Chapter 192: 191 Qian Du Is Doomed To Fail
Wang Heng walked into the Penguin Building on a sunny morning.
He arrived in Qin Meng’s office, closed the door, sat down on the sofa, and casually exchanged a few pleasantries with Director Qin.
After waiting another ten minutes or so, before the agreed-upon eleven o’clock, the video signal connected.
Wang Heng took the tablet computer handed over by Qin Meng and looked at Director Lu on the screen—this big shot wasn’t that old, appearing to be in his thirties, with a refined appearance, though there was a faint trace of fatigue in his eyes. Right after the video connected, he even yawned.
“Hello, you’re little Wang who wrote that report… right?”
Qin Meng beside him couldn’t see the video but could hear the voice, yet he still couldn’t help covering his mouth and laughing. He was certain that the interjection Director Lu had almost said was ‘ba’ instead of ‘ma’, but realizing the issue just as it reached his lips, he forcibly changed it.
Wang Heng naturally guessed it too, merely smiling: “Yes, it’s me. I’m very glad to have this opportunity to chat with Director Lu.”
Director Lu on the video touched his chin and asked: “I heard that besides that report, your match record in the investment field is quite impressive. Bitcoin, stock market, you grabbed the best opportunities?”
Wang Heng glanced at Qin Meng who had just stopped snickering, calmly saying: “Probably because I’m young and fearless, not sure if it’s accurate judgment or just good luck.”
Director Lu laughed: “Once is good luck, but succeeding time and again, plus that report, it’s definitely not just luck. Little Wang, you’re still in university, right? Studying computer?”
Wang Heng: “Yes, studying programming.”
Director Lu: “With your investment talent, studying programming is too much of a waste. Want me to help pull some strings to transfer you to Finance University?”
A university student can still transfer schools? Wang Heng really wasn’t sure about that.
With the connections of Penguin Group executives, perhaps it could be done… but going to the nearby Finance University would mean becoming classmates with Han Yixuan?
Wang Heng decisively refused: “Never mind, Director Lu. My recent investment judgments and that report all rely on understanding the tech field. If I don’t continue studying this major and can’t keep up with internet development trends, I won’t know how to invest in the future. Besides, I’m very interested in this major, so I don’t want to change majors or schools.”
“Classmate Wang is so determined, that’s a good thing…”
As Director Lu said this, he brought over a lunchbox from the side and started eating with chopsticks.
Wang Heng glanced at the time displayed in the corner of the screen. It was nearly eleven o’clock, so eating at this time was quite reasonable. But while Director Lu could eat whenever he wanted, he and Qin Meng couldn’t be so casual.
One bite of shrimp, one bite of rice, Director Lu asked while chewing: “Little Wang, your current position is still part-time, right?”
Wang Heng: “Correct.”
Director Lu: “Then how about considering a slight promotion?”
Wang Heng couldn’t help feeling a bit puzzled: “Can a part-time job get promoted?”
Director Lu smiled: “For particularly outstanding employees, HR rules can be flexibly adjusted. Like a special consultant position, no need for clocking in or office hours, no problem doing it while studying.”
At this point, Qin Meng beside him added: “But consultants are usually experienced professionals. Like executives from other competitors or expert professors from schools.”
Wang Heng pointed at himself: “In that case, I probably don’t qualify, right?”
Director Lu took a facial tissue, wiped his mouth: “That’s why it has to be a particularly outstanding newcomer. I read your report, it’s indeed good, but also indeed not enough. But we can chat first. Besides that report, what do you think the future of internet business will be? No need to be nervous, just casual chat.”
Wang Heng chuckled inwardly—the main topic had finally arrived.
First dangle a consultant bait to get him to spill everything in his mind, without the other side needing to put in any effort. If what’s spilled is good enough, no need to make an exception for a special consultant position, just bump the salary as a reward.
On the surface just a first year university student, Wang Heng had a mental age of nearly graduating senior to keep him clear-headed. He knew very well that for Director Lu, chatting with someone over lunch was cost-free. So his video call with a group executive today didn’t mean he’d be valued. Of course, there was a chance of promotion, but quite slim.
But thinking from another angle, certain facts almost certain to replay in the second playthrough, sharing them now at least wouldn’t cause any loss, right?
So Wang Heng said: “In my view, the investment opportunities in the next few years, especially internet-related investment opportunities, are plentiful. But most entrepreneurs have a similar fate: financing, burning money, grabbing market, then selling out to Penguin or Alibaba.”
Director Lu’s chopsticks paused involuntarily: “What do you mean?”
Wang Heng: “I mean, the future internet field will see many attractive enterprises, but most of them will struggle to profit. However, in the mobile internet era, traffic is wealth. And the giants that can attract traffic are only two: Penguin and Alibaba. So, except for rare exceptions, the best fate for most internet entrepreneurs in the next few years is selling out to the two giants. While other investors and capital parties do the incubation, hatch them and sell to the two giants at a good price.”
Director Lu put down his chopsticks: “Why do you think Penguin and Alibaba will take them on?”
Wang Heng: “Because the two giants have strong enough profitability to burn money. Moreover, both giants share one thing: as long as they win the traffic war, they can overwhelm the other and invade their territory. Alibaba wants to do socializing, Penguin wants to do e-commerce, both invading the other’s domain.”
Director Lu already understood his point, continuing: “For others it would be loss-making publicity, but for Penguin and Alibaba, as long as there’s traffic, they’ll never lose, right?”
Wang Heng nodded, smiling: “Exactly, that’s it.”
“But the internet circle isn’t two giants, it’s three,” Director Lu asked again, “Did you deliberately ignore Qian Du?”
“No need to consider Qian Du, they have no future.”
As soon as Wang Heng finished speaking, Director Lu on the screen widened his eyes. And Qin Meng beside him was dumbfounded, his face full of shock.
At this point in time, prophesying Qian Du’s decline was a bit sensational. But Wang Heng was extremely confident, after all, he’d witnessed it once.
So he emphasized firmly: “Starting this year, Qian Du will decline year by year, retreating to the second tier of the internet circle. Just being a search engine won’t hold its empire.”
Director Lu: “You mean…”
Wang Heng: “Among the three giants, Qian Du is doomed to fail.”
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