Reinventing the Millennium

The transoceanic flight arrived in Shanghai.

Xiong Xiaoge does not plan to stay here and will continue to take the passenger plane to Beijing. The plan for this trip has changed. He has many things to deal with in his own IDG, and he also has to communicate with his partners about investment in ice cores.

However, considering the concerted actions of well-known peers and considering his status as the richest man in the mainland, he believes that internal communication within the company is not a big problem.

Before parting, Xiong Xiaoge and Mr. Fang made a sincere suggestion.

"Quora's performance is good. Not to mention rapid progress, it has also made very solid progress."

"I think it's totally replicable domestically as well."

Under Mr. Fang's strange eyes, Xiong Xiaoge finally joked: "Otherwise, wouldn't the insights I finally wrote about excellent investors have to be shown to foreigners?"

Fang Zhuo finally laughed out loud and praised repeatedly: "Old Xiong, Old Xiong, he is indeed a top investor, he has spoken to the core of the website."

Xiong Xiaoge was a little confused, he didn't seem to say anything, and he was also quite flattered. It was not easy to get high praise from Mr. Fang.

He waited until Mr. Fang finished laughing and asked, "Why are you laughing?"

Fang Zhuo waved his hand, still smiling and said: "The domestic website is called Zhihu, how about it?"

"Is that so?" Xiong Xiaoge asked.

"Do you know? I don't know." Fang Zhuo said.

Xiong Xiaoge chewed for a while and said with admiration: "Mr. Fang's mind is still quick."

"That's not because of this." Fang Zhuo is not greedy for small achievements, "Old Xiong, since you like this project so much, to be honest, you IDG can also form a small team to really participate in it deeply."

He continued: "I see that most of your team members have financial backgrounds. Don't be so pragmatic this time, and give them some experience so that they don't have to be criticized all the time."

Xiong Xiaoge said with a smile: "Mr. Fang, you are unconscionable when you say this. When will our IDG dare to give advice to you, Mr. Fang? Isn't it your Mr. Fang who educates us IDG?"

Fang Zhuo said solemnly: "I am speaking for my fellow entrepreneurs all over the world."

Xiong Xiaoge shook his head. This suggestion is not impossible to try, but it cannot be tried here with Mr. Fang. Otherwise, would it be like a meat bun beating a dog?

Tired from the flight, Fang Zhuo did not continue to communicate with Lao Xiong, and only made an appointment to see him next time he was short of money.

As for transplanting Quora, I’ll wait until I have free time.

As the car drove on the streets of Shanghai, Fang Zhuo looked at the scenery of his hometown and lamented that if he looked closely, there would be new changes.

After this trip to the United States, I witnessed the team win the championship, successfully finalized the next round of financing for Ice Core, and had a relatively friendly contact with Infineon/Qimonda.

Overall, the harvest is pretty good.

While Fang Zhuo was thinking this, he reached out to touch the cigarette but found nothing.

The co-driver's secretary always paid attention to the boss's movements. Upon seeing this, he immediately took out the cigarette from the storage box and turned around to hand it over.

"I won't smoke anymore." Fang Zhuo refused.

After a while, he said again: "Xiao Li, you are reliable and conscientious in your work, and you have a high degree of education. It is a waste of talents to be around me. Both Yike and Tesco are short of people. Look where you can go to work as a management trainee." .”

Female secretary Li Jiajia was a little surprised. The boss had never expressed such an idea before.

However, when she thought about it, it was not surprising that her previous predecessors had similar situations.

Li Jiajia said decisively: "Mr. Fang, I want to go to e-commerce."

Fang Zhuo couldn't help but laugh and said: "Xiao Li, you have thought about this a long time ago."

"Mr. Fang, this is a common practice." Li Jiajia also smiled, "Mr. Fang, I think e-commerce is developing very fast and it will be very helpful for my personal growth. I hope that one day I can stand in front of Mr. Fang and report my work again. "

Fang Zhuo nodded slightly and said nothing more.

The car was heading home, not the company. Not only was he jet-lagged on his return trip, he also planned to spend more time with his family.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Fang Zhuo was sitting on the sofa, holding documents as usual while listening to the nagging of his mother who was waiting for him to come back at home.

There are trivial things, and there are not-so-trivial movements.

As a former engineer, Zhao Shumei still subconsciously paid attention to real estate trends even when she came to Shanghai to change careers to kill time. She also personally visited her son's project site to see the construction progress.

This year, the effect of Shanghai's housing price control was quite obvious, and she unconsciously talked about it.

While Zhao Shumei was chatting, she saw her son's expression was calm and wondered: "Son, why aren't you worried at all?"

"Yongke is not the main business of Yike. I don't know when I will sell it at a good price. I will turn around and invest the money in ice cores to create a brand new production line." Fang Zhuo said casually, "Besides, I don’t understand whether you can earn more or earn less, unless you are really curious, then I will go find the leader to find out the duration of this policy.”

"That's not necessary, let's just chat, just talk nonsense." Zhao Shumei shook her head. She wanted to talk to her son and didn't intend to interfere with his work.

Fang Zhuo smiled and was about to continue chatting when the phone rang.

He frowned and walked to the study with his cell phone.

Zhao Shumei said to her son's back: "I'll cook porridge to nourish your stomach. Don't go out drinking at night."

Fang Zhuo responded, closed the door, and answered the phone.

This call came from Kong Yu, who is responsible for MIGA fund matters abroad.

He reported a new piece of news.

——The Dutch company ASML contacted declined the investment.

In other words, it was another rejection.

When Kong Yu received the explanation from Mr. Fang, he heard his boss mention that he had already communicated with ASML in the name of Bingxin. The semiconductor equipment manufacturer rejected Bingxin's intention to invest.

According to Mr. Fang, the conditions provided by Bingxin were not strict, and ASML’s funds should not be sufficient. However, the other party was unwilling to accept it.

Considering that it might be inconvenient in the name of ice core, Kong Yu took over and contacted again.

But the result is the same.

"Okay, I don't blame you for this." Fang Zhuo was not disappointed with the result. ASML seemed unwilling to interact with mainland Chinese companies or funds with this background, even though Bingxin was also a customer of ASML.

ASML now has a very close cooperation with Taiwan Journal, and the latter can get advanced prototypes for trial production as soon as possible.

The time here is quite precious.

Fang Zhuo originally wanted to get involved and prepare for normal or equal procurement of ice cores, but ASML just doesn't accept investment, so what else can he do?

The phone ends the call.

Fang Zhuo played with the pen and thought about whether there could be a better solution to this matter.

ASML is a listed company. Although it is possible to hold its shares from the secondary market, Bingxin wants sincere and equal cooperation, which requires the approval of the other party's management.

However, its current situation may not be as good as we learned. The will to insist on non-cooperation shows the high-level confidence in future development. Perhaps, it can easily obtain investment from other companies.

What can be done?

Fang Zhuo felt that this matter was very difficult to handle.

People don’t want money, but technology is top-notch.

He thought about it, and with his own meager skills, he could only think of a crude method, but he didn't know whether it was feasible or not.

ASML's reputation in later generations is mainly due to EUV lithography machines, and Fang Zhuo's impression comes from this. However, the research and development of this kind of lithography machines is very expensive and difficult to produce, which greatly drags down the company's funds.

If it is possible to physically cause damage at a certain moment when ASML is spending huge sums of money to produce EUV, can ice cores be used as a timely source of investment?

Anyway, these manufacturers like to catch fire.

The masters in Chinatown flashed through Fang Zhuo's mind, and he did not continue to deepen and improve the idea that popped up.

EUV is definitely still early, and ASML does not have no chance to continue to feel the ice core or its own sincerity.

Fang Zhuo wrote down his attention to ASML in a small notebook.

Regarding the technological development of lithography machines, he believes that it is necessary to communicate more with Professor Hu. Japanese businessmen were also involved in previous equipment purchases, and it is time to listen more to the analysis and suggestions of professionals.

In the evening, Fang Zhuo drank the porridge cooked by his mother and got up to go to Su Wei to talk about the recent situation of Tesco.

He just said the purpose of going out.

Zhao Shumei asked: "Then will you come back tonight?"

"Ah?" Fang Zhuo was surprised.

"Before, every time you worked overtime at night, there was more or less the smell of perfume when you came back." Zhao Shumei said bluntly, "When you went abroad a while ago, Xiao Su came to drink tea, and the perfume smell belonged to her."

Fang Zhuo was silent for two seconds: "We are really talking about work..."

"Okay, okay, go ahead, go ahead." Zhao Shumei waved her hands repeatedly, "Xin Xin Xin Xin."

Fang Zhuo picked up the document stiffly.

Regarding the recent situation of Tesco, he really planned to have an advance communication with Su Wei who was off work, and then convene a meeting of Tesco to make a comprehensive review.

Since its establishment, Tesco has not had major friction with e-commerce platforms such as Amazon at other times except for a wave of polite greetings from Dangdang at the beginning of its launch. Instead, it has encountered intentional or unintentional attacks from offline home appliance chain brands.

The core of Tesco's products is home appliance 3C. Although it claims to be an Internet company, it actually competes with home appliance stores such as Suning, Gome, and Yongle in business. What's more, it also acquired Dazhong Electrical Appliances.

For example, there is little movement in small and medium-sized home appliance stores such as Yongle, while Suning and Gome are gearing up.

Today's home appliance chain market is highly competitive, but these two companies have received capital support after their successful listings and have developed more radically.

The former was known as "Northern Guomei" and "Southern Suning", with the former centered on Beijing and the latter centered on Jinling.

It is precisely because of this that Gome's raid to open a store in Jinling last month caused shock in the industry.

Huang Guangyu, the head of Gome, publicly declared that the Gome store in Jinling would not make a profit for two years. He also personally published an article in a Jinling newspaper titled "High mountains and flowing water, thanks to your bosom friend, there will be times when the wind and waves break".

There are two main meanings. One is that Gome has officially entered Suning's base camp, and the other is that Gome has completed the layout of the national primary market network. Jinling is the last battle, the final battle, and the perfect battle.

Huang Guangyu personally arrived in Jinling to supervise the war and open a store. This was his second time after supervising the war in Xiangjiang.

Being so strong and aggressive in competition is Huang Guangyu's character and style.

Therefore, Gome has no mercy when facing online opponents.

Although Suning also secretly exerts pressure on the home appliances sold by Tesco and puts pressure on its suppliers, Gome almost keeps an eye on the prices of all competing products on Tesco and strongly requires suppliers to at least maintain the same level.

What is the same level?

That’s my discount. You can’t give me a better discount.

This strength also comes from Gome’s current advantages in the industry market.

It is the first brand home appliance chain store in China.

Fang Zhuo read the situation report from Tesco when he was in Houston, but because he was abroad and dealing in financing, he only thought about the current situation and solutions.

We also regard this competition as a test for Tesco.

Even though Tesco has the listed company Yike behind it, has venture capital funds that are attracted by it, and has the prospect of pursuing hot e-commerce, the actual implementation is still quite complicated and difficult.

Whoever can show responsibility and highlights in this process will be able to take a step forward in the future of Tesco.

So far, Fang Zhuo believes that Su Wei, the president of Tesco, who has the highest decision-making power, has not performed well enough.

So, even though they hadn't seen each other for a while, he still raised a small question first.

"Mr. Su, suppliers are putting pressure on Tesco. Why do you acquiesce in the price adjustment? Why don't you deal with it as strongly as Dangdang?"

Su Wei didn't mind discussing work first. This man is so virtuous. She replied calmly: "The pressure that Tesco and Gome can put on suppliers is not equal. It's difficult for us compared to Gome, which is the number one in the country." Let’s talk about competitive qualifications.”

Fang Zhuo frowned. He believed that even if the suppliers who completely switched to Gome under pressure were removed, the current development opportunities could not be sacrificed.

Su Wei continued: "Moreover, the pressure on price strategy also comes from my own people. Zhang Dazhong from Dazhong Electric came to me personally to discuss the online and offline prices. Also, the presidents of Konka and Meiling also came in person. Find me."

"E-commerce is just a small channel now. Isn't their president just here because of your face?"

"I keep saying that I am your friend, Mr. Fang, and I have sold well. I will try my best to persuade Gome. It is the best situation to maintain the same discount."

"That Zhang Xuebin from Meiling has stated that he is willing to follow your lead."

Su Wei said with a smile: "Yes, that's exactly what he said. It's only you, Mr. Fang, who is following your lead. Mr. Fang is not here. What does he mean by saying this in front of me? How can I still give him a slap in the face?" ?"

She shook her head slightly: "All kinds of factors are mixed together. This is the reason why I can't handle it forcefully."

When it comes to external competition, internal opinions, and the interests of partners, even Zhang Xuebin has to start from the actual situation of Meiling.

Fang Zhuo nodded, accepting Mr. Su's prudent decision-making behavior.

He pondered for a moment: "Well, you are not me."

This sentence is not blame or criticism, it is based on the measurement of reality. The same words are different from him and from Mr. Su's mouth.

Besides, if there is any, Mr. Su can't say anything.

"I'll sort things out internally first, and then I want to see Zhang Xuebin." Fang Zhuo said as his thoughts changed.

"Meet him first?" Su Wei asked, "How to deal with it? Meiling also needs channels, and Gome's market position cannot be ignored."

Fang Zhuo said: "How to deal with what? Didn't he say that I am the one who follows the other's lead? Of course, I will bet on Tesco accordingly."

Su Wei: "..."

"Are you saying he is lying to me?" Fang Zhuo laughed.

Su Wei was silent for a few seconds: "Is this too strong? I know he and Changhong..."

"I regard Mr. Zhang as a partner." Fang Zhuo shrugged, "Don't he think so?"

"Don't worry so much about your own people. Are you still your own people after worrying so much?"