don't speak. This is how the company and my image have been misunderstood bit by bit."

Song Yufeng stopped talking. In his heart, he only thought that the attitude that Xingge expressed during the interview with NetEase was just the truth.

(End of this chapter)