Chapter 28: Boss Huang’s Utter Disgrace

[PS: An extra chapter will be added tomorrow]

“Brother-in-law, is this Shenzhen? How bustling it is! It’s even more vibrant than our Wenzhou!” Stepping off the plane, Meng Lengzhi looked at the city before her, its skyline crowded with towering buildings, and couldn’t help but marvel.

This was the first time she’d ever ventured more than a hundred kilometers from Wenzhou.

“It’ll be even more prosperous in the future,” Huang He replied, casting his gaze over Shenzhen. In truth, he knew Shenzhen far better than anyone else, having worked here for five years.

“Brother-in-law, I’ve made up my mind. The first step of my life will begin here, in Shenzhen. I’ll find a job, climb the ladder, earn promotions and raises, build my network, and then start my own business. I’ll become the queen of this city!” Staring at the busy metropolis, Meng Lengzhi brimmed with ambition, as if she were already poised to conquer it.

“Yes, I believe you can do it,” Huang He said, offering encouragement. Although he wasn’t sure what Meng Lengzhi was truly capable of, a few words of support could never go amiss.

“But brother-in-law, why did you bring me to Shenzhen this time? Not even my second sister came along!” Meng Lengzhi suddenly looked at Huang He with suspicion.

“What nonsense are you thinking?” Huang He tapped her head. “I’m here to buy QQ, aren’t I? Of course, buying the entire QQ isn’t realistic. I’ll probably just purchase a portion of its shares, but overall management will still be handled by Pony Ma.”

“That means I need someone I trust in Tengda’s management to keep an eye on things for me, to ensure the company is well looked after. The person sitting in that position must be someone I trust most!” Huang He tapped her head again. “Now you know why I brought you along!”

“Wow, brother-in-law, if that’s the case, wouldn’t I skip the whole process of working my way up from the bottom and go straight to being an executive in an internet company?” Meng Lengzhi was instantly thrilled.

“Exactly,” Huang He nodded.

“Thank you, brother-in-law!” Meng Lengzhi planted a kiss on Huang He’s cheek, leaving him momentarily stunned.

——————————

“What? You said you’ve already completed the second round of financing?” On the third day after arriving in Shenzhen, Huang He sat in Tengda’s somewhat cramped reception room, mouth agape, while the secretary across from him looked at him with resignation. She wondered where this bumpkin, this nouveau riche, had come from—someone like him actually wanted to buy their Tengda.

Huang He realized he’d made another blunder, not a major one, but enough to matter: he’d gotten the timing of Tengda’s sale wrong.

He had always remembered that, when Tengda was first established, Pony Ma ran out of money to maintain the servers and was seeking funds everywhere. In the most desperate moments, he was willing to sell the entire company, including QQ, for just two million yuan.

So, Huang He had confidently brought five million yuan, intending to buy Tengda. But upon arriving in Shenzhen, entering Tengda’s offices, and having a not-so-pleasant conversation with the secretary in the CEO’s office, he discovered he’d gotten his timing wrong.

The story about Tengda being sold for two million yuan was true, but that was back in 1999. That year, Pony Ma talked to more than a dozen investors and was on the verge of collapse, about to dissolve his company, when he finally reached an agreement with IDG Capital and Pacific Century Digital, obtaining a combined investment of 2.2 million USD from the two firms in exchange for 40% of the company’s shares.

Hearing this news from the secretary’s proud lips, Huang He felt embarrassed enough to slap himself. It turned out that in 1999, Tengda’s 40% stake was actually sold for 2.4 million USD, equivalent to 19 million yuan. Even if he’d brought five million yuan in 1999, he wouldn’t have stood a chance against the competition!

Incidentally, the boss of Pacific Century Digital was Richard Li, whose father is Li Ka-shing.

Now, it was July 2001. Just last month, Tengda had completed another round of financing. Pacific Century Digital sold its 20% stake in Tengda, originally purchased for 1.1 million USD, to South Africa’s MIH Investment Group for 12.6 million USD.

A tenfold profit—this was Richard Li’s most successful investment. But twenty years later, it would be seen as a missed opportunity, for if Richard Li had held onto the shares, the investment would have multiplied by 160,000 times.

Moreover, MIH also purchased 12.8% from IDG at the same price, making MIH the largest shareholder after Pony Ma, with 32.8% of Tengda’s shares.

In the future, MIH would continue to invest, eventually holding up to 60% of Tengda’s shares.

But none of this concerned Huang He now. In short, Huang He, who had come with five million yuan hoping to become Tengda’s owner, discovered that his money could barely buy a single hair on the company’s leg.

“It’s all that damned book ‘Instant Noodle Tycoon’—it filled my head with bogus facts and led me into this mess!” Huang He cursed the web novel he’d read in a past life a thousand times over. Fortunately, he hadn’t boasted about having five million yuan; otherwise, he’d have made a fool of himself.

“Sir, our company has just concluded its second round of financing, so we have no new plans for investment at the moment. However, you may leave your business card, and when we do launch another round, we’ll notify you immediately,” the secretary said with a professional smile.

“A third round… By then, Tengda will probably be preparing to go public!” Huang He shook his head. Tengda would begin its IPO in 2004, only three years from now. The next three years would be Tengda’s golden era. Waiting for the next round of financing would be pointless; he might as well buy Tengda’s IPO shares directly.

“I’d like to meet your boss, Pony Ma,” Huang He said solemnly. “I’ve come with sincerity. I not only have money, but I can also help Tengda become the number one internet company in China within ten years, and the world’s number one within twenty.”

“Well…” The secretary’s expression was peculiar. She’d wanted to refuse outright, but what if this really was a wealthy investor?

She finally decided to pass on Huang He’s request.

A few minutes later, she returned and apologized to Huang He: Pony Ma was not in the office at the moment, but she’d left a message for him. When Pony Ma returned in a few days, she would inform Huang He of the outcome.

“Alright,” Huang He said. He wasn’t one to grovel; after one’s net worth passes a hundred million, wealth differences matter little—life’s worries are gone.

As Huang He and Meng Lengzhi left the office, he suddenly heard a burst of laughter from within. Turning back in irritation, he pushed open the door to find the secretary looking at him in confusion. “Mr. Huang, is there anything else?”

“Did something amusing just occur to you?” Huang He squinted, his face unreadable.

“What amusing thing?” the secretary asked, puzzled.

“For example, your wife being pregnant.”

“Mr. Huang, please show some respect, or I’ll have to call security.”

“No need, I’m leaving now,” Huang He smiled faintly and closed the door behind him. This time, no laughter echoed from within.