On the day they returned from Shenghai, New Era was in the news.
Alibaba openly announced the collaboration between the two parties.
New Era invested five million to purchase the value-added services for the online store launched by Taojin, but did not disclose the specific details.
This news stirred quite a reaction in the industry.
Taojin's total annual sales in 2003 were only over thirty million, and countless short-sighted onlookers had yet to realize its immense potential, thinking that New Era was just foolish with too much money.
"Where is this New Century Digital company from, acting like a fool!"
"It seems to be a new enterprise from Zhejiang Province, only rising in recent years, just like Alibaba, with headquarters in Lin'an; maybe the bosses have good relations!"
"Relations can't feed you, businessmen need to see profit; with Taojin's pitiful sales last year, its value-added services are useless, five million is bound to go down the drain!"
