You call this entrepreneurship?

Chapter 561 I am a person of great principle

Time flies, and time flows like an unstoppable river.

After 2008, the Chinese internet ushered in unprecedented opportunities. Amidst the tremendous tide of the times, numerous players emerged, ushering in a new era in the turbulent internet landscape.

Sentinel Technology, which has always been at the forefront of the internet industry, has unusually kept a low profile, quietly cultivating its business and continuously expanding its microblogging and chat software VV.

While Chinese internet companies were making great strides, Sentinel Technology was quietly accumulating strength.

At 8:00 AM, in the office of the Chairman and CEO of Sentinel Technology.

Qin Shaoyan sat in a large chair, drinking porridge while listening to his new secretary recount the day's schedule.

"Mr. Steve Jobs from Apple called last night to discuss with Mr. Qin the issue of the Jiucai 2 mobile phone's design infringing on the iPhone 4's design."

Without looking up, Qin Shaoyan replied while eating breakfast, "Next time he calls, just say I don't have time right now and we'll talk again in a few days."

"Okay, Mr. Qin." The secretary then read out the next arrangement, "The senior management meeting is at 10 a.m. today to discuss launching the group-buying business."

"The senior executives of the social platform business unit want to have lunch with you at noon. You need to meet with Zhou Yuan, the general manager of the marketing department, at 1:30 pm."

"At three o'clock, you need to go to Kuaibo.com..."

Qin Shaoyan casually asked, "Has anyone been looking for me?"

"Yes, Mr. Xiong Xiaoge from IDG asked when you would be available. He wants to meet with President Qin." The secretary pulled out another piece of paper. "Mr. Ma Huateng from Tencent would like to speak with you on the phone."

Qin Shaoyan smiled and said, "Tell President Xiong that I'm free tomorrow morning and he can come directly."

The secretary then asked, "So, how should we respond to Mr. Ma?"

"Just say that President Qin is very busy," Qin Shaoyan said casually.

The secretary hesitated for a moment before saying, "Well, Mr. Ma has called many times already, is it really appropriate to say this..."

Qin Shaoyan glanced at her and said indifferently, "Do I need to ask your opinion on whether I should make a phone call or not, and who I should call?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Qin," the new secretary quickly apologized.

Qin Shaoyan was very dissatisfied with the new secretary, whose name he didn't even know, and felt that the president's office was too irresponsible, but he didn't say anything.

He asked patiently, "Is there anything else?"

The secretary stammered, "A gentleman wishes to see you."

"Do you have an appointment?"

"Uh, I didn't make an appointment."

Qin Shaoyan was speechless. "If he didn't make an appointment, you should make one. When and how to meet is the responsibility of your president's office. Can't you even handle this small matter?"

Seeing Qin Shaoyan's displeasure, the secretary quickly explained, "Mr. Qin, this person is a bit special."

"What's so special about him? Do I absolutely have to see him?" Qin Shaoyan retorted.

He said his surname was Ming.

"What?" Qin Shaoyan was stunned for a moment, then frowned and asked, "The sun and moon, which one is brighter?"

The secretary nodded. "It's that Ming."

Qin Shaoyan covered his forehead, and was about to tell his secretary to send the man away when he suddenly changed his mind. "Let him in, and postpone the schedule."

"Yes, Mr. Qin." The secretary seemed relieved and turned to leave.

Less than two minutes later, the office door was pushed open again, and a middle-aged man in a suit walked in, guided by his secretary.

The other person seemed a little hesitant when they entered, glanced at Qin Shaoyan, straightened their back and walked over.

Qin Shaoyan stood up and said with a smile, "Please sit down."

The middle-aged man pulled out a chair and sat down opposite Qin Shaoyan, looking at each other across the large solid wood desk.

It's clear that Mr. Ming must have been very handsome when he was young, but now his face looks somewhat weathered, with some gray hair. He's sitting in a chair wearing a black suit and seems a little awkward.

After sizing him up for a while, the other person finally spoke, "My surname is Ming, and my name is Ming Zhixuan."

"Hello, Mr. Ming." Qin Shaoyan maintained his smile.

“I am Mingyue’s father,” Mr. Ming said again. Qin Shaoyan looked very surprised. “Oh, is that so? I’ve never heard Mingyue mention it. I’m so sorry.”

Ming Zhixuan coughed awkwardly a few times. "I divorced her mother when she was in middle school. Her mother took custody of her. As for me, I was busy with my career and neglected my daughter... Sigh, I am not a qualified father."

He then took out his wallet, pulled out a photo, and handed it to Qin Shaoyan. It was a family photo of the three of them.

In the photo, Ming Zhixuan is still very young, holding a little girl with braids standing on the beach.

"This photo was taken when she was in the third grade of elementary school. Back then, our family was very happy..."

Qin Shaoyan watched the other person ramble on quietly without interrupting.

Seeing that Qin Shaoyan remained silent, Ming Zhixuan stopped talking and asked after a moment of silence, "Is my daughter doing well?"

"She's doing well." Qin Shaoyan replied, handing Ming Zhixuan a framed photo of the two of them on the table. "She's busy with her own things now, and her life is busy and fulfilling."

Ming Zhixuan took the photo frame and examined it closely. In the photo, Mingyue was standing next to Qin Shaoyan with a big smile on her face. Ming Zhixuan was lost in thought for a moment.

After a moment, Ming Zhixuan snapped out of his daze and suddenly asked, "Are you married?"

"The wedding has already taken place."

Ming Zhixuan looked shocked and blurted out, "When was it done?"

"Last October."

Ming Zhixuan's expression was very complicated. "Why weren't you notified... I am Mingyue's father, how could you not tell me about your marriage?"

“Uh…” Qin Shaoyan considered his words carefully, “I did think about inviting you and Mingyue’s mother, after all, it’s a major life event like getting married, but Mingyue insisted on not informing you both, so I had to give up, since I have to respect her opinion.”

Ming Zhixuan fell silent again, and after a long while he finally spoke: "She is my only daughter, so you must treat her well."

"You can rest assured about that, Uncle Ming. We've been through thick and thin together, and we would never break up because of disagreements," Qin Shaoyan quickly assured him.

Ming Zhixuan was speechless. "You should call me father-in-law."

"I need to ask Mingyue's permission before I can change my address," Qin Shaoyan said, remaining polite as ever.

“…” Ming Zhixuan sighed and stood up. “I came here today to see you. After all, you are my son-in-law, and I have to meet you in person.”

"You're quite busy with work, so I'll be going now." As he spoke, Ming Zhixuan placed the things he had brought on the table. "These are gifts I brought for you two."

"Then I won't stand on ceremony, Uncle Ming." Qin Shaoyan smiled and accepted the gift. "Let me see you off."

Qin Shaoyan escorted Ming Zhixuan to the office door, then called to the president's office, "Secretary, have the driver arrange a car immediately to take my father-in-law home."

"Also, take a few gifts for my father-in-law." Qin Shaoyan turned to Ming Zhixuan, his face full of apology. "I didn't prepare anything in advance, just some cigarettes and tea. Please accept them for now, and I'll have the driver bring you some other gifts later."

Qin Shaoyan's sudden change in enthusiasm stunned Ming Zhixuan, who was taken aback for a long time.

Just after seeing Ming Zhixuan off, Zhang Pingyi, Xu Lei, and others came to Qin Shaoyan for a meeting.

Zhang Pingyi was somewhat surprised to see the gifts on his desk and casually asked, "Who came and brought you a gift?"

Many people send gifts to Qin Shaoyan, but usually the gifts are collected and registered by the president's office. It's not something an ordinary person can do to have a gift placed directly on his desk.

"My father-in-law is here, and these gifts are for Mingyue," Qin Shaoyan sighed.

"Mingyue's father?" Zhang Pingyi was very surprised. "Where did he come from?"

"If you had the son-in-law of the richest man in the country, wouldn't you have to come and see him too?" Qin Shaoyan smiled.

"You're no longer the richest man in the country," Zhang Pingyi asked curiously. "What are you doing here, my cheap father-in-law? Trying to freeload?"

"It's normal to take advantage of others, he's my father-in-law," Qin Shaoyan said matter-of-factly. "Other people's relatives can get a position in our company, I can't just turn my father-in-law away, can I?"

Zhang Pingyi was a little unsure of Qin Shaoyan's intentions. "Are you planning to get your father-in-law a position in the group?"

"That's impossible." Qin Shaoyan waved his hand. "I'm a very principled person. I'll make arrangements for his matter later."

"I need to replace my secretary first."

Zhang Pingyi was taken aback. "What happened to your secretary?"

(End of this chapter)