The video began with no introduction to Flashride Technology, showing a beautiful coastal scene on Weizhou Island in Beihai.
Ten-some seconds later, two people on two rides appeared on screen, followed by Li Qiangzhong's voice and subtitles.
"Today is February 12th, the Lantern Festival. I wish everyone a Happy Lantern Festival. Today, my assistant Xiao Li and I will depart from Beihai and spend two months using Flashride electric vehicles as our riding tools to complete my journey of ten thousand li along the maritime frontier."
"The visuals are great, the scenery is beautifully shot."
Gu Qingqing said, looking at Tan Jincheng.
Tan Jincheng smiled.
Compared to the pixels of later smartphones, which were inferior, these were top-tier pixels in the civilian sector of this era.
SLR cameras and other shooting equipment were all the latest models from Japanese brands.
There was no other way; these things truly couldn't compare to theirs back then.
"It's very well shot. Where did you find these people? I'd like to use them for clothing shoots later."
Zhang Xupeng added.
"I met them while filming commercials before. If you want to use them, I'll introduce them to you later. The equipment was all bought by me, and you can use it too."
"This is good, this is good."
Zhang Xupeng nodded.
In fact, ever since Flashride Technology became increasingly popular, Zhang Xupeng also conceived the idea of having his own clothing brand.
However, he knew that the clothing industry had been developing for over a decade, with numerous clothing brands in Yongcheng alone.
There were also many brands in Wencheng and Min Province.
It would be quite difficult for him to establish a new brand on his own with his current capabilities.
The best approach would be acquisition or equity investment, and he had already started paying attention to such opportunities these days.
Jinpeng Trading was ultimately just a "shell company" without its own brand.
When market conditions changed, it would lack competitiveness.
Only by owning a brand, like Youngor or Shanshan, could it endure.
The development of Flashride Technology also made him understand Xiao Tan's original intention.
Career and money were inseparable, but clearly, career was above money.
Look at Xiao Tan's current status: he could get an appointment with the district government anytime, connect with research institutes, and when people from his hometown city came, if their rank wasn't high enough, he didn't even need to bother with them.
This was the true meaning of earning money.
If it weren't for Xiao Tan's newly established Flashride Technology providing support, Zhang Xupeng could imagine that, at the development speed of a shell company like Jinpeng Trading, after a few years, there would be hundreds of millions in cash in the accounts, yet it wouldn't have contributed to employment or real industry.
Even with the best business environment, it would easily attract the covetousness of certain individuals.
Flashride Technology could be said to be Xiao Tan's new venture, or Jinpeng Trading's umbrella.
It was precisely because Xiao Tan still held a 30% stake in Jinpeng Trading that he could be as relaxed as he was now.
Imagine if there was only Jinpeng Trading, and a few years later, he and Xiao Tan had nothing but cash and a shell company, with no so-called backing.
Wouldn't even a slightly larger businessman dare to covet him?
Let alone others, if Zhang Haiping had been a bit stronger, he would have dared to manipulate him.
"Hey, Xiao Tan, when are you going to show me your clothing business?"
Gu Yuxin had come specifically for this, showing no interest at all in the so-called riding video.
"You should talk to him, or if you have any questions, you can ask Qingqing. I'm not involved with the clothing sector right now."
Tan Jincheng said, pointing at Zhang Xupeng.
Tan Jincheng could probably guess Gu Yuxin's intention for coming today.
Calling Zhang Xupeng over to eat together was also for this reason; the two might have some opportunities for cooperation.
Although Gu Yuxin only did some wholesale business in the Sijiqing Market, he had been in the clothing industry for many years and had some experience in business.
Zhang Xupeng, on the other hand, was mostly self-taught and hadn't experienced the underlying business logic.
This was what he lacked in his life.
If he just laid back as he was now, it would be fine, as Jinpeng Trading's profits for a few years would be enough for him to live comfortably for a lifetime.
But if he had other ambitions, then the underlying business logic was what he was missing.
The biggest taboo in business is having money but not knowing the hardships of the world; ideas are often empty.
Gu Yuxin's shrewdness, worldliness, and experience from struggling at the bottom could perfectly complement this gap.
If the two got along in terms of personality, with Tan Jincheng acting as a middleman, they could actually be good partners.
"He grew up with me. We went from primary school to high school together, then muddled our way onto a ship together, and later started a business together."
Gu Yuxin's eyes flickered, understanding Tan Jincheng's meaning:
"Boss Zhang, please guide me more."
"Brother Gu, just call me Xiao Zhang. You call him Xiao Tan, calling me Boss Zhang isn't appropriate."
Zhang Xupeng chuckled.
"It's different. He's my brother-in-law; if I called him Boss Tan, it would be too formal. We're meeting for the first time, calling you Xiao Zhang would be disrespectful."
Gu Yuxin said, winking at Gu Qingqing.
Gu Qingqing rolled her eyes at him, ignoring him.
Among the five people's interactions tonight, Gu Yanning was the quietest.
The main reason was that she had witnessed Tan Jincheng's assertiveness during the business meetings over the past two days.
To be honest, she was now a little afraid of this brother-in-law.
He truly didn't understand technology; he couldn't read a single line of code.
What the market for custom software was, or prices, he didn't really understand before the negotiations.
But he truly understood business.
Just by looking at a few previous quotes, he could completely control the leaders who came to discuss business this time.
In the leaders' words, there was money to be made, but making it comfortably would probably not be so easy.
Another thing that Gu Yanning found amazing was that this in-law, who didn't understand technology and had only a superficial knowledge of the internet, occasionally put forward ideas that always made people's eyes light up, opening up new perspectives.
This was quite outlandish.
An outsider could even 'guide' an insider; probably no one would believe it if told.
"Ah, it's a pity there are no bullet comments. If there were bullet comments, we'd know how popular it is."
Tan Jincheng suddenly said, staring at the computer.
Gu Yanning sharply caught something, and quickly recovered to ask:
"What are bullet comments? Why do you say looking at them tells you how popular something is?"
Tan Jincheng then realized his slip of the tongue.
Watching his company's cycling video suddenly gave him a feeling of being back home, watching Bilibili cycling videos for three years.
"Oh, it's nothing, it's just like displaying your comments on the video interface, allowing everyone to interact."
What year was Bilibili founded? 2009.
When were bullet comments launched?
Should I intercept them?
"Wouldn't that block everyone? How would you still watch the video?"
Gu Qingqing asked, puzzled.
"I don't quite understand it either. With technology, it should be possible to not block people, right? I just said it casually."
Immediately after, Tan Jincheng said to Gu Yanning:
"Cousin, are you interested in coming out to work with me?"
"What do you mean? Work with you, join Flashride Technology?"
Gu Yanning asked in surprise.
The others in the room also looked at Tan Jincheng curiously, especially Zhang Xupeng.
This should be the second time Xiao Tan had actively suggested someone work with him, right?
The last time was Sun Yuming.
Could it be that Xiao Tan wanted to start a new industry again? Only Gu Qingqing vaguely guessed something.
On the day of the confession and afterwards, her brother had mentioned his ideals and also the internet, saying that when the time was right, he would establish a company.
"Not joining Flashride Technology, but establishing a new company. However, this isn't urgent; it will take at least half a year to succeed. I'm just telling you about it."
"You can continue working at your current company for now, and make more programmer friends. If you're interested in coming over later, help me poach some people."
Tan Jincheng chuckled.
In the years from 2007 to 2011, before smartphones became fully popular, there were still many opportunities in the internet.
With capital not yet forming a monopoly, not much investment was needed either.
Hiring a few programmers to develop some small games, if lucky enough to hit one or two blockbusters, whether self-operated or sold, would be enough to support the team.
Then, developing apps for Android and iOS systems to monetize through technical means.
When capital enters the market, it's always frenzied.
Given the right opportunities, a considerable amount of capital can be accumulated, and then used to control some internet media through investment.
"What do you want to do now?"
Zhang Xupeng couldn't help but ask.
"I haven't decided yet, but I do have some ideas. I'll slowly organize them when I have time later."
After speaking, Tan Jincheng winked at Gu Qingqing, who also smiled.
Gu Yanning, on the other hand, had fewer concerns.
She hadn't even graduated and hadn't thought about this.
So she readily agreed:
"Okay, if Boss Tan ever needs me, be sure to call me. Just pay me enough."
"That's for sure. I'll certainly need Cousin's help then."
Compared to Gu Qingqing, who started learning computer science midway, Gu Yanning clearly had an advantage.
Her fellow students, mentors, and even school resources could all be utilized with enough money.
However, currently there really wasn't enough time.
Firstly, Gu Yanning still had to participate in Flashride Technology's enterprise management system development.
Secondly, after the weekend, Tan Jincheng himself had to go on a business trip to the imperial capital, working for the lithium battery project.
Compared to the internet, the lithium battery project was the most crucial part of Flashride Technology.
From a timeline perspective, it would still be many years before lithium battery technology achieved a true breakthrough.
The time for large-scale production of lithium batteries would be when the domestic new energy vehicle industry chain truly matured.
Currently, for the lithium battery industry, the most important thing is not the product, but lithium mines in addition to technological accumulation.
Seizing a consistently profitable upstream industry and then waiting for the opportune moment is the best choice.
And lithium mines, severely undervalued at present, are the most important breakthrough point in Flashride Technology's future lithium battery business segment.
More than any internet venture, this was the most important new industrial plan in Tan Jincheng's mind.
(End of Chapter)