"No, are you really not going to take the house?"
"No, there's no need. To be honest with you, I've made a lot of money on car qualifications, and you've contributed to me securing this and setting up a garment factory in Wangjiang, so you don't need to think about compensating me with a house or anything.
Also, you don't need to sell this house. Just keep it and rent it out. If you're interested, you can use this house to keep a mistress; perhaps it will surprise you in the future."
"Get lost, am I that kind of person? I'm going to find a girlfriend legitimately."
"Alright, I'm leaving. You go back and keep an eye on the Canton Fair. If you have time, also help me keep an eye on Jinyi Industrial."
"Got it. We'll meet again when I'm back in Yongcheng."
The two brothers' brief reunion was coming to an end, and Zhang Xupeng, who had just returned to the country, was a bit reluctant.
Now that both of them had their own businesses, the days they could spend together were becoming fewer and fewer.
Not to mention distant memories, just thinking about the winter of '04, spending two days holed up in Jinpeng Trade's original small office playing games together – doing that now is very difficult.
The times of the past are gone forever.
Watching Tan Jincheng's receding figure, Zhang Xupeng turned and drove away.
When he returned, his good brother specifically made time to pick him up at the airport.
Now that his good brother was leaving, he came to see him off.
Although everyone was busy, no one thought much of it; everything felt so natural.
During this month in France, Zhang Xupeng matured even more.
One only truly knows after experiencing something, and business is the same.
Staying behind the scenes makes one a qualified steward, but it's hard to become a qualified helmsman.
Since the second half of 2005, Zhang Xupeng took over various affairs of Jinpeng Trade, officially stepping into the limelight.
It's almost been 10 months now, and during these 10 months, Zhang Xupeng has been learning as he goes.
Speaking of which, Tan Jincheng's withdrawal from Jinpeng Trade's management was a bit rushed, not giving Zhang Xupeng more time to grow; Zhang Xupeng was somewhat thrown into the deep end.
It was simply because Flash Technology's business developed too quickly, leaving no other choice.
Zhang Xupeng, who wasn't very good at being a boss, was forced into the role.
Many of his working styles were learned from or even imitated Tan Jincheng, from employee benefits and business expansion to the idea of starting a factory this year.
Tan Jincheng emphasized technology research and development, so Zhang Xupeng expanded the apparel design team.
Today, Jinpeng Trade already has its own apparel design team, many copyrighted clothing styles, and several best-selling items.
This was also one of Zhang Xupeng's foundations for daring to open a factory and build his own brand, though Tan Jincheng gave him a quicker option to get started.
From just wanting to avoid school and choosing to do business, Zhang Xupeng transformed from an aimless graduate into a "businessman" who now does things in a proper manner.
Tan Jincheng's influence in this transformation cannot be underestimated.
—
After nearly two hours of flight, Tan Jincheng landed at Pudong International Airport.
Driver Li Yaohui and assistant Zhao Xinyi were waiting at the airport.
Going to Guangzhou was just a transition, and since the stay was short, Tan Jincheng didn't bring his assistants but had them come directly to Shanghai to take charge of the exhibition work in advance.
At Jinyi Industrial, Big Boss Tan, besides holding regular meetings with management and checking accounts, didn't pay much attention to other matters.
If he didn't even show up for something as important as the Canton Fair, the employees would start worrying if the boss was going to shut down the company.
Even Qin Junzhao, the de facto manager of Jinyi Industrial, said that if he didn't know the importance of Jinyi Industrial in the boss's business strategy, he would have thought the boss had forgotten about the company.
The order for 20,000 electric vehicles exported to Southeast Asia went through Jinyi Industrial's channels.
In the future, Flash Technology's electric vehicles, and even its future car export business, will go through Jinyi Industrial's channels, implementing a system where domestic sales and exports do not interfere with each other.
Even the actual manager who understands the company's positioning said this, indicating that Tan Jincheng's usual concern for Jinyi Industrial was indeed insufficient.
"Boss, is Liu Yifei coming today?"
After picking up Tan Jincheng, Zhao Xinyi, sitting in the passenger seat, turned her head curiously to look at Tan Jincheng in the back.
"She's coming for the opening ceremony tomorrow. Don't be busy chasing stars; celebrities are just celebrities. Your task for this exhibition is very important, remember?"
"I remember, I remember. And that mysterious guest, I quite like him too."
Zhao Xinyi nodded repeatedly.
"Also, during work, do not ask anyone for autographs. You must remember this. If I find out, I'll deduct your salary. The same goes for others; you keep an eye on them for me."
"Understood, I won't."
Seeing the boss's serious face, Zhao Xinyi nodded repeatedly.
This boss was usually easy to talk to, but he was very serious about work.
If you didn't do what he said, he would really scold you, regardless of whether you were male or female.
Tomorrow, the Shanghai Electric Vehicle Exhibition, opening on April 17th, will be the most influential exhibition in the electric vehicle industry, being the largest domestically in terms of exhibition scale, number of exhibitors, and participating countries.
Everyone at Flash Technology attached great importance to it, and preparations began before the Spring Festival, even before Zhao Xinyi officially joined.
For Zhao Xinyi, who took over midway, Zhang Xuhui's most comprehensive instruction was about this exhibition project, telling her to keep a close eye on it.
Although she didn't need to do specific work, as an assistant, she was responsible for coordination, information dissemination, and handling emergency affairs.
This was also her first major work project test since joining the company.
"Is the marketing department all set?"
"Everything is ready. Advertising materials and promotional materials have already been delivered to the venue."
"Hmm, keep it confidential. We must give everyone a surprise this time."
The mysterious guest, naturally, is mysterious.
As Flash Technology's two existing spokespersons, Sister Chun and Liu Yifei, certainly don't count as mysterious guests.
Liu Yifei was already confirmed to attend this exhibition when she signed last year.
As for Sister Chun, at the time, due to the early timing, they rushed to sign a last-minute deal.
Tan Jincheng hadn't anticipated this.
Later, she became hugely popular and too busy, her schedule already fully booked by Tianyu.
Coupled with the actual public signing price of only 400,000 per year, this price was practically a giveaway given Sister Chun's current popularity.
Tianyu was somewhat displeased and thus not very willing to accommodate Flash Technology's request to jump the queue.
Since that was the case, Tan Jincheng didn't indulge them.
"Just wait for Sister Chun to terminate her contract with you," he thought.
Besides, Tan Jincheng knew about the reputation of Super Girl this year; they'd see how Tianyu handled it then.
In fact, Tiantian thought they could control Flash or Tan Jincheng, but Tan Jincheng completely ignored them.
No matter how weak the client's capital, it's still the client.
How could I let you manipulate me?
Moreover, Flash Technology's strength in 2006 was completely different from 2005.
These entertainment industry agents probably still had their minds stuck in the 2005 timeframe.
After two unproductive communications, Tan Jincheng stopped contacting them and immediately had the marketing department arrange a second plan.
As for Tianyu's artists in the future, Flash Technology would no longer consider them; similarly, GXG wouldn't consider them either, as Tan Jincheng had considerable influence there.
When Flash Group's future products cover electric vehicles, cars, apparel, and even mobile phones, Tianyu will then realize what their arrogance cost them.
"Thirty years to the east of the river, thirty years to the west; don't bully a young man for being poor?"
During the same period, Boss Dong of Yadi, who had already arrived at the exhibition center, was touring various exhibition areas accompanied by his entourage.
However, as he passed a certain booth, he saw that it was tightly wrapped in a large black cloth.
People were guarding the four corners of the booth, apparently to prevent anyone from lifting the black cloth.
Boss Dong couldn't help but curiously ask his entourage,
"Whose booth is this?"
"It's Flash Technology's,"
the entourage replied.
"Oh, it's my young fellow townsman's. Why all the mystery?"
Boss Dong chuckled.
Young people certainly know how to put on a show.
In the first half of last year, industry insiders liked to compare him with Boss Zhang of Xinri.
The two were of similar age, with Boss Zhang being a year older.
In terms of sales, Yadi was inferior to Xinri.
However, Yadi, which focuses on technology, also made big moves last year, establishing a large factory area all at once, which even Xinri couldn't underestimate.
Who would have thought that in the second half of the year, a dark horse would suddenly emerge in the market?
Their marketing strategies were truly diverse and overwhelming, from being the first in the industry to invite celebrity endorsements and extensive advertising quickly building their reputation, to pervasive soft articles online.
For those in traditional businesses, this kind of promotional method was almost a dimensional reduction attack.
Even Boss Dong, who focuses on technology, understood the importance of marketing.
Indeed, in less than half a year, Flash Technology's sales became unstoppable, creating a myth of 38,000 units sold in 2005, exceeding one-third of the sales of the leading enterprise Xinri that year.
Selling 38,000 units doesn't mean Flash could only sell that many in 2005, but rather because they only produced 38,000 units that year!
If given enough production capacity, how many units could be sold is truly an unknown.
In fact, Xinri's marketing department was the first to react.
As the new market leader in 2005, their response was indeed quick, immediately wanting to poach Flash Technology's marketing team.
After investigating for a long time, they found that all these marketing methods came from the Flash boss himself.
Poaching others would be useless, so they reluctantly gave up the idea.
"Can you get in touch with my young fellow townsman? Find an opportunity to meet and chat during the exhibition."
Boss Dong was still a bit curious about Tan Jincheng.
If Xinri could find out that Flash Technology's marketing was led by Tan Jincheng, Yadi naturally could too.
Born in '85, a few photos occasionally seen in newspapers made him look very young.
He started in foreign trade, built the foreign trade company's business network himself, and then demonstrated extraordinary marketing capabilities when founding Flash Technology.
He is a very capable young man—that was Tan Jincheng's initial impression on Boss Dong.
"Should I go ask?"
The assistant uncertainly pointed to the Flash Technology staff guarding the corner.
"Hmm, ask. With so much mystery, their boss will definitely be here."
(End of Chapter)